ZenFest is an annual festival held at Gaea Retreat Center in McLouth, Kansas. ZenFest is workshop based, meaning the focus of the festival is on learning, growing, and building community. We are on our 4th year, and have built up a wonderful community of diverse attendees. This is not a “spectator” event, a “burner” event, or a rave party. We focus on finding “zen” through the disciplines of dance/object manipulation, body/energy work, and music/hand drumming.

ONLY insured spinners may spin outside of the “Fire Spinning Workshop.” If you are an insured spinner, bring your proof of insurance to the ZenFest booth to receive your “insured spinner” armband.

If you are not insured, don’t despair! Un-insured attendees have the chance to spin fire during the Saturday night “Fire Spinning Workshop.” This is a great time for a “virgin burn,” i.e. for beginners to try their hands at fire spinning in a safe, supportive environment. The Fire-Spinning Workshop is several hours long to give non-insured spinners plenty of time to get their fire fix! The only pre-requisite for the Fire Spinning Workshop is to attend the “Fire Safety Workshop.” Anyone under any sort of influence will not be allowed to participate in the Fire Spinning Workshop.

The fire spinning workshop is an exception to the Gaea Retreat Center’s normal rules. With their cooperation we have worked out this solution to help give un-insured spinners as much time as possible to spin while helping to promote fire safety.

While there are trash and recycling bins for public use at Gaea, we would like to start a tradition of “pack it in, pack it out.” Bring an extra trash bag with you, and on your way out drop any trash off in the dumpster next to Phoenix Hall. We had a problem last year with people dumping broken chairs, tents, etc. next to the trash bins and expecting us to clean up after them. Show your love and respect for the land by cleaning up your own trash by taking it down the hill to the public dumpster!

Parking is only allowed in the parking fields, not in campsites. You can unload at your campsite but once completed your car must be relocated to the parking fields. Once your car is parked, it needs to stay parked for the weekend! Driving up and down the hill will not be permitted, unless you have a handicapped tag. Practice the art of Zen Exercise and walk!

Also, carpooling is awesome. Great for the environment, great for your wallet, great for your sanity levels on long drives! The ZenFest Facebook and ZenFest 2012 Event page are great places to find out if anyone else is driving from your location.

Vehicles with over 2 axels are charged an impact fee on the land. This fee goes directly towards the upkeep of the Gaea Retreat Center.

We are not offering a meal plan, however we are looking for a food vendor to have on site if you don’t wish to bring your own food. If you do bring in your own food, you can cook over an open fire in a designated fire pit. We will have water coolers set up at key points on the Ridge – please bring a refillable water bottle, as we will not be providing plastic cups, due to the waste they create.

The rule at Gaea is that no photography is allowed unless you have specific consent from every individual in the picture. If you want to take photos (if you do, please share them with us!), you must ask before shooting.

Members of SAFE Group receive a $10 discount off admission for themselves for a 3 day or 2 day pass! No discounts are offered on a single day admission. Contact Viollca to receive your coupon code.

Bring any necessities for a weekend in the woods – tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, sun block, refillable water bottle, allergy meds, rain gear, flash light, food and snacks, and toiletries. Camp Gaea does have a shower house with communal showers and one private shower, as well as sinks, mirrors, and toilets. We have had weather ranging from a raging “monsoon” to the hottest day of the year – please come prepared!

Look to workshop descriptions for specifics of what is needed, and to see whether the presenter will have items for you to utilize.

Bring a drum or other musical instrument if you wish to join in the nightly drum circles. 

Bring fuel for fire spinning if you wish to burn. During the fire safety workshop, all fire tools will be checked for safety prior to participants spinning. Unsafe tools will not be allowed. If your tool is deemed unsafe (improperly joined pieces, Kevlar falling off, etc.) you are welcome to ask around for tools to borrow.

There is not an additional fee for vendors this year. Vendors must purchase a ticket to ZenFest for themselves and each individual in their party. Vendors are restricted to setting up on the ridge. It is strongly encouraged to setup only a tent and not utilize a vehicle as part of your sleeping/merchanting arrangement. If we receive rainy weather vehicles may be restricted from driving on or OFF the ridge, which may leave you stuck until the ground is safe to drive on. Please respect the land and respect the rules.