Lanier Fairchild walks Cannery Row like a pirate, lives with puppets and has washed elephants.

She was born on a miniature horse farm in Pennsylvania, studied exotic animal management and now is Cannery Row’s pirate, Lady Wink, and a mistress of puppets.

Lanier Fairchild, raised in Carmel and Carmel Valley and now based in Salinas, says she always wanted to have a life that could be turned into a fascinating biographical book. And it seems she is succeeding, picking up the most peculiar and fun gigs for herself. Not for her are “normal” jobs. Fairchild used to train squirrels for magazine photo shoots, worked at the Monterey Zoo, where she assisted with elephant baths and other activities beyond the norm. And ever since elementary school, she has been involved in theater.

Fairchild is launching a new business called Yup! It’s Puppets!, that will be available to hire for birthday parties – a little puppet show for the special occasion. As a consequence, Fairchild lives with over 70 puppets – “too many roommates,” as she calls them – from simple finger puppets to large, elaborate pieces. An embodiment of ever-changing, always shifting show business, she inspires happiness and giggles. To see Fairchild in action, go for a weekend stroll on Cannery Row, where the weirdest things can happen.

Weekly: Let’s start with the pirate gig.

Fairchild: It started in January 2024. Cannery Row needed someone to be a grand ambassador for them, someone to dress as a pirate and create a character and a persona that would get people to come into [Treasure Hunt: The Ride] and basically just draw attention. Lady Wink is a big character. She is very loud. She can call across the street to get your attention without any strain. [In a British accent] She is such a big darling, you have absolutely no idea. I consider her a combination of Mrs. Doubtfire, Jack Sparrow, Anne Bonnie and Julia Child.

Makes sense. But who was Anne Bonnie?

Bonnie was a famous pirate lady way back in the day. She was not accepted as a female pirate, so she bound her boobs so that everyone thought she was a male and proceeded to pillage the high seas. She didn’t care.

Ha.

Lady Wink likes to stroll with her octopus. The puppet’s name is Tickle. Their back and forth is hilarious. They get along. They like to freak people out, making them jump back and laugh. Everybody is excited.

How long do you stay in character during a regular Sunday or Saturday?

During a regular shift, I’m there for about five or six hours, and I am in character pretty much from the time I walk up from the dressing room until I go back down to get undressed – except for my breaks, but even then I find myself going over to other shops to say hello, but not able to get out of Lady Wink’s British accent.

Have you ever had a normal job?

Well yes, I sold pet food. I worked in the zoo, that’s a normal job, I guess. But I need more excitement in my life. I’m also collecting children’s stories to then transpose into scripts that turn into a show, with my actor friends helping with the voices.

Tell us about your upcoming puppet project.

I’ve been collecting puppets, and at this point I have all the puppets I wanted for puppet shows. I’m hoping to start visiting birthday parties in June – June, July and August are usually when all the kiddos are born.

Are 70 puppets your only roommates?

I have two dogs and a cat and a housemate who lives upstairs, who also has two cats. Yeah, it’s a full house.

What else do you want the readers to know about you?

Hm. I used to street perform with my dogs. This summer, I will be training Sandy, the dog for Annie at the Outdoor Forest Theatre in Carmel. I also do stage managing for local theaters, for example for The Wizard of Oz last summer. I play the nose flute that I also play walking up and down Cannery Row. My grandfather taught me how to play it when I was four years old. I’ve never really gotten a chance to play it prior to this because it’s very, very loud, but it worked perfectly when you’re trying to get people’s attention.

Finally, I have overcome a lot of physical issues in my life. Many people do not know that I have very severe scoliosis. But every time I get the chance to do something fun and adventurous that is around here and not dangerous, I’ll try.