Thank you to everyone for creating a wonderful space for all! We understand that there are many questions people may have around all events and so we have compiled a "FAQ" list which hope may answer your questions.
Why the name 'Queer Spirit'?
Blog piece about Queer Spirit: Why Queer Spirit?
Where is the festival?
The festival is at Bridwell Park which is beautifully hidden from public view in the heart of Devon’s glorious countryside. One might say, the estate is a hidden gem.. Full address, travel information and map with route planner can be found on the Festival location page
Location information
When does the festival start and end?
The site will be open to the public from 2pm on Thursday 15 August 2024. You will need to be off the site by 3pm Monday 19 August 2024. The entry gate is open between the hours of 10am to 10pm (2pm on the Thursday). No vehicles (other than emergency access) are allowed in or out of the site between 10pm and 10am. There will be various things going on from about 4pm on the Thursday.
Are there weekend only tickets?
We have a limited number of weekend tickets available on a first come first served basis. Weekend tickets allow access to the festival from 10am Saturday 17 August 2024.
Who can come to the festival?
The festival is an LGBTQ+ festival open to all that are happy to be in this kind of space. If you are not sure what this means you may find our statement on gender useful to read. All age groups are welcome, although there will be some parts that are adult only. Under 18's will need to come with an adult.
Are dogs allowed?
Well behaved dogs are allowed on site, but must be kept on a lead at all times due to the Deer that roam the festival site.
Why the name 'Will there be electricity on site?
There may be limited availability to phone chargers, however we encourage everyone to consider reducing their battery requirements and also suggest people consider bringing their own solar (or even wind!) generators. If you have accessibility requirements for power, please contact us in advance.
What accommodation is there?
The festival is all camping plus glamping . There will also be a limited number of spaces for live-in vehicles. We will have a accessible camping area (please contact us before booking if you want to be part of that.)
Can I bring my vehicle on site?
Part of the sustainability policy of Queer Spirit is around the reduction of pollution, damage to the ground and general disturbance to other campers caused by vehicles and so the only vehicles that are allowed past the car park are pre-booked and paid for live-in vehicles and authorised site traffic. The camp site is a couple of hundred metres from the car park and if you have any concerns about getting your camping gear there, please do contact us before the festival.
How accessible is the site?
What facilities will there be on site?
We have camp-site toilets, hot showers and sauna. There will be drinking water available in the camping areas. We have various places selling vegetarian and vegan food. There won't be a bar on site and we don't have a cash machine or public telephone. Mobile signal isn't bad on most networks considering we are in a big field. We will have a donations based charging area for mobile phones/devices in the village hall.
What sort of things will there be to do at the festival?
We are going to have a wide range of things available for you - workshops, ceremonies and rituals, music and dancing, entertainers and cabaret, great cafe's, interesting stalls selling wondrous things, sauna, healing garden relaxation space and more!
Is nudity allowed at the festival?
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 venue’s request that nudity is kept out of the rest of the grounds owned by Bridwell Park. 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 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.
What is included in the ticket price?
Your ticket gives you entry to the festival and includes camping, access to all entertainment, workshops, rituals and other activities. Food is not included so you can self cater plus there will be places selling delicious vegetarian and vegan food. We are also aiming to have stalls selling interesting things for you to peruse and purchase. The healing garden will be offering various treatments and therapies and these will work on a scaled payment basis. If you will be coming by car there is a small car park charge. This is "per car" so a great incentive to car share if you can.
When will I receive my ticket?
We have decided not to issue printed tickets as this helps us keep the price down and also can contribute towards making the festival greener. Instead, when you book we will send you an email (normally within 20 minutes) which is your booking confirmation and "e-ticket" (both as the email and also as an attached PDF file.) You can then show us the e-ticket on a mobile device such as a smart phone, or you can print out and bring the ticket with you. If you have any problems with using our booking and e-ticket system please do contact us.
Who can I talk to at the festival with questions/issues?
Our Info point is situated in the Village hall and there will be people there with answers to many questions!
We also have:
Stewards - Our site stewards are around 24 hours a day throughout the festival and can help with anything site related and also can help with other questions, or point you to someone who can help.
Priestx - These look after the temple of sacred sexuality and are the perfect people to talk to around any questions you may have about that space.
Welfare - This team is available to provide emotional, physical, energetic and magical support as needed throughout the festival. Welfare and access team are available 24 hours a day, offering a safe and caring space where you can come for support, or just to chill in a quiet tent to recover from festival overload. Private and confidential support is also available at any time from our experienced and compassionate volunteers. We can also help anyone with access needs, such as offering assistance with putting up tents. Accessible showers and toilets are also available in this area for those with access needs.
Can I be a part of the crew, a healer or a trader etc?
Please do take a look at the Help make it happen page and / or get in touch with us soon.
