The sisterhood is gathering. Each era has it leaders who are the female voices that represent a generation. From the suffragettes of the early 20th century and the liberalised feminists of the 1960’s to all those that are marching together across the globe confronting the ongoing unbalanced gender dynamics of today. The instant access to global communication galvanised the #MeToo movement allowing women to empower each other world over. Capturing the zeitgeist, Woman Fest 2018 has been announced to take place this summer from 16 – 19 August 2018 in the wilds of the English countryside in Frome, Somerset.
Women Fest 2018 is an all-women festival representing women from all walks of life and disciplines to come and share their skill, knowledge, music and art in a gathering that is founded on Radical Participation. When the feminine come together, something magical happens and it is in this nurturing space of sharing that transformation, education and enlightenment takes place. This opens our minds and helps us tackle the everyday battles that we may face with the strength of the sisterhood behind us. The headliners are YOU!
Radical Participation means people coming together to acknowledge their own personal contributions as gifts and receiving them in return, whether this is the gift of a class, a song, a talk or just sharing a message. This action might require being brave and vulnerable – the importance is supporting the fact that every interaction and share adds so much value to the community, no matter how big or small.
Focus will also be given to the intuitive wisdom handed to us by indigenous tribes and their shamanic lineage. There is a revival in its interest as the global mood is reverting to honour the importance of our relationship with nature.
Notable events at the festival include an opening ceremony by Claire Dakin, founder of Tree Sisters, a foundation whose mission is to rapidly accelerate reforestation with female leadership; a Yoni Steaming Ceremony experience to help unlock the powerful feminine energy held in our womb and a Wild Food Foraging workshop to explore the surrounding woodland.
Dance. Heal. Play. Create. Share
The festival comprises many different spaces that encompass different elements of performance and workshops. Walking through the beautiful forest, festival goers will be treated to the following:
Women Circle
The Women Circle will be running from the beginning to the end of the festival and will include storytelling, ceremonial song, prayer, sharing circles, and will be held for festival goers to come in and out of at any time during the festival
Expression Stage
The Expression Stage is an open space for anyone to come and share their talents in the evenings, whether that be a Musician, Performer or Poet
Womyn Rising Tent
The Womyn Rising tent is an invitation to delve into ourselves and to learn from extraordinary and fearless women who have done so before us. Here we come to Heal, to Learn, to Love through discussions and workshops
The Sacred Womb Tent
An exquisite Tipi nestled amongst the trees is a sacred space dedicated to the higher power, a place for contemplation, meditation, inspiration, prayer & rest
Embodiment Tent
A celebration of the physical form, this tent will host Yoga, Bio-danza, 5 Rhythms, Circus workshops and more. Rediscover our extraordinary bodies by either teaching it something new or just revelling in all its glory
Creativity Tent
Workshops here are given to connect with ancient, nature based crafts that women have been practicing since ancient times. This includes skills such as basket weaving, natural dyeing and cloth making. This is a space to engage with the life skills our ancestors would have participated in and that are still so important today
Spa Area
Sitting beside the swimming lake is a hand-crafted sauna and hot tubs to slip into for complete relaxation during the festival.
Healing Area
To heal the body as well as the soul, there will be a host of experienced therapists offering therapeutic massage, shiatsu, acupunctutand shamanic journeying
Food Marquee
Included in the ticket price is all food, a rarity in the festival world. Women Fest is fully catered by Taste Your Roots, a catering company dedicated to developing a sustainable food system. The ladies will prepare delicious locally sourced organic and vegetarian food. Special diets requirements will be accommodated where possible. Beverages and a tasty variety of snack stalls will also be on site for purchase. Please note this is a drug and alcohol free festival and welcomes all those that identify as a woman over the age of 18. Teenage girls from 13+ are welcome to join the festival with an adult guardian.
Woman Fest is a uniquely run festival run by a fully female team, from the facilitators, to the security & maintenance team. Everything that creates this space is created at the hands of Woman.
Women Fest acknowledges the hard behind-the-scenes work that has gone on by our male friends and colleagues just to help make a space for the empowerment of women!
Ticket prices start from £185 (£165 for concessions) for an all access pass to the full three days that includes all workshops, spa and three meals per day.
10% of ticket profits will go to Tree Sisters – at the beginning of the festival, the founders will announce how many trees will be planted with this donation. Another 10% of ticket profits will go to MEENA, a centre supporting women and child refugees in Birmingham.
For more information or to buy tickets, please visit www.womanfest.co.uk
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