Welcome to "The Gods Are Bored!" We hand out free advice and then pay you to take it ... because that's the kind of give-back society we live in these days. Please let me know if you haven't taken a single pay cut since 1990. I'll be amazed.
I somehow can't leave comment replies when I'm at work, so today I'm addressing a commenter who wishes there was a festival in his or her area.
The Spoutwood festival began with a group of close friends who gathered on May Day for a picnic. Everyone brought something, and fairy attire was optional. Through word of mouth, the picnic grew year by year. The key is that it didn't remain one little clique, and all were welcome.
My free advice to those of you who have no faerie/Pagan events in your area is to invite all of your friends and acquaintances to a picnic in some benign (and shady) local park. If you're really motivated, you can rent or reserve a pavillion. Facebook would be helpful to get the word out. Start with modest but festive attire, and bring any instrument you know how to play.
From such humble origins grew one of the largest fairy festivals on the East Coast. If you ask me, the key is to find a terrific location where people can socialize and then wander around enjoying the beauty. I would also choose a date in May or June when the weather is at its most benign. (Earlier in the South if it's very warm.)
Perhaps another key is to minimize the Pagan element of the gathering, acknowledging Beltane but not omitting your Christian friends. There's no way a May Day event will ever turn Christian, so you can add rituals as the thing gets traction.
So, there you have it! At the very least a fun picnic, at the most the beginning of something that will spin major.
Blessed be,
Anne
8 comments:
It's true, isn't it? Faeries can cut across a lot of parameters. They're compatible with every creed and religion.
Sydney Ausralia has its very own annual fairy festival, which attracts weirdo's from around the globe' It is called the "Gay Mardi Gras" like Fat Tuesday.
Not my Scene at all, get real man.
I think West is ready for a Faerie Festival..Have to look into that.
A festival that attracts weirdos from around the globe just makes me want to save up my money and go there! Weird is wonderful. And as for a fairy festival in West, I'd say you guys deserve one with bells on!
Hey Anne, has BBC changed his handle to Vest?
Nah, I think Vest is a wandering Aussie. His comments were viewed by Gods and Goddesses of multiple pantheons. I will say no more.
--From Anne
After having our Weekend of Enchantment here in Berkeley Springs, people keep asking me to have another! Still thinking about it, 6 years later! It's a lot of work and not a lot of volunteers. Having been the (volunteer) vendor coordinator of Spoutwood, I've had the opportunity to see that little Festival grow from 1 day and 500 visitors to 3 days and thousands of visitors. The trick is to grow it slowly, reward your volunteers however you can, and try to utilize community resources (Girl Scouts, church groups, etc) as much as possible. I think it's also beneficial to have it on the grounds of a place you can access freely. I feel bad for Fairy Festivals that have to go to a place, work the decorations etc in just a few days, and then after it's over, take everything down! Spoutwood is perfect in this way as well. Also look for lots of parking options!
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