Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Starwood Festival?

The Starwood Festival is the largest Pagan/Magickal/Consciousness Gathering in North America (and maybe even the world). General information about the Starwood Festival is available at www.starwoodfestival.com, or see the overview for Starwood 2006.

When is the Starwood Festival?

Starwood has been held every year since 1981 near the third weekend of July. The usual reckoning of its occurence coincides with the Rising of the Dog Star Sirius over the Nile Delta, or the 23rd of July. The date span from Tuesday through Sunday that contains the 23rd of July will be the dates for Starwood. In 2006 it will be July 18 - 23. Mark those calendars!

Where is the Starwood Festival?

Previously held in various locations through Ohio and Western PA and NY, Starwood is currently held near Lake Chautaqua, New York, in the town of Sherman. It is approximately 30 minutes SouthEast of Erie, PA and an hour SouthWest of Buffalo, NY.

Information about the campground, the Brushwood Folklore Center, is available from www.brushwood.com.

Can I attend for a day or just pay for the weekend?

Yes and no. We like to think of our Starwood Village as a Temporary Autonomous Intentional Community. As such, we strongly discourage one day attendees or late arrivals. Our only way of doing this is to not allow prorated registration (which we have never done in our 25 year history). Feel free to attend for the weekend, or just a day, but we will require you to pay the prevailing rate to do so. If you come for just a day or the weekend, understand you are walking into a village scene in full swing. Folks will be friendly and helpful but you may be intruding on a well developed, fully enmeshed community so please be respectful.

What's this "clothing optional" thing I hear about?

Clothing optional means you don't have to wear 'em if you don't want to. It also means you can pretty much wear what you like. Many people dress up for Starwood in their Pagan finery. Men are free to wear skirts, sarongs and kilts, women are free to wear things they might not otherwise be allowed to. Of course, if you simply wish to go au naturale, feel free. Nudity can be a little disconcerting the first time you are around it, but most people find they don't even notice it after 15 minutes. Just make sure if you decide to shed the clothes, that you at least wear sunblock...

Who runs the Starwood Festival?

Starwood is run by the Chameleon Club and by the Association for Consciousness Exploration (ACE). More information about ACE is available at: www.rosencomet.com/about.html.

How much is the Starwood Festival?

The pre-registration cost for the 26th Annual Starwood Festival is $175 if postmarked by June 27, 2006, and $215 "cash at the door". This price could be different for you if you are an ACE member, a merchant or both. Please see the registration page for more information.

Miscellaneous

Can I bring my kids/dogs/cats/aardvarks to the Starwood Festival?

Children of all ages are welcome, but those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Parents (or Guardians) are responsible for their children at all times. We facilitate a fairly comprehensive kids & childrens program and ask that you participate actively in it.

No pets are permitted at Starwood.

About the Starwood Festival Mailing List

How do I subscribe/unsubscribe from the Starwood Festival online mailing list?

How do I post or reply to a message?

Send an email to StarwoodFestival@yahoogroups.com. Please trim your replies to include only the relevant text that you are replying to.

What are the guidelines for acceptable posts?

Posts relating to the Starwood Festival in some way are acceptable. Posts that do not relate in any way to the Starwood Festival are generally not acceptable. Posts that advertise products, stores, or other festivals are also discouraged. The Starwood mailing list is a publicly viewable forum, so post accordingly.

About ACE

Who/what is the Association for Consciousness Exploration?

A.C.E. is an organization in NorthEast Ohio providing services in the fields of Magic, Mind-Sciences, Alternative Lifestyles, Comparative Religion/Spirituality, Entertainment, Holistic Healing, and related subjects. Founded in 1983 by members of the Chameleon Club, ACE has provided programs of an educational, spiritual, and recreational nature to the Greater Cleveland area and the public at large.

Dedicated to 'expanding the frontiers of your consideration', they are best known for the Starwood Festival (America's Greatest Magickal Event) and the WinterStar Symposium (America's Cushiest Magickal Event), and their line of Books, Tapes, and CDs featuring both lecturers and performers from their past events and the ACE/Llewellyn line of tapes. ACE maintains an office & the Starwood Center in Cleveland, Ohio with mind-science equipment and seminar space, and holds occasional smaller events at colleges and in the community including drumming circles, concerts, and solo appearances by speakers & artists seen at their festivals.

What other events does ACE sponsor/present?

ACE and the Chameleon Club, and a whole lot of volunteers, get together several times a year to present festivals and events that encompass learning, community, and diversity. The Starwood Festival is by far the largest endeavor that we create and The WinterStar Symposium is the cushiest, being held at a ski resort. Thing In The Woods is more of a retreat than a festival, it's a time for everyone who helped us to relax and get to know one another. Besides these events, we occassionally put together local "happenings," which can be concerts, workshops, and social soirés.

How do I become an ACE member, and what are the benefits?

A.C.E. Members enjoy significant discounts to all A.C.E. festivals and events, plus enjoy a 10% discount on all A.C.E Catalog Items. The annual membership fee is $65. You may become a member when you register for Starwood and get your members discount immediately.

About Brushwood

Where in the world is Brushwood, and how do I get there?

Full directions can be found on this site under Directions to Brushwood.

How long has the Starwood Festival been held at Brushwood?

16 years. The 26th Starwood Festival in 2006 will be our 17th year at Brushwood.

What amenities are provided during the festival?

Brushwood is 180 acres of majestic woodlands and rolling meadows, with a large pond that has a center island. This amazing site keeps growing and changing! In addition to the beautiful pool pavilion with its spacious hot tub and hot showers, "Downtown Brushwood" now includes a food court, a mini hardware store, an information booth, and other structures. More hot showers and flush toilets at the Bath House add to our comfort.

About The Region

Erie, Jamestown and Buffalo are major thoroughfare cities. For air travel, we recommend Erie International Airport (ERI).

Chautauqua has a large Lake and is a vacation area. There are many wineries in the Lake Chautauqua area with wonderful NY wines that rival California...and at great prices! There are also larger grocery stores and a K-Mart here.

Mayville on Rt. 430 east of Sherman. Mayville has nearly every source for supplies and food for Starwood, and has a large full-service grocery store, specialty stores and antiques. Just East, past Mayville on Rt. 430 there is a large liquor and wine store with a huge variety of local wines. (Johnson Estates has a very deliciously fruity, semi-sweet Niagra and sweet, fruity Concord). A smaller liquor store resides North of Mayville on 394 shortly after the turn at the lakeshore.

Sherman is the town head where Starwood is held. They greatly appreciate our business and help support Brushwood. Sherman is a tiny town located on Rt. 430 and County Road 15. There is a small, but very well stocked grocery, a True Value hardware store, bar, restaurants, pizza shop (that will deliver to Brushwood!), tiny pharmacy, Key Bank (with ATM), gas station and antique shops. We encourage folks to try there first if you need supplies.

Findlay Lake is a small town located on Rt. 430 coming from the west. There is a small grocery and a pizza place. One thing Findlay has is the back way into Brushwood: just take the first right after the giant Jesus...this is Bailey Hill road.

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