Pagan/Native Medicine/Wiccan/gathering

[T'a Nuk]

So here is the deal. Up here in Montana, there are many forms of nature religions being practiced and supported, but no real gatherings in our area. I was in Oregon a few years ago and attended this totally cool Faerie Festival. Witches, musicians, Artists, food vendors, you know the type of thing, there was even a guy with a really great horse drawn Gypsy wagon! The setting was in a field with some woods near a river. A whole weekend of celebrating our diverse culture and meeting new folks. There were places to camp, even portable toilets. I think admission was 5 bucks, and 20 if you wanted to camp, which we did. Everyone was respectful and cool about not making a trash mess or causing problems. I would LOVE to organize something like this, but don't know where to start finding a venue, permits, sanitary facilities, and attracting attendees and participants. Any advice? I have met many people who would be interested, I just need a point in the right direction. Any thoughts guys?

[SnowCat]

Your local Chamber of Commerce and your state tourism department could probably help with the rules and regs questions.

Snow

[corvidus]

Hey! I'm interested in attending
I also know of a few people who might be interested in this.
I love the idea of setting up a gypsy-camp for a weekend or so.

And just a thought, it being Montana and all, it might be a good idea to set a date for sometime next summer when everything is melted.

[T'a Nuk]

That is a very good point Corvidus. Our winter generally starts around October, and our summers can be warm and dry, causing concern for camp fires. My thought was sometime in early June. Our latitude means that it stays light until after 10 pm, and early summer/late spring is dry and warm, mostly.

Thank you Snow. I have taken your advice and visited the Chamber offices this morning. They in turn pointed me toward the county offices. It seems that there is a huge difference between hosting an event on private vs. public land, especially involving camping and sales of any kind. It even gets sticky if you want to welcome non-service dogs! I will place an ad looking for any local landowner interested in participating. This is complicated, but totally possible.

It would be interesting to know the sort of things you guys would like to see at such an event.

[Firebird]

I would like to tune in on this one.
I've wanted a festival in this area for a long time. There is a campout in our local mountains here in June, but it is already too hot for my liking by then. Maybe you're quest will entice me to organize something here earlier like in March, but I would love a trip to Montana, haven't been in about 35 years, maybe more.
Some things I would like to see at an event is: live music, music workshops, drumming circles, nature hikes, survival workshops, fairy gardens, meditation zone, yoga classes, speakers on various subjects, astrology, runnes, herbs, tarot etc as well as thelogic topics. Workshops for making magical tools, sweat lodge, spiritual chitaqua circles, labyrinths ...I'm sure there more but I'm tired, nitey nite
bb, Firebird

[T'a Nuk]

Nice, a sort of combination of a Celtic Festival, Spiritual Fair, and Pow Wow weekend. Also maybe some herbalist vendors, musicians, performers, etc...

[corvidus]

My thought was sometime in early June. Our latitude means that it stays light until after 10 pm, and early summer/late spring is dry and warm, mostly.

Yeah. Here's an interesting calender I came across:

http://pagancalendar.co.uk/index.php?go ... otomonth=6

The Summer Solstice is on Wednesday, June 21st.

[Firebird]

So will we all be making a pilgrimage to Montana this summer?