Packing List

Here are some packing suggestions to help you have a more enjoyable festival.

Clothing
SpiritFire is an outdoor event. It's camping, but it's comfortable. The festival site is in the Taconic mountains. Average temperatures are between 70 - 80 degrees during the day, 50's and 60's during the night (roughly 21-12 Celsius).

Though the road up to the site is steep, the fire circle and merchant areas are flat and grassy. The camping area is light woods with paths. There's hiking in the surrounding woods if you want to explore.

Suggestions:
both shorts and long pants
clothing that can be layered
light jacket
sweater
rain gear
at least two pairs of shoes
extra pairs of dry socks

Home Sweet Home
A few attendees stay in cabins, and most stay in tents. We've been lucky most of the time, but come prepared for rain. There's no electricity in the cabins. No fire of any kind is permitted in camping areas.

Suggestions:
bedding (for both cooler and warmer weather)
pillow
tent
ground cloth
rain fly
ground pad, air mattress
tarps for your instruments
extra stakes and cord
battery-operated lighting
earplugs for sleeping - the drumming isn't intrusive, but it's audible
eye mask for sleeping during the day

Food
The retreat serves brunch and dinner daily; no dishes are required for the meal plan, but we suggest bringing a labeled travel mug of your own for ease. Dishes are not available for private camping needs, so bring what you need for your personal food stores.

Critters are a concern, but you may keep food at your campsite if it's in a sealable, latchable container. There is no refrigeration available.

Suggestions:
snacks in a sealable container to keep you going through the fire circle or in the afternoon
extra protein - foil packets of tuna or chicken, nuts, peanut butter
any special food or tea you need
water bottle
travel mug

Toiletries
The site has running water, hot showers, and flush toilets. We encourage biodegradable shampoos and soaps, since the showers drain onto the ground.

Suggestions:
regular toiletries and medications
biodegradable soap
two towels (one can get pretty damp)
washcloth
band aids, sports tape, and basic first aid supplies

Outdoor comfort
SpiritFire is an outdoor event.

Suggestions:
flashlight and extra batteries
sunscreen
insect repellent
backjack or folding chair

Workshops and Jam Sessions
Check workshop descriptions for anything special they might require, such as a blanket or particular instruments. A tape recorder could be useful for drum and voice workshops, but please remember to ask before recording. Workshops descriptions are listed on the website and will also be in your program on site.

Fire circles run from 11pm until they come to a natural stop, usually the beginning of dawn. Each night has a different theme; descriptions are here.

Suggestions:
clothing you can layer and move in comfortably all night long
water bottle or travel mug
rhythm instruments: drums, rattles, singing bowls, didgeridoos, rain sticks, chimes, etc.
festival clothing, especially things that fit the theme of each fire circle. You might wear colors that reflect the parts of a fire circle you are particularly drawn to: red for music, blue for motion, yellow for voice, green or white for service, and black for mystery.
face paint
decorations for any of the several altars: the four elements, the ancestor altar, and the friends and family altar
finger foods to share at the food table: fruit, nuts, chocolate, cookies, stored in airtight, sealable containers. SpiritFire will take care of storing community food.

Miscellaneous
Suggestions:
cash for a massage or merchant goodies (if you can bring $1 and $5 bills, that would be much appreciated!)
cash for the scholarship fund raffle or work shift buy-out. Scholarships were awarded to a dozen people this year thanks to the generosity of the community.
journal/pens
fliers for your community event
small gifts for those new and spontaneous friends
an extra pillow, blanket, camp chair, or decoration for the community comfy tent (marked with your name please)
poi, diablo sticks, or other spinning toys
a watch or battery-operated alarm clock
citronella oil for the torches would be much appreciated

Things to leave home - Please do NOT bring these:
pets
illegal substances
camping stoves, candles, or incense; due to past accidents, the site does not permit any open flames at campsites.
drum sets, plastic timbales, or other similar instruments. They tend not to balance with the rest of the circle and take up a lot of space.
valuable or breakable items that you don't want to risk losing

Other suggestions are found within the registration info packet, downloadable by those who have registered.  
We hope you have a happy, safe, and comfortable festival!