Hands arranging flowers on a white table, with scissors, ribbons, and vases, multiple flower arrangements including pink peonies, white lilies, and orchids.

In a land not so far away, Prairie Princess Parties was founded by two local ladies with a shared dream of bringing imagination to life for children in and around Grande Prairie.

Through years of dedication, creativity, and heart, they built something truly special. Alongside their Royal Team, they laid the foundation for the magic that continues today.

Grande Spotlight Events is honored to carry that legacy forward — preserving the sparkle, the care, and the belief that every child deserves a moment to SHINE.

Plus, every good story deserves to be continued…

A display of jewelry, picture frames, and decorations on a white surface, with framed photos of people in costumes, including a princess dress. There are artificial flowers and star-shaped hair accessories on the wall behind the display.
Two framed photographs, one showing a group of young women in fancy dresses at a party, the other showing children in superhero costumes outdoors with balloons.
Arrangement of pink and green flowers and leaves on a white surface, with scattered petals and greenery.
Two young women at a 'Prairie Princess Parties' event, holding princess dresses and jewelry, standing in front of a banner.
Three framed photos on a black surface, featuring people in costumes and colorful outfits. The middle photo shows two people in dinosaur costumes with balloons behind them.

Meet the Director: SHERSTI EDWARDS

My first business card was printed when I was eight years old.

It proudly read: Director Experience Since 1991.

Technically, I was eight. But in my heart? I meant it.

I was part of an authentic Polynesian performance troupe for hire, shining at weddings, school assemblies, conventions, grand openings, all-night grad parties, country clubs, festivals, amusement parks, hotels, retirement homes, corporate events like Hewlett Packard and UTA French Airlines, Club Med, and even the U.S. Navy Officers’ Club. Whew…

And on that little business card, one phrase stood out: Audience Participation. That was always my favorite part. Because real magic doesn’t happen when you stand in the spotlight alone. It happens when you invite someone else into it.

Beyond dancing, I loved the theater. My mom and I would find our way to any production or live performance we heard about. Most of the time I sat in the audience, but sometimes I found myself behind the curtain, performing or directing. No matter where I was, I noticed the theater’s clear objective: Be immersed in the experience.

As a young teen, I discovered Debbie Reynolds and became instantly captivated. I collected her memorabilia, read her books, memorized her performances. One summer in Las Vegas, I begged a family friend to visit her hotel just to see her costumes.

And then, as if scripted, Debbie herself walked around the corner. Starstruck doesn’t begin to describe it. But what stayed with me wasn’t her fame. It was her generosity. She saw a young girl who loved the stage, and she shared it. She chatted, hugged me, took photos, and signed a booklet personally. No charge. No fanfare. She gave me a moment. And I never forgot what that felt like.

People often say I can make things happen when I believe in them strongly enough. What they really mean is this: I don’t just imagine magic, I build the conditions for it to appear.

Our daughter was born, and we later moved to Wyoming. When she was five, a character performer dressed as Merida came to our home after a medical scare to teach her archery and talk about bravery. They bonded. She later attended events where she met Snow White and other princesses, returning to school excited to share stories of playing with “real-life princesses.”

Those moments became core memories. And now? She has come full circle, performing as Merida for her first gig and, more recently, Snow White.

The story continues.

Today, I serve as the Creativity and Inclusion Specialist at a camp in Grande Prairie, designing meaningful, joy-filled experiences for children. I also spent two years performing with Prairie Princess Parties simply for the love of watching little faces light up.

Now, I’ve been given the opportunity to step fully into directing.

My curtain isn’t closing. It’s shifting. I am stepping behind the stage lights to mentor and lead the next generation of performers, youth who will learn not just how to entertain, but how to connect. How to include. How to make imagination feel real.

I’ve spent my life watching how one shared moment can change someone.

And I’ve always believed magic doesn’t belong only on a stage.

It belongs wherever we choose to create it.

 

Business card with the name Shersti Olson, a dancer, and a phone number. The card highlights experience since 1991. The background includes other partially visible text about authentic costumes, performance, and audience participation.
A collage featuring three photos: a baby with hands on cheeks, a surprised baby lying on a colorful blanket, and a girl swimming in a lake with her back turned to the camera, sitting in a small boat.
A young girl with curly blonde hair wearing a pink sweater, smiling and holding a frog.
Four young girls in colorful costumes dancing on stage with pom-poms during a performance.
Collage of photos from a cultural event at a beach. The images include children and adults in traditional Hawaiian attire, performing hula dances, and participating in outdoor activities in a tropical setting with palm trees, thatched huts, and ocean views.

“Since she enjoys babysitting so much, she would also love to be a Nanny when she grows up.”

-and then she did

A close-up photograph of a young girl with long, curly hair, smiling, with a background of green foliage. The image is part of a printed profile with her name, Shersti Olson, and a biography describing her interests and activities.
A magazine or scrapbook page featuring a woman with short curly hair, dressed in a shiny, patterned jacket. There are printed and handwritten texts, a heart-shaped cutout with photos of four women labeled 'Debbie,' and a quote about childhood dreams on the right side.
A woman and a young girl dressed as princesses playing with a toy bow and arrow in a backyard with grass, trees, and a house in the background.

Merida, full circle 

for our daughter

A woman dressed in a medieval-style blue gown with brown accents stands outdoors next to a garden bed filled with lush green plants and large-leafed foliage, with a wooden fence and trees in the background.
A man with glasses and a red beard and a woman with long blonde hair are standing together in a hallway, holding a framed caricature art piece. The man is smiling and wearing a striped shirt, and the woman is smiling broadly, wearing a black and white striped skirt and black top. The caricature features cartoonish drawings of the two people in the photo with exaggerated facial features.
A collage of various photographs featuring young women and girls in different costumes and outfits, some in traditional dance attire, outdoor settings, and casual clothes, with a focus on a woman wearing a large flower crown. The collage includes text with contact information for Shersti Olson, a dance instructor, and mentions of performances such as weddings and school functions.

Let’s Connect

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