Queer Spirit Festival 2024 - Joining Information

Please find some useful and important information below that will really assist in making Queer Spirit festival a safe, welcoming and fun space for all. We appreciate there are a lot of words here, but feel sure you will get the most out of the festival if you can take a few minutes to read everything.

Venue: Bridwell Park

Arrival - Gates will open to the public from 2pm on Thursday 15^th August.

The entrance to the festival is from the east gate (not the west gate used in the 2023 festival) and we have a 'pull-in' at the Box office where we will use your ticket to check you in and issue you with your wristband. You can print out your e-ticket or show it on a mobile device. If you can not manage this we should be able to find you on our list if you let us know your ticket number and your registered name, however we may ask you to show some form of picture ID for this. After checking in you should get back in your car and head to the parking areas.

For those arriving in vehicles, after you have checked in, our stewards will direct you to parking. No vehicles will be allowed past the car parks onto the main festival site unless we have authorised your vehicle for access needs (you must inform us in advance), Camping is not allowed in the car park. Please be aware that you will need to have a car park ticket for your car, so if you are arriving by car, please ensure you have purchased one from the website - only 1 ticket per car is required irrespective of number of occupants.

Further travel information can be found here https://queerspirit.net/festival/location

If you have access needs, stewards and welfare will be on hand to assist you.

Departure - All participants MUST have left the site by 3pm on Monday 19^th August at the latest.

If you haven’t already, please do read through the festival terms and conditions. There is also a PDF copy available.

Camping - The site has various camping areas and you are welcome to camp in whichever feels right for you:

• Quiet camping - Please respect that this area is intended to be kept quiet.
• Camping with kids - Next to the new 'Children and Young People' space (CYP)
• General camping - The main campsite. Please, for safety's sake, camp away from the trees. 
• Women’s Space camping - Hosted by LezBeMindul, this is a safe space for lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer,
  questioning and non-binary people.
• Accessible camping - Close to the main road and will have welfare people on hand to offer any assistance you may require. 
• Live-ins - Please note you will need to have purchased a live-in pass to park in these areas.
• Glamping - If you have booked glamping, please let the box office know when you arrive and they can make sure you get checked in to that.

Young People - Young people are the responsibility of their parents at all times. Our under 18’s wristbands have a space for a contact phone number on and we kindly ask you to write one on there as part of the arrival check-in.

Access needs - If you have any access needs in terms of setting up your tent, moving about the site etc, please do get in touch with us as soon as you can before the festival, so we can work with you to find ways to assist.

Parkland Deer - the venue has a herd of parkland deer which roam freely all year round within designated areas of the Park. To protect them please clear up all rubbish from the ground and keep all dogs on leads at all times.

The deer must never be approached by any persons coming to the festival for any event whatsoever. Whilst the Deer are a very beautiful and prominent feature of the venues landscape, they should always be considered a wild and dangerous species who would not hesitate to act vigorously and aggressively to protect their calves or themselves. If provoked, a Deer could seriously harm if not kill a dog, another animal or human being.

Health and well-being - please do be aware that we ask everyone to be responsible for their own well being at the festival. If you have an ongoing medical condition please inform the welfare team in advance and if possible carry evidence with you. We have a welfare team just in case things get a bit much for you but prevention is better than cure often. 

There will be a lot going on and you may be tempted to try new things which is great, but do always check in with yourself how you are feeling and remember it’s okay to stop and take time out at any time.

As a responsible adult we do also encourage you to be aware of safer sex practices and although we will endeavour to have safer sex supplies on site, please do consider bringing your own - after all, you know what you like best.
See our covid & health policy

Medications - please do bring any prescription medications you may need. If you need any special storage (such as a fridge) please do contact us before the festival to chat about this.

Nudity - People sometimes have different definitions of nudity, for Queer Spirit we are defining it as full or below the waist nudity of any body.
Queer Spirit is very much a festival that encourages people to express their true self and for some people, they may choose to express that through nudity.  We welcome 'respectful' nudity in the main Queer Spirit festival area. We also respect the venues request that nudity is kept out of the the rest of the grounds owned by Bridwell Park.

When we talk about respectful nudity, we ask that people be sensitive to the reactions of young people or those not used to clothing optional spaces. There are many nuances around 'nudity' and we understand people can feel unsafe around nudity even when there is no overtly sexual behaviour, contact, or even proximity, for a variety of understandable and valid reasons. We encourage people to talk to a steward, the info point, or the welfare team about any issues they may have.

We reserve the right to ask anyone, at any time to either put on clothes or exit a space or area. If someone’s state of nudity is regarded as sexually inappropriate, we will ask them to cover themselves and if this request is not followed, the person will be asked to leave the site.

Weather - British summer is notorious for being unpredictable, so we do suggest you bring sunscreen and sun-hat as well as waterproofs and boots. Also an extra jumper or blanket for sitting round the fire at night. Please watch out for and be aware of dehydration in hot weather - bring a water bottle that you can carry around site with you. All taps on site will be drinking water unless clearly stated.

Green & Eco friendly - at the festival and the site we strive to be as gentle on the land as we can. If you plan to bring wet wipes, soap and other cleaning products, please do only bring eco-friendly products. Also if you possibly can, be prepared to take all your rubbish and recycling home with you. If this is impossible then please rinse and sort your recycling and put in containers provided. Please do not leave us to clear up your camping space when you leave!

Comfort - we recommend to bring a cushion to sit on for workshops, meditations etc (maybe bring your yoga mat too, though we will have some on site). Also “nesting” material such as blankets, throws etc can be great if you are thinking of going to some of the more sensual workshops. Camping chairs are good for carrying around the festival site.

Food - There will be a range of food available to purchase on site which is all vegetarian or vegan.  The Bridwell catering options may also include meat and fish. You are also welcome to self cater any food you bring with you including meat and fish etc although we do ask you to be considerate of other campers. All sources of heat for cooking must be off the ground so as not to scorch it.

To help keep the festival as green as we can, we encourage everyone to bring their own cups, plates, knives etc.  There will be washing up facilities next to the main café.

Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs - Queer Spirit Festival doesn't sell alcohol at the festival, although it will be available as part of a meal in the Orangery café (run by Bridwell). You are welcome to bring your own alcohol, but only for your personal use..

Smoking of any kind (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in any of the structures at the festival. We ask that cigarette butts are properly extinguished, disposed of safely and not left in the ground - not only can they pose a fire risk, they may be eaten by the resident deers.

Recreational drugs are not tolerated at our event and this is also a condition of our Licence. Failing to respect this will result in the person being asked to leave or detained by security teams and the police called. We reserve the right to search persons, luggage or vehicles as a condition of entry at any point during the event.

Money - there isn’t a cash point on site so do bring any money you may need (eg for cafe, for healing treatments or purchases from the festival traders). The nearest cashpoint is about 5 miles away.

Mobile phones - the signal is not so bad considering we are in a field although we do encourage everyone to think about embracing person to person connection as much as possible at the festival. We will have limited charging available in the Village hall, available for a small donation, but please be aware you should also bring your own charger unit and cable to plug into it. The charging station is often very over-booked so we do encourage you to bring your own solar powered charge system, as these are available at very low cost and help us produce less CO₂

Festival Ceremonies - Opening Ceremony – Big Top, Thursday 8pm, Full Moon Ceremony – Sunday, 3pm, Closing Circle – Workshop Dome, Monday 10am.  Full details can be found in the online and printed programmes.

Workshops - please be on time for start of workshops if you wish to participate. Once a workshop door is closed there will be no late entry. Some workshops are age restricted, this is marked on the on-line programme and also some information on age suitability can be found in the printed programme. Unless otherwise stated, all workshops operate on a first come first served basis and if very popular we may have to limit the number of participants.

All 'Outdoor' workshops meet at the Village Hall. For workshops in the Temple of Sacred Sexuality, please make sure you have read the specific information for that area, ideally before the festival.

Market Day.  Saturday 10am - 4pm.  Festival attendees are welcome to fly pitch, offering their crafts/tarot readings/etc. We ask simply that you donate 10% of your takings to the festival funds.

Camping tips - for those who feel the cold more, putting a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag before you go out for the evening means you can come home to a cosy bed. Although we will have lighting on site, a torch is always handy to have with you especially if you remember to carry it with you before it gets dark!
A good concept at festivals is not to bring anything you don’t mind losing - the site is a big field where things can get lost and your home is often just made out of canvas with minimal security. Although we will have a lost & found space at the festival, we are not liable for anything you may lose. You may wish to think about registering items (for free) at https://www.immobilise.com

Safety - Please make sure there is plenty of space between tents to minimise the risk of fire, our stewards will be on hand if you are not sure about positioning etc. Please do not have candles, t-lights, barbecues or other types of fires/flames inside tents.

Gas camping appliances may only be used according to safety instructions and in the open air, or in properly fitted campervan/caravan (gas cookers and barbecues can emit carbon monoxide - you cannot see or smell it but it is a deadly gas and so you need to be using in conjunction with a correctly fitted chimney.)

Main pathways will be well lit but please bring a torch with you. Keep pathways/fire lanes free of tents and guy ropes.

Please pay attention to any health and safety information given, for example at the sauna. Please wash hands before touching food and use hand-wash provided at toilets. Extra care around hygiene can ensure that diseases are not passed around. Please be aware of fire safety and supervise young people around fires.

Pre-festival connections - Why not join our (free!) online social at queerspirit.net/social where you can post for travel shares, ask questions and connect with others. To connect with some of the performers, you can tune in to 'Festival friends' 4 - 5pm on Saturday and also 11 - midday on Monday, Wednesday & Friday on Sanctity of Sound streaming service. 

Respect and Consent - we are working to make Queer Spirit Festival as safe a place as we possibly can. As lgbtqi+ people, we are often reminded how unsafe the world can be for us, and the festival has, in part, been created out of the need for spaces free from homophobic and transphobic abuse. Issues of consent are incredibly important, not just in the sacred sexuality workshops but all over the site: when we dance, when we meet people for the first time and offer a hug (there are many people who don’t wish to receive hugs), when we admire others outfit or hairstyle, and when we say goodnight. It can also be relevant in our conversations with others, when we may wish to ask personal questions or open up a conversation about an emotive topic. When you are unfamiliar with a person’s boundaries it is essential to ask. More on this on the website 'Queer Spirit Ethos' 

Official 'Merch' Shop

Don't forget to order your Queer spirit merchandise  - we suggest you place orders a minimum of 2 weeks before the festival to ensure they arrive on time. 

Please note that items are only available by mail order, we don't sell them at the festival. All profits go to Queer Spirit Festival.

Queer Spirit Festival is a non-profit community event, run by volunteers.
Please help us spread the word by inviting your friends!

The Queer Spirit ethos

Respect for the Earth

To seek to use sustainable resources as far as possible, protect the earth from further harm and work for earth healing through magical/spiritual practice and through supporting environmental activism. To 'tread lightly on the earth' and to 'take nothing but memories and leave nothing but love'.

Respect for all humans and their choices and boundaries

To create a safe space free from all forms of abuse and coercion. To respect the principles of consent and ensure that they are implemented in all activities, workshops and areas.

Respect for spirit

To honour all spiritual practices that are based on love for the land and its inhabitants. To remember in all we do that we are not working for profit but for the honouring of spirit, the land and its people. To honour all spirits, deities and Folk who live on the land (or are visiting for our events) and those who are their messengers.

Reflect the diversity of LGBT+ people

To attempt, in all areas of our events, to include people from a wide range of genders and sexualities, ethnicities and cultures, ages and backgrounds and from a wide variety of spiritual paths. To ensure that personnel are not composed predominantly of people from a small number of communities or identities.

Work for equality

To seek to make spaces free from homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ageism, racism, classism, the oppression of disabled people and young people and any other forms of oppression. To ensure equal opportunities for people from marginalised groups.

Inclusion

To aim to make our events as accessible as possible to all who wish to attend. This includes providing as much access support as is feasibly and financially possible for disabled people, providing suitable activities for people of all ages, and supporting others who may find events difficult to access due to marginalisation, mental health problems, poverty or for any other reason.

Carbon offsetting

We continually work to minimise our carbon emissions for each festival based on our experiences in previous events.  If you are coming to the festival by plane or car you might want to look at offsetting the carbon emission from your journey.

Planting trees - Woodland trust has a simple way to allow you to offset your carbon emissions by the use of trees.

The Carbon Neutral calculator allows you to donate money to carbon offsetting projects.

Respect and Consent

We are working to make Queer Spirit Festival as safe a place as we possibly can. As LGBT+ people we are often reminded of how unsafe the world can be for us, and the festival has, in part, been created out of the need of LGBT+ people for spaces free from homophobic and transphobic abuse.

Being safe can mean physical safety; we have procedures in place to deal with situations that might occur around this. It also involves emotional and energetic safety; having our boundaries respected and respecting other people’s boundaries at all times. We are a gloriously diverse community, and this will be reflected in the different ways that we perceive, enjoy, and react to, the contacts we have with each other. It is essential to not make assumptions about another person’s boundaries and limits, but to ask and take notice of what it there. It is also crucial that we listen our own ‘yes’ and ‘no’s’, that we understand what is right for ourselves and honour that. When a ‘no’ is present (for yourself or from others) that needs to be heard and met with kindness and respect, not with pressure, shame, guilt or criticism.

Consent is also fluid; this changes over time. You may have had a fabulous experience with a person in a workshop earlier in the festival and are keen to continue, but it is important to check in and see where they are at. Moreover, whilst words are useful ways of communicating our boundaries there are many other ways are feelings can be shown; our bodies, our breath, our facial expressions and energy that is present in the moment. If you notice a shift in the dynamic between you this is an opportunity to check in, both with yourself and others.      

Issues of consent are incredibly important, not just in the sacred sexuality workshops but all over the site: when we dance, when we meet people for the first time and offer a hug (there are many people who don’t wish to receive hugs), when we admire another’s outfit or hairstyle, and when we say goodnight. It can also be relevant in our conversations with others, when we may wish to ask personal questions or open up a conversation about an emotive topic. When you are unfamiliar with a person’s boundaries it is essential to ask.

We understand that people can misjudge a situation, and will communicate with all concerned as respectfully as we can, and give people opportunities to change non-consensual behaviour. But we will take any incidents seriously and if necessary, ask people to leave site and involve the relevant authorities if appropriate. We will also support people who have had their boundaries disrespected and will not expect them to deal with situations alone. Instead facilitators, if in workshop spaces, and organisers or stewards, if generally on the site, will deal with the situation. We also have a 24hr Welfare and Access Team who are available to speak with (or simply just be with) any offer any support you require.