Into the Summerlands :: Community Beltaine Celebration 2025
Sat, 3 May 2025, 12:00 PM - Sun, 4 May 2025, 12:00 PM EDT
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Refund Policy: No refunds
The Grove of the Light of Erin cordially invites you to the annual Beltaine community gathering, ritual, maypole, and dancing, hosted at Hawk & Hawthorne in Barnardsville NC.
Lets push back the dark half of the year and the Long Winter and cross the eternal ford of Summer, celebrating the birth of light half of the year.
Come in your finest summer celebration clothing, Faë glamour, and Otherworld sparkle as we traverse again:
Lets push back the dark half of the year and the Long Winter and cross the eternal ford of Summer, celebrating the birth of light half of the year.
Come in your finest summer celebration clothing, Faë glamour, and Otherworld sparkle as we traverse again:
Into the Summerlands
Beltaine (pronounced "bell-tinny" or "bell-tin'eh") is the Irish-Celtic feast of the beginning of summer, when we flip into the light half of the year.
The Grove of the Light of Erin celebrates this cross-quarter holiday in the Irish fashion, with feasting, ritual, a Maypole & dancing betwixt the twin fires of Áine - the sovereign goddess of summer, beauty, abundance, and pleasure.
The Grove of the Light of Erin celebrates this cross-quarter holiday in the Irish fashion, with feasting, ritual, a Maypole & dancing betwixt the twin fires of Áine - the sovereign goddess of summer, beauty, abundance, and pleasure.
In the high ritual, the flame from the Otherworld, under the stewardship of the Keepers of the Eternal Flame (Brigid's mystery keepers), is returned to this world while the balance between the immortal and mortal is temporarily restored in the celebration of life, light, joy, and the fecundity of the Earth.
== SCHEDULE ==
FRIDAY, MAY 2nd (Optional Pre-Beltaine Poetry Gathering)
7 pm - 10 pm :: Celtic Story Telling + Poetry & Song Sharing
SATURDAY, MAY 3rd (The Main Event)
12:00 pm :: Doors open. Campers may arrive to set in.
1:30 pm :: Circle Dance with Alexandra Tait
2:30 pm :: Gather the May Tree (GoLoE, Rob Lenfestey & Josh Fox) / Prepare the Opening (Red Moon Temple)
3:00 Child-care opens.
4:00 pm :: Faë Parade, Raise the May Tree & May Tree dance, with traditional Irish music by: David Brown (guitar), Duncan Hardee (tenor banjo), and Joseph Marino (Irish flute)
6:00 pm :: Feast of Àine -- Vegetable and Meat Stew Options available. Dinner music with Samara Jade and Lillie Lumina
8:00 pm :: Child-care closes
9:00 pm :: Beltaine Fire Ceremony (Grove of the Light of Erin + Red Moon Temple) with Music by: Alex Caruso and friends.
LATE NIGHT :: Fires will simmer down in the later hours for bardic shares, improv music, singalongs and more... MC Numinous the Bard to host poetry circle
SUNDAY, MAY 4th (For Campers)
8:00 am :: Coffee & breakfast available. Sliding scale; pay on site.
10:00 am :: Celtic Kirtan & Dance (Jeremy Schewe, Kendall Williams, Robbie Lenfestey, and the Grove of the Light of Erin)
11:30 am :: Closing Circle
12:00 pm :: All guests are asked to please depart. We love you!
== IMPORTANT NOTES ==
Please read carefully!
- Space is limited and tickets WILL sell out! No tickets at door; please order online now to reserve your spot.
- $32.00 donation covers entry & dinner for Saturday night.
- You are welcome to camp on the land on Saturday night. Add a camping pass on this page.
- $28 donation per tent w/ up to 4 people.
- Plan to arrive by noon on Saturday if you plan to camp.
- Parking space is limited; please park efficiently & carpool!
- The Barn will be open until midnight with cozy lounge vibes & a teahouse [TBD]. Please, no sleeping in the Barn.
- NO DOGS: Please do not bring your dogs to this event.
== CHILD-CARE ==
If you bring your little tots and rainbows, they are welcome to participate in all events except for the high ritual and the fires. By dark, the hill is for those 18 and over. We also ask that parents keep their children quiet during the ritual at dusk until the music picks up. Children must be supervised at all times.
Another option is Starseed Sanctuary -- affordable child-care on the west side of the Barn, where kiddos can frolic and play together, in an area dedicated to their safety and fun … while you get to relax and be present with the festivities! We will offer this as long as at least 5-10 people sign up in advance and will confirm a few days before Beltaine. (if not enough people sign up, you will be refunded.)
We will provide games, crafts and other activities with an adult present from 3pm until 8pm on Saturday, for all children ages 5+. Younger children are welcome to enjoy the children’s area with a parent / caregiver present.
- Kid zone will be in a pop up tent on the west side of the Barn.
- We are asking $15 per child to cover supplies and staff. Reserve a spot here on the ticket page.
- Please RSVP ahead so we are sure to have enough folks to help!
== FOOD & DRINK ==
The Buchi bar will be open, serving kombucha, homemade herbal elixirs, and more. [Cash preferred; Venmo / Cards OK]
Spring water is available at the Walnut Spring. Bring your water vessel!
SATURDAY NIGHT
Half catered, half potluck!
Nick's Cauldron Catering will be crafting two ginormous pots of locally-sourced omnivore and vegetarian stews for all to enjoy, plus some other starchy additions. Stew & starch are included in your ticket.
Please bring a side dish to share (salads, veggie dishes, desserts, etc).
==> All guests eating from the H&H cottage kitchen must join the Private Membership Club for $1. (if you haven't already in the past)
SUNDAY MARN
Coffee & Breakfast will be available in the Barn, on sliding scale donation.
== ABOUT HAWK & HAWTHORNE ==
We are bridging commerce & community to nurture and enrich an emergent regenerative culture.
The Hawk & Hawthorne is a practicing permaculture community & regenerative event venue nestled just north of Asheville, NC. Check out the short video below for a glimpse into the magick.
Set in a retrofitted heritage tobacco barn amidst an expansive valley full of fruit trees, gardens, spring fed ponds & majestic views, The Hawk has been an organic gathering point for the Asheville & Barnardsville community for over 30 years, hosting hundreds of weddings, workshops & intimate live performances.
--> We are a non-alcoholic venue. Buchi Kombucha, Kefir Soda & Homemade Elixirs & food from our garden will be available at the bar. (Cash preferred; venmo/cards OK.)
--> Arrival Instructions and Venue Policies will be sent in the email with your ticket confirmation. Please read them carefully.
--> Leave dogs at home.
--> Arrival Instructions and Venue Policies will be sent in the email with your ticket confirmation. Please read them carefully.
--> Leave dogs at home.
== A NOTE ON PRICING, ACCESSIBILITY & REFUNDS ==
==> Low on cash?
If you’d like to join us but are low on cash, please email us at hawkandhawthorne@gmail.com & let us know what you CAN offer. We have a limited number of discounted spots available for those who need them, including BIPOC & economically disadvantaged groups.
==> Can you support?
Conversely, if you are in abundance & can offer extra, there is an optional "GRATUITY" on the ticket page. A $5 tip is automatically added but can be adjusted up, down or removed. Tips are shared equally amongst the crew. Thank you for helping make this dream work!
==> Financial Transparency
==> Financial Transparency
Here is a rough breakdown of how your donation will be divvyed up:
Of your $32:
$9 goes to Jeremy & the Grove to cover expenses (no profit taken)
$13 goes to the venue & paying the Hawk's community crew
$10 goes to the farmers market for dinner ingredients and compensating the chefs
==> REFUNDS & RESALE: As this is a "by donation" event, refunds are not available. If you wish to re-sell, we recommend using the Facebook event page associated with this event. The Hawk also moderates a Telegram group. If you are buying tickets from people online, *please check with us first* to make sure they are genuine. Ticket scammers are becoming increasingly common on social platforms. We will not refund a ticket if you are scammed!
Of your $32:
$9 goes to Jeremy & the Grove to cover expenses (no profit taken)
$13 goes to the venue & paying the Hawk's community crew
$10 goes to the farmers market for dinner ingredients and compensating the chefs
==> REFUNDS & RESALE: As this is a "by donation" event, refunds are not available. If you wish to re-sell, we recommend using the Facebook event page associated with this event. The Hawk also moderates a Telegram group. If you are buying tickets from people online, *please check with us first* to make sure they are genuine. Ticket scammers are becoming increasingly common on social platforms. We will not refund a ticket if you are scammed!