THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL HAS BEEN ALTERED. PLEASE READ.
The St Mary's County Pagan Community cordially invites you to celebrate the Summer Solstice with us on Saturday, June 17th from 1300 to 2200 hrs (that would be 1PM to 10PM for those who don't do the 24 hour format thing) at Chancellor's Point Natural History Area, operated by the wonderful people at Historic St Mary's City. All pagans, heathens, druids, witches, wiccans, polytheists, pantheists, mystics, et ceteras and supportive friends who are part of or connected to our local community are welcome.
Follow the bouncing link list to the rest of the necessary information.
Site Rules are here, please read them. Please note that while the park does allow pets on leashes we are asking you to leave your furry friends home.
This year's Fest is for one day only and there will be no camping on site unless you make your own arrangements with Historic St Mary's City.
The gate will open at 1300. All non-member adults are asked to pay $10 at the gate (previously purchased multi-day tickets are being refunded) and members are asked to pay the usual $5 per adult site fee.
There will be a Sun-honoring rite at 1500. All are welcome to participate, there will be no judgement if you choose for whatever reason to sit it out.
There will be a speaker/led discussion at 1600, where we will talk about finding your own path in a vast and teeming movement.
There will be a Potluck Supper at 1700. Please use this sign up sheet to coordinate dishes.
There will be a bonfire, drumming, stories, dancing, and whatever else strikes our summery fancy from whenever the supper is over to 2200.
We hope you'll still come out and play, even if it's only for one day. We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Upcoming Changes and Midsummer 2017
*throws confetti*
Midsummer 2017 IS HAPPENING!
Don't worry, we were getting kind of nervous too. There are those who would take a look at all of the things that have gotten in the way and simply assume that Something is telling us not to do it. Us being us, we looked at it all and figured that Something was asking us "How much do you want it?"
Midsummer 2017 will be Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18. Pre-registration is expected to go live in the next few days. Pre registration is very strongly encouraged.
There will be some changes from last year, because unlike last year we have a hefty site fee to cover in addition to other operational costs like ice and port-a-johns.
Don't worry too much, all of the things that everyone seemed to enjoy and appreciate last year will be coming back. We're already looking forward to the big potluck dinner on Saturday, a mix of ritual and discussion and workshops to learn and celebrate, story telling around the fire, and a whole pile of kid friendly fun so the entire family has something to enjoy.
The schedule of events and the registration spreadsheet are both ready to go and will become available for use as soon as registration is live. The registration sheet is the same format as last year, and is intended to organize the potluck contributions and give us a working number of guests to expect. The site rules will be linked here and on the Facebook page and displayed on site just like last year. We'll be coordinating firewood, sanitation, and other necessities over the coming days and weeks.
All of this does come at some cost. Prices will be slightly higher this year to cover the site fee. Our usage fees were waived by Historic St Mary's City in 2016 because the site had not been renovated. When you get there, you'll see that the site has indeed been renovated, and more changes are on their way from HSMC. We'll keep you posted.
Now the other order of business.
Also going live in the next few days will be a paid membership option. It's neither a secret nor a surprise that prices are going up everywhere, and space rent, event sanitation, event insurance, and website fees are a real challenge. We estimate that Midsummer is going to cost at least a grand, and that's only one event with no paid entertainment or speakers.
To be perfectly blunt, we don't have that kind of money. We've talked numbers and tested numbers and talked more numbers and tested more numbers until we found a way that we think will provide the best bang for everyone's buck. We're asking everyone who is part of the SMPC for $24 a year. That's it. If everyone pays in, Midsummer and FrostFest will be paid for, we think. Paying members would then expect nice discounts on large events (even at $24 per year, we'll still have some additional costs like insurance for large events like Midsummer) and no-additional-cost members events. Additionally, event costs even for non members and out-of-town guests could stay low if everyone pays in, and we open up the possibility of outside speakers and group field trips and the like.
We know that money and group finances can be a difficult topic to tackle. We've held back on asking for regular, predictable financial input for a long time, but I and the rest of the admin team would really like to stop losing so much money on events. Without going into too much detail on a public forum, last year's FrostFest was a hard lesson for us financially as group organizers and we'd like to avoid having that happen again.
All of this all being said and understood, we do not want this to be a financial burden for anyone. We've set the annual chip-in as low as we think we can, but we do understand that Life Happens. Should Circumstances arise which prevent you from becoming a paying member (and you want to become a paying member) please contact anyone on the admin team. We'll sort something out.
All of us at the SMPC admin team hope you'll stick with us through this change. We have so many talented, magical people here that we feel completely justified in our high hopes for our future.
Midsummer 2017 IS HAPPENING!
Don't worry, we were getting kind of nervous too. There are those who would take a look at all of the things that have gotten in the way and simply assume that Something is telling us not to do it. Us being us, we looked at it all and figured that Something was asking us "How much do you want it?"
Midsummer 2017 will be Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18. Pre-registration is expected to go live in the next few days. Pre registration is very strongly encouraged.
There will be some changes from last year, because unlike last year we have a hefty site fee to cover in addition to other operational costs like ice and port-a-johns.
Don't worry too much, all of the things that everyone seemed to enjoy and appreciate last year will be coming back. We're already looking forward to the big potluck dinner on Saturday, a mix of ritual and discussion and workshops to learn and celebrate, story telling around the fire, and a whole pile of kid friendly fun so the entire family has something to enjoy.
The schedule of events and the registration spreadsheet are both ready to go and will become available for use as soon as registration is live. The registration sheet is the same format as last year, and is intended to organize the potluck contributions and give us a working number of guests to expect. The site rules will be linked here and on the Facebook page and displayed on site just like last year. We'll be coordinating firewood, sanitation, and other necessities over the coming days and weeks.
All of this does come at some cost. Prices will be slightly higher this year to cover the site fee. Our usage fees were waived by Historic St Mary's City in 2016 because the site had not been renovated. When you get there, you'll see that the site has indeed been renovated, and more changes are on their way from HSMC. We'll keep you posted.
Now the other order of business.
Also going live in the next few days will be a paid membership option. It's neither a secret nor a surprise that prices are going up everywhere, and space rent, event sanitation, event insurance, and website fees are a real challenge. We estimate that Midsummer is going to cost at least a grand, and that's only one event with no paid entertainment or speakers.
To be perfectly blunt, we don't have that kind of money. We've talked numbers and tested numbers and talked more numbers and tested more numbers until we found a way that we think will provide the best bang for everyone's buck. We're asking everyone who is part of the SMPC for $24 a year. That's it. If everyone pays in, Midsummer and FrostFest will be paid for, we think. Paying members would then expect nice discounts on large events (even at $24 per year, we'll still have some additional costs like insurance for large events like Midsummer) and no-additional-cost members events. Additionally, event costs even for non members and out-of-town guests could stay low if everyone pays in, and we open up the possibility of outside speakers and group field trips and the like.
We know that money and group finances can be a difficult topic to tackle. We've held back on asking for regular, predictable financial input for a long time, but I and the rest of the admin team would really like to stop losing so much money on events. Without going into too much detail on a public forum, last year's FrostFest was a hard lesson for us financially as group organizers and we'd like to avoid having that happen again.
All of this all being said and understood, we do not want this to be a financial burden for anyone. We've set the annual chip-in as low as we think we can, but we do understand that Life Happens. Should Circumstances arise which prevent you from becoming a paying member (and you want to become a paying member) please contact anyone on the admin team. We'll sort something out.
All of us at the SMPC admin team hope you'll stick with us through this change. We have so many talented, magical people here that we feel completely justified in our high hopes for our future.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Admin Notes- February
Who knew February could be such a busy, productive month?
Thanks to everyone who showed up for our regular bi-weekly coffee meetup, we were able to discuss several suggestions for other activities that members have mentioned as well as get some ideas jotted down for our 2nd Annual Midsummer Festival. It's a good thing our meetings are in a coffee shop.
First, next, and in no particular order, here is a digest version of the ideas that we've been bouncing around.
Several parents in the group have mentioned getting more kid-focused activities moving. Since our Kid Zone was one of the most complimented parts of Midsummer 2016, and our generally kid-friendly structure has been consistently appreciated... this just makes sense. The current leading theory is that we'd like to start up a Spiral Scouts chapter here in the county. We are currently soliciting feedback on this idea. If you are currently or are thinking about becoming a member of the SMPC and you would like to see a Spiral Scouts chapter opened up, please let us know either on Facebook or in the comments here. Please be aware that opening a chapter will require a time commitment from parents and guardians as well.
We are still bouncing ideas around for alternate social media sites. Those ideas have included this blog, a newsletter, an email group, and a message board/forum. Facebook will not be going away even if we do have other options. This idea keeps reappearing largely because Facebook- while great for casual conversation- is not the best facilitator for drawn out discussions or document sharing. We've use Google Docs for document sharing in the past with some success but have been considering a message board as a way of collecting all functions in one site. If you have an opinion or suggestion please let us know either by commenting here or in the Facebook group.
With huge thanks to the people who have already been contributing their time and effort, we'll be setting up a more consistent Tip Jar at all future events, and probably setting up an online version as well. By 'consistent' all we mean is that it will be a recognizable thing with a sign... not that we expect people to consistently throw large sums of cash into it. We're not passing a plate, here. All contributions will be anonymous and the amount available will be reported regularly. We'll always let you know publicly how it's being spent. But we do need to have it available, as we'll soon be purchasing and printing and reserving for Midsummer.
Speaking of Midsummer!
SMPC's 2nd Annual Midsummer Festival will be: Friday June 16th through Sunday June 18th 2017!
There will be Fires! There will be Ritual! There will be a return of the Epic Table-Creaking Community Potluck! Huzzah!
Ahem. Yes. Further information, such as the actual schedule of events, pricing, sign up sheets and et cetera will be forthcoming. We will be looking for tables, canopies, coolers, and volunteers to staff registration, food prep, and kid zones. Expect the schedule to be similar to last year and weekend attendee prices to be around the $25 mark. Beyond that, we're still sorting.
Before I go! Keep an eye on the Google Calendar and the list of Facebook Events over the next few days/week as we update events for the year. If you are interested in a particular holiday, if your group is hosting an open event for a holiday, or something similar is going on that you think belongs on our community calendar, please don't hesitate to comment here, contact us on Facebook, or email us directly using any of the links just provided.
Thanks to everyone who showed up for our regular bi-weekly coffee meetup, we were able to discuss several suggestions for other activities that members have mentioned as well as get some ideas jotted down for our 2nd Annual Midsummer Festival. It's a good thing our meetings are in a coffee shop.
First, next, and in no particular order, here is a digest version of the ideas that we've been bouncing around.
Several parents in the group have mentioned getting more kid-focused activities moving. Since our Kid Zone was one of the most complimented parts of Midsummer 2016, and our generally kid-friendly structure has been consistently appreciated... this just makes sense. The current leading theory is that we'd like to start up a Spiral Scouts chapter here in the county. We are currently soliciting feedback on this idea. If you are currently or are thinking about becoming a member of the SMPC and you would like to see a Spiral Scouts chapter opened up, please let us know either on Facebook or in the comments here. Please be aware that opening a chapter will require a time commitment from parents and guardians as well.
We are still bouncing ideas around for alternate social media sites. Those ideas have included this blog, a newsletter, an email group, and a message board/forum. Facebook will not be going away even if we do have other options. This idea keeps reappearing largely because Facebook- while great for casual conversation- is not the best facilitator for drawn out discussions or document sharing. We've use Google Docs for document sharing in the past with some success but have been considering a message board as a way of collecting all functions in one site. If you have an opinion or suggestion please let us know either by commenting here or in the Facebook group.
With huge thanks to the people who have already been contributing their time and effort, we'll be setting up a more consistent Tip Jar at all future events, and probably setting up an online version as well. By 'consistent' all we mean is that it will be a recognizable thing with a sign... not that we expect people to consistently throw large sums of cash into it. We're not passing a plate, here. All contributions will be anonymous and the amount available will be reported regularly. We'll always let you know publicly how it's being spent. But we do need to have it available, as we'll soon be purchasing and printing and reserving for Midsummer.
Speaking of Midsummer!
SMPC's 2nd Annual Midsummer Festival will be: Friday June 16th through Sunday June 18th 2017!
There will be Fires! There will be Ritual! There will be a return of the Epic Table-Creaking Community Potluck! Huzzah!
Ahem. Yes. Further information, such as the actual schedule of events, pricing, sign up sheets and et cetera will be forthcoming. We will be looking for tables, canopies, coolers, and volunteers to staff registration, food prep, and kid zones. Expect the schedule to be similar to last year and weekend attendee prices to be around the $25 mark. Beyond that, we're still sorting.
Before I go! Keep an eye on the Google Calendar and the list of Facebook Events over the next few days/week as we update events for the year. If you are interested in a particular holiday, if your group is hosting an open event for a holiday, or something similar is going on that you think belongs on our community calendar, please don't hesitate to comment here, contact us on Facebook, or email us directly using any of the links just provided.
Monday, December 19, 2016
Calendar Updates
This is just a quick note to let our readers know that we have updated as much of 2017s schedule of holidays and events as we can think of at present. If no specific event information is given for a holiday, then no event has been planned for it... yet.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Post-Fest Debriefing for Frost Fest 2016
If I hadn't had a cold-weather sleeping bag I'd have woken up with frostbite.
The cold kept many away who had previously expressed interest in attending the Fest. You were missed, but I completely understand. Overnight temperatures in the mid twenties are no joke, and without the right gear sleeping in that is dangerous. Most of the crowd chose to come by during the day and evening to spend time around the fire, engage in conversation, drink homebrew, eat epic chili, and tell stories around the late fire. It wasn't too bad, next to the fire. We cleaned up a lot of the site's dead-fall for them. (Many thanks to those who helped drag and cut up dead-fall for the fire. You kept us warm clear through midnight with that fire.) At least the Fest was accurately and descriptively named. The frost formed thick and sparkling white under the waxing moon. The air smelled of ice. Beautiful and intense.
The small turnout had the effect of creating a very different atmosphere than our larger and more structured Midsummer Festival, not the least of which was how much more food there was per person when we all cooked for a crowd. (If you missed out on the chili, you really missed out. Or the potato soup. Delicious.) We pulled our circle tight around the fire as we pulled stories from all over and drafts from the keg. The group bonding was for real, tempered in ice and fire and frozen stops at the port-a-john. (Still less unpleasant than a port-a-john in the heat of summer, though.)
Speaking of port-a-johns (might be the only time I've ever used that segue...) the site has had some updates since our last visit. The composting toilet is almost finished. We will still need a port-a-john for Midsummer, seeing as it's a larger event than a single composting head can handle, but there is a toilet at drum circles now, and for smaller events.
The only real downside to having the event turn out more like an extended Fire Circle than an organized Fest is that we're pretty much certain that not everyone who came through paid in. This is not to say that people didn't contribute in other ways, but the folks running Historic St Mary's City do expect to be paid, and the port-a-john wasn't free. We knew that with such a small crowd we wouldn't recoup everything, but we weren't expecting to come up quite that short.
More organization on our part, next time.
I have zero complaints about the Fest itself. Everything that went went well, even if the perchten only had a few people to watch their parade of spooky glory (and faceplants...frost that heavy is super slippery and guess who couldn't see sh*t out of their mask...)
Next year, more perchten! With bells and drums and some folks dressed as beautiful perchten to bring in the good luck after the ugly perchen have chased the evil spirits/bad luck away!
Next year more people, hopefully, to share the fire and the food and the stories.
Next year... well... what else next year? We'll be at coffee this Sunday (our usual time and place- 10AM at Coffee Quarter in San Souci Plaza) to talk about what we liked and what we'd like to do better. We'll also be talking about trying to get some folks together specifically for Yule/Solstice (No pressure, we all know that scheduling anything around the hooplah of X-Mas is insane.) and also a little bit about what we'd like to get on the schedule for next year. If you can make it out for this one, that would be great. If you can't, then I wish you a blessed Yule, a very Merry Solstice, and a Happy Christmas to the Christian allies we've got out there. May the New Year bring you prosperity, peace, and joy.
The cold kept many away who had previously expressed interest in attending the Fest. You were missed, but I completely understand. Overnight temperatures in the mid twenties are no joke, and without the right gear sleeping in that is dangerous. Most of the crowd chose to come by during the day and evening to spend time around the fire, engage in conversation, drink homebrew, eat epic chili, and tell stories around the late fire. It wasn't too bad, next to the fire. We cleaned up a lot of the site's dead-fall for them. (Many thanks to those who helped drag and cut up dead-fall for the fire. You kept us warm clear through midnight with that fire.) At least the Fest was accurately and descriptively named. The frost formed thick and sparkling white under the waxing moon. The air smelled of ice. Beautiful and intense.
The small turnout had the effect of creating a very different atmosphere than our larger and more structured Midsummer Festival, not the least of which was how much more food there was per person when we all cooked for a crowd. (If you missed out on the chili, you really missed out. Or the potato soup. Delicious.) We pulled our circle tight around the fire as we pulled stories from all over and drafts from the keg. The group bonding was for real, tempered in ice and fire and frozen stops at the port-a-john. (Still less unpleasant than a port-a-john in the heat of summer, though.)
Speaking of port-a-johns (might be the only time I've ever used that segue...) the site has had some updates since our last visit. The composting toilet is almost finished. We will still need a port-a-john for Midsummer, seeing as it's a larger event than a single composting head can handle, but there is a toilet at drum circles now, and for smaller events.
The only real downside to having the event turn out more like an extended Fire Circle than an organized Fest is that we're pretty much certain that not everyone who came through paid in. This is not to say that people didn't contribute in other ways, but the folks running Historic St Mary's City do expect to be paid, and the port-a-john wasn't free. We knew that with such a small crowd we wouldn't recoup everything, but we weren't expecting to come up quite that short.
More organization on our part, next time.
I have zero complaints about the Fest itself. Everything that went went well, even if the perchten only had a few people to watch their parade of spooky glory (and faceplants...frost that heavy is super slippery and guess who couldn't see sh*t out of their mask...)
Next year, more perchten! With bells and drums and some folks dressed as beautiful perchten to bring in the good luck after the ugly perchen have chased the evil spirits/bad luck away!
Next year more people, hopefully, to share the fire and the food and the stories.
Next year... well... what else next year? We'll be at coffee this Sunday (our usual time and place- 10AM at Coffee Quarter in San Souci Plaza) to talk about what we liked and what we'd like to do better. We'll also be talking about trying to get some folks together specifically for Yule/Solstice (No pressure, we all know that scheduling anything around the hooplah of X-Mas is insane.) and also a little bit about what we'd like to get on the schedule for next year. If you can make it out for this one, that would be great. If you can't, then I wish you a blessed Yule, a very Merry Solstice, and a Happy Christmas to the Christian allies we've got out there. May the New Year bring you prosperity, peace, and joy.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Frost Fest! Plus some fun :)
Are you ready? It's this weekend! That's right, Frost Fest!
There will be cold. There will be fire. There will be ritual. There will be food. There might even be a mini-parade of perchten roaming through to drive away evil spirits and carry off naughty children... what?
Remember that all information about the schedule and site can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wJTryngIknjFfnthox-U18Mf82qy12HONhIUGhHlYmc/edit?usp=sharing
Registration happens here (please remember there is a $10 fee per person over 12 to offset the costs of port-o-let and fuel):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HxTtPMWzKMfnBi9RWbfTn9XmPFMbxLkrwcc2U4llkKQ/edit?usp=sharing
And questions can be answered by contacting us here, via email (smcpagans@gmail.com), or on our Facebook page.
And while we're in the holiday mood, here's a fun one for your enjoyment:
Haa-aa-aappy Holidays!
There will be cold. There will be fire. There will be ritual. There will be food. There might even be a mini-parade of perchten roaming through to drive away evil spirits and carry off naughty children... what?
Remember that all information about the schedule and site can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wJTryngIknjFfnthox-U18Mf82qy12HONhIUGhHlYmc/edit?usp=sharing
Registration happens here (please remember there is a $10 fee per person over 12 to offset the costs of port-o-let and fuel):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HxTtPMWzKMfnBi9RWbfTn9XmPFMbxLkrwcc2U4llkKQ/edit?usp=sharing
And questions can be answered by contacting us here, via email (smcpagans@gmail.com), or on our Facebook page.
And while we're in the holiday mood, here's a fun one for your enjoyment:
Haa-aa-aappy Holidays!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Admin Notes- November 2016
Phew, let's give this thing a whirl, shall we?
All posts will be cross listed in the following locations:
SMCP's Facebook Page
Owl Hill Kindred's Facebook page
Owl Hill Farm's Wordpress blog
Wherever you decide to share it!
It's our hope that by expanding to this platform we can make our events more available to local Pagans, Wiccans, Heathens, Druids, and so on and so forth since we know that not everyone uses or relies on Facebook for their information. In fairness, those people have been spared the worst of the fake news and nastiness from all sides lately. Moving on.
So yes, the biggest thing on our list of notes this time around is Frost Fest. Say it again but with more happy, Frost Fest! Coming up very, very soon (as in, the 9th through the 11th of December!!) after the Thanksgiving holiday, we'll be hanging out at Chancellor's Point in St Mary's City around a fire with a bunch of food and homebrew (for those of legal drinking age) and drums and stories. Come and join the fun. All persons over the age of 12 are asked to pay $10 to cover the cost of renting a port-o-let and buying some essentials like paper to print schedules and waivers, as well as a mess of plates and silverware for the pot luck on Saturday. By the way, there's a potluck on Saturday. One of the admins is bringing something featuring goat- three guesses which one. Come for the discussions, stay for the ritual, food, and epic Story Fire. Fair warning, there may be perchten parading through at some point.
Any and all further information can be discovered in the following ways:
Check out the schedule for this year's Frost Fest at this link and, if you're up for the cold weather camping, sign up at this link. Be aware that there will be the small fee previously mentioned and a waiver/hold harmless agreement that you have to sign. You will also note that there is a column for folks willing to help out with some aspect of the Fest's operations. We'll need a few volunteers to manage the fire, set up for the main meal, help with check in, and that sort of thing. If you are camping overnight, please please please plan on arriving well before sunset to set up camp. Admin will be on site around noon and check in will begin at 1300hrs. Seriously consider being there before 1500 if you can. There are all of ZERO artificial lights to help you after dark. It's part of why we like the place so much. For any and all questions not answered by this post or those links you can seek out more information in any of the following ways:
Comment here
Contact us via our Facebook page- link at the top of the post
Contact us via email at smcpagans@gmail.com
Alright moving on from the EPICNESS that will be Frost Fest 2016, there are some notes about other upcoming events.
Our regular bi-weekly coffee meetups are continuing as planned after last time's most excellent and well-received Crash The UU Service event. Our next coffee meetup is Sunday, the 4th of December, from 1000 to 1200 hrs at the Coffee Quarter in San Souci Plaza. We take up half the establishment most weeks, so we're hard to miss.
It should be noted by all that Frost Fest is taking up our usual monthly drum circle night. Also: DRUM CIRCLE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WILL BE IN AN ALTERNATE LOCATION DUE TO THE TYPICALLY AWFUL WEATHER THAT TIME OF YEAR. Drum Circle MIGHT return to Chancellor's Point in March (March weather can be pretty iffy around here, too) but WILL be back in April. I'm 99% sure of our alternate site, but will wait for the 100% before I give out the wrong directions. Stay tuned.
I think that about sums it up for things happening in the next few weeks.
Everyone I've met has a slightly different feeling about Thanksgiving this week. Me, I'm just happy to take the opportunity for some time off and the excuse for some extra good food. It's the simple things in life, after all. Or is it? We're going into the season of great contrasts- cold darkness and sparkling lights, long nights and thrilling tales of magic. Stick with us if you've already been, and welcome if you're new. I think it will be a worthy journey.
All posts will be cross listed in the following locations:
SMCP's Facebook Page
Owl Hill Kindred's Facebook page
Owl Hill Farm's Wordpress blog
Wherever you decide to share it!
It's our hope that by expanding to this platform we can make our events more available to local Pagans, Wiccans, Heathens, Druids, and so on and so forth since we know that not everyone uses or relies on Facebook for their information. In fairness, those people have been spared the worst of the fake news and nastiness from all sides lately. Moving on.
So yes, the biggest thing on our list of notes this time around is Frost Fest. Say it again but with more happy, Frost Fest! Coming up very, very soon (as in, the 9th through the 11th of December!!) after the Thanksgiving holiday, we'll be hanging out at Chancellor's Point in St Mary's City around a fire with a bunch of food and homebrew (for those of legal drinking age) and drums and stories. Come and join the fun. All persons over the age of 12 are asked to pay $10 to cover the cost of renting a port-o-let and buying some essentials like paper to print schedules and waivers, as well as a mess of plates and silverware for the pot luck on Saturday. By the way, there's a potluck on Saturday. One of the admins is bringing something featuring goat- three guesses which one. Come for the discussions, stay for the ritual, food, and epic Story Fire. Fair warning, there may be perchten parading through at some point.
Any and all further information can be discovered in the following ways:
Check out the schedule for this year's Frost Fest at this link and, if you're up for the cold weather camping, sign up at this link. Be aware that there will be the small fee previously mentioned and a waiver/hold harmless agreement that you have to sign. You will also note that there is a column for folks willing to help out with some aspect of the Fest's operations. We'll need a few volunteers to manage the fire, set up for the main meal, help with check in, and that sort of thing. If you are camping overnight, please please please plan on arriving well before sunset to set up camp. Admin will be on site around noon and check in will begin at 1300hrs. Seriously consider being there before 1500 if you can. There are all of ZERO artificial lights to help you after dark. It's part of why we like the place so much. For any and all questions not answered by this post or those links you can seek out more information in any of the following ways:
Comment here
Contact us via our Facebook page- link at the top of the post
Contact us via email at smcpagans@gmail.com
Alright moving on from the EPICNESS that will be Frost Fest 2016, there are some notes about other upcoming events.
Our regular bi-weekly coffee meetups are continuing as planned after last time's most excellent and well-received Crash The UU Service event. Our next coffee meetup is Sunday, the 4th of December, from 1000 to 1200 hrs at the Coffee Quarter in San Souci Plaza. We take up half the establishment most weeks, so we're hard to miss.
It should be noted by all that Frost Fest is taking up our usual monthly drum circle night. Also: DRUM CIRCLE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WILL BE IN AN ALTERNATE LOCATION DUE TO THE TYPICALLY AWFUL WEATHER THAT TIME OF YEAR. Drum Circle MIGHT return to Chancellor's Point in March (March weather can be pretty iffy around here, too) but WILL be back in April. I'm 99% sure of our alternate site, but will wait for the 100% before I give out the wrong directions. Stay tuned.
I think that about sums it up for things happening in the next few weeks.
Everyone I've met has a slightly different feeling about Thanksgiving this week. Me, I'm just happy to take the opportunity for some time off and the excuse for some extra good food. It's the simple things in life, after all. Or is it? We're going into the season of great contrasts- cold darkness and sparkling lights, long nights and thrilling tales of magic. Stick with us if you've already been, and welcome if you're new. I think it will be a worthy journey.
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