Harvest Homecoming: Harness the Light
August 29 at 3:00 pm to September 1 at 3:00 pm
Image: “The Sun at His Eastern Gate” by William Blake
This special event is a favorite of many at Oak Spirit Sanctuary. A homecoming for Oak Spirits and for new and old friends alike! This year’s theme encourages us to connect with divine light from within and without to renew and fortify ourselves to bring our gifts to our communities and our world.
This family friendly festival includes long standing OSS traditions like our Triple Goddess Grape Stomp, the annual chili cook-off contest, as well as our annual church meeting on Sunday.
Programming runs Friday to Sunday evening with a “casual camping” Monday, with no scheduled programming, for those who wish to stay over until Labor Day.
Please read this entire event page. This will be the place with the most complete event information.
Featured at this Event:
- Three dynamic rituals
- A variety of workshops and activities
- Special Guest presenters and performers
- Community Shrine Tending
- Annual Chili Cook-off Contest
- Community Potluck dinner
- OSS traditional bardic circle/ community bonfire time
- Basket Raffle
Special Entertainer:
Krista Chapman Green
A native Texan, I finally found my forever home over 15 years ago, in the foothills of Arkansas. With that move, a huge shift started within myself that there was no escaping. I am thankful for those changes every day of my life. As a long-time solitary practitioner of a very eclectic but nature-based path, I found the spaces and places that fit the pieces of my soul back together like a puzzle in my new surroundings. My two greatest loves, writing and music began to flow together in the climate of the perpetual beauty of this place I know is the home of my heart.
My music is a strong reflection of my walk with the Goddess in all her names and forms , while also acknowledging and recognizing the rural folk roots of my soul.
I am a full time Mother, Lover and Friend, my life is full and blessed. I am surrounded by people who love and support me daily in the work of making my dreams my realities.
My life and the lives of so many others that have touched me along the way are hidden here in the words and melodies of my music. Stories of hope, despair , joy and love. Of my relationships with those I follow and those I am still learning so much about.
Thank you, for joining me on my journey. May you find comfort , or laughter, tears or strength in my words somewhere.
What to Bring to this Event:
To have the grandest experience of Harvest Homecoming, please consider bringing the following items:
**Snacks, Appetizers, Adult beverages, Non-alcoholic drinks if you wish to contribute something to the opening Social Hour
**A potluck dish for about 10 to 12 people with ingredients labeled. Please keep your food item appropriately cooled for food safety considerations until cooking or presenting. If you need help with keeping your item cold until needed, let an event organizer know.
**Chili if you wish to enter the cooking contests. This dish will then immediately become part of the community potluck.
**Grapes for the Triple Goddess Grape Stomp–Any kind of grape. Please do not wash the grapes with fruit and vegetable wash beforehand.
**Drums, percussion and acoustic instruments for Bardic Circle and Talent Share
**Since the weather may be hot: fun water play items to keep cool. Toys like super soakers, small kiddie pools (inflatable or solid plastic), but no plastic water balloons please. A shallow, inflatable pool will be available for cooling off, so bring swim suits or pool clothing.
**Items to place on the Community Shrine that represent your individual tradition, craft, or practice. This shrine will be a symbol of the diversity of practice found in our community. Examples: items like: statues, print images, stones, tools, flowers, candles. These items will be collected by their owners before departure.
Event Itinerary
More information forthcoming
Gate Hours
Gate will open on Friday at 3:00 and close at 9:00 PM Friday and Saturday nights. No entries from 9:00 pm unless other arrangements have been made by contacting info@oakspiritsanctuary.org.
Although the gate is closed at 9:00 PM, this is for entries and anyone can leave the property at any time.
Gate opens at 9:00 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. Event closes at 3:00 PM Sunday.
If you are attending with a Saturday Day Pass, you must leave by midnight.
Overnight Stays at this Event
Camping on the land is included with this event. Please be prepared for any kind of weather event.
If you wish to reserve space inside the retreat center for sleeping, this is an additional fee of $10. per person. This is on a first come/ first served basis. There will be an “add-on” option when you register. Only choose this if your request for retreat space has been approved.
You will need to email info@oakspiritsanctuary.org to request sleeping space and check on availability.
You will need to bring your own sleeping set-up: cot, inflatable air mattress, and all bed linens/ pillows. You may use the kitchen for the preparation of your food.
The Basics of Camping at OSS
The grounds of OSS are open and do not have designated camping sites as one might expect at a state park campground. You may camp anywhere that is not a ritual or community space. Tent, pull-behind campers, and drivable camping vehicles are all allowed.
Camping is rustic: there are no electric or water hook-ups, no flush toilets. Porta-potties are available on site. Frog Bog (shower house) will be in operation for this event.
OSS does not offer trash disposal services. Please plan to remove your own trash and recycling.
Pets may attend but must be leashed and under control at all times.
Natural Laws of Oak Spirit Sanctuary
We strongly recommend reading through the “Natural Laws” document to become familiar with the basic policies regarding land use and personal conduct when visiting and camping at OSS.
Accessibility
If you have accessibility challenges and need more information about the grounds or amenities at OSS or how we can best help you, please contact info@oakspiritsanctuary.org.
Event Pricing and Dates of Pricing Changes
July 18th: Online registration opens with an early discount for 2 weeks
August 4th: Regular event price begins
August 26th: Online registration ends, At-the-Gate registration will be available
| Early Discount Available 7/18 to 8/3 | Regular Price From 8/4 to 8/26 | At-The-Gate | |
| Full Event | $45. | $55. | $60. |
| Saturday Day Pass | $25. | $25. | $30. |
Please note that one of the workshops is a special craft that will require extra materials fee. You can choose to opt in at registration to pay this fee and reserve your spot for this workshop.
Work vouchers may be used for discounts up to half off the entry price. Work vouchers are transferable to others. Please contact info@oakspiritsanctuary.org to receive a special code to use your vouchers.
OSS can accept cash or card payments.
Saturday Day Pass: Arrive as early as 9:00 when gate opens. Must leave event by Saturday night, midnight.
Purchase Registration through Zeffy
Use link below. Please note that Zeffy automates its ticketing fees at a certain percentage. You can change this to a different amount (even zero).
If you wish to participate in the Dye-Pot Ceremony with Botanical Dyes, there is a materials fee option in the Zeffy registration process. You have a choice of silk ($10.00) or cotton ($5.00). The fabrics used need to be prepared ahead of time for the dye process, so we need a count of how many of each kind of fabric are needed. If interested, please reserve your spot and add your choice of fabric for all who wish to participate when you register for Harvest Homecoming.
Vendors
Vending for merchants and craft people is available at this event. There is no extra fee for vending with your paid registration, but OSS asks for a donation of an item for use in future fundraising. Please plan on registering online and filling out the vendor application below rather than “at the gate” registration.
Financial Assistance for Event Attendance
OSS wishes to decrease barriers to event attendance. If you are experiencing financial hardship that makes it difficult to attend one of the ticketed weekend festivals, please see the information in the document linked below.
Information and Forms for Financial Assistance for OSS Events
Questions?
We have answers! Please email info@oakspiritsanctuary.org