FSG • JUNE 11-16, 2013 • DARLINGTON, MD

Hey there, Free Spirits!!

The theme for FSG XXVIII is “Many Paths,” and you can find the art and a preview of the t-shirt here.

Free Spirit Gathering is the foremost family-friendly Pagan event in the east, perhaps in the country, with 27 years of history giving those of alternative religions a place to be themselves without judgment. Bring your kids! Enjoy the informative workshops during the day and dancing around the fire at night!

Free Spirit Gathering is held at a beautiful campground in NE Maryland. The cabins include newly renovated bathrooms and brand new beds! Or you can pitch a tent on the rolling grounds. There is an in-ground pool with lifeguards on duty during the day as well as hiking trails, a pond, and a labyrinth!

We are currently finalizing this years schedule of fantastic classes. Check out previous years schedule,classes, and presenter information:

http://www.free-spirit.org/Festival/index.php

We haven't forgotten you, and apologize for not having updated our progress sooner. Please respond here with any questions, ideas, and suggestions, and keep watch here on our website, our group page, our event page, and/or our tumblr.


Updates for May 2013:

We've heard your comments and suggestions, and are working hard to incorporate them whenever possible. One that we have heard from several different people is to make the entertainment more interactive and community oriented.

So, for this year, we're aiming to have a COMMUNITY SOCIAL on Wednesday night. Many people have commented that they are too busy putting up tents and settling in on Tuesday night to come to the "Meet and Greet". So, for this year, we've moved it and shook it up some to make it more of what we have heard you like best. This social will be a DJ'd event with *Karaoke*. DJ Mordecai will be spinning the tunes, and hooking you up to sing your favorite songs. Come, bring alternate lyrics to share with the crowd, or just sing it like it was originally done, hang out with people you may not have seen in the last year, and dance 'til you drop. We'll be going from Opening Ritual to the fire circle for an hour or so to light the fires for the week, and then the Community Social will begin.

Additionally, we have had some requests to bring back the BARDIC CIRCLE. This year, we will be offering that as a precursor to the Saturday night concert, so bring your instruments, your voices, your poetry, your stories, and share them with the community. We'll be under a time limit *this* year, but if people like it, and it is successful enough, we'll work hard to try and make it an even bigger event in years to come.

No word yet on Lunchtime Concerts, but we're fast and furiously trying to see if we can make those work for you too for this year.

If you like what you're hearing, come and support these events. These events are nothing without your presence, talents, and SPIRIT!

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN PAGAN EVENT

  • Featured Performer: MYSTIC FOREST

    Enter a mystic realm of enchanting chords and pulsing rhythm that penetrate the very fabric of the material universe. Mystic Forest's music is truly a magical experience that speaks to the soul of the listener. Each performance is a singular occurrence, unrehearsed and free-form. The musicians communicate with sound that transcends language. Samuel Salsbury, Douglas Bischoff, Josh Sherman and Dana Piper illustrate the phenomenon where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When these four gifted artists collaborate, the synergy is powerful and captivating. A live performance is not to be missed! www.mysticforestmusic.com 
    See More Here....

  • Featured Performer: KIVA

    KIVA is a percussive, acoustic, worldbeat ensemble that celebrates the magic of nature and ancient bardic traditions with music that opens the heart and heals the spirit. The band blends strong vocal harmonies with rich and diverse acoustic and electric instrumentation, performing originals, traditionals, and covers. The musicians are inspired by many cultures, spiritual disciplines, and musical styles, including celtic-folk, folk-rock, blues, big band, traditional chants, and jazz. KIVA is based in the Washington DC metro area, and has been nominated fourteen times (so far) for the Washington Area Music (Wammie) Award. www.kivasong.com

  • Featured Performer: HVBRIS

    Once again we are pleased to have Fire Performance artists HVBRIS with us at FSG 2013.... A fun-loving, piratical, licentious, geeky band of fire freaks who seek to entertain and amuse with wickedly creative antics. The founding members of Hubris are Hobbit, Sock Monkey, and Cookie Monster; they and their Fellow Members, Consorts, Attendants, and Other Assorted Hangers-On will be thrilled to introduce you to the magical wonders of the Arts of Fire. Just ask them. www.hvbris.org