Where: Hart, Michigan (20 miles east of Lake Michigan, 100 miles North of Grand Rapids, which is the nearest airport - they provide shuttles to and from) on 650 acres of private wooded lovely lush land.
What: 6 days of all-day concerts, performances and activities with offerings of pop, punk, bluegrass, gospel, rap, comedy, dance, circus arts, spoken word and a rock opera as well as workshops, a film festival, and a huge arts and crafts show, good food, fabulous people, lots of fun and time and space to relax (for more detail, see below and see website www.michfest.com).
This years performers include: C.C. Carter, Kate Clinton, Laura Love, Alix Olson, Pamela Means, Deodre McCalla, Ani DiFranco, Ferron, Jill Sobule, Lynee Breedlove, Toshi Reagon, Bitch and Animal, Dolly Ranchers, Magdalen Hsu-Li, Min Xia-Fen, Ubaka Hill, Mimi Fox, Julie Wolf, Heather Combs, Anne Heaton, Vicci Martinez, Natalia Zukerman, Erase Errata, Anne Heaton, Wise Fool New Mexico and more.....
Background: For nearly three decades, Michigan has been a home base for the womyn's community to discover and build a womon-identified culture. Womyn handle everything from stage work to plumbing to cooking for thousands, creating an annual antidote to the larger culture that denies womyn's abilities, ethics, good sense and good times. We manifest our reality of a true counterculture, one where we create a world devoted to social justice, where womyn do the work, have big fun and rock on. For one week we celebrate the diversity, strength and beauty of womyn. The performance line up on three stages defies categorization, with offerings of pop, punk, bluegrass, gospel, rap, comedy, dance, circus arts, spoken word and a rock opera. The Festival offers hundreds of workshops, a film festival, a crafts area, basketball and volleyball courts, daily yoga, fitness and dance classes. Spread over 650 private acres, the land is lush and vast. There is time and space to commune with other womyn, or to explore the forest and meadows in solitude. And for the city-lovin' non-campers, roughing it Michigan-style includes plenty of familiar urban comforts.
The Festival provides a well-organized system of community services and shuttles, making for a smooth and rejuvenating week with three vegetarian meals a day, open-air hot showers and beautiful, child care and safe campgrounds. All activities, concerts, workshops and services are included in your ticket purchase.
Everyone attending the Festival is involved in the creation of the event and the community; each womon who attends participates in two 4-hour workshift during her stay (one shift for weekenders). This intentional community defines Michigan, blending every womon's talents, ideas and energy into this one amazing week. It is also a great way to meet and make new friends...
You'll find a great array of community activities and events, along with networking space for Teens, Over-40's, Jewish Womyn, Deaf and HOH Womyn and womyn from other countries. Offering community, celebrations, workshops and special events, the Womyn of Colors Tent provides an ongoing opportunity for exploration and reclamation of our many and varied traditions. The Festival Kitchen prepares three meals a day, offering vegetarian specialties to everyone attending. Shuttles bring you and your gear into the Festival interior when you arrive, and circle the Land providing rides throughout the week. There is a full system of First Aid care, and an active peer-support system for recovery and general emotional needs. Disabled Womyn's Resources are organized through DART, a campground and resource area for womyn with disabilities. Sign Language Interpretation service is available for all concerts, requested workshops and other activities. Helping Hands are available to assist older womyn and disabled womyn with their camping gear.
"This place we share here is a light -- that safety zone. When you live in a society that is organized against your very existence, you need someplace where you can come and be who you are." - Bernice Johnson Reagon (of Sweet Honey in the Rock), performed at MWMF 2003
For more information see www.michfest.com