Queer Spirit Festival 2026 - Joining Information
We look forward to welcoming you to the festival. Before you arrive, we ask that you please set some time aside to read and take in everything in this email. We appreciate there are a lot of words here, but feel sure you will get the most out of the festival if you can take a few minutes to read everything.
Venue: Bridwell Park
Arrival - Gates will open to the public from 2 pm on Thursday 13th August.
The entrance to the festival is from the east gate and you will be guided along the road to our 'pull-in parking' at the Box office, where we will use your ticket to check you in and issue you with your wristband. You can print out your e-ticket or show it on a mobile device. If you can not manage this we should be able to find you on our list if you let us know your ticket number and your registered name, however we may ask you to show some form of picture ID for this. After checking in you should get back in your car and head to the parking areas.
Please note: Your Ticket number is the same as your Order number, not your receipt number from Stripe if you paid online
For those arriving in vehicles, after you have checked in, our stewards will direct you to parking. No vehicles will be allowed past the car parks onto the main festival site unless we have authorised your vehicle for access needs (you must inform us in advance), Camping is not allowed in the car park. Please be aware that you will need to have a car park ticket for your car, so if you are arriving by car, please ensure you have purchased one from the website - only 1 ticket per car is required irrespective of number of occupants.
Further travel information can be found here https://queerspirit.net/festival/information/location
If you have access needs, stewards and welfare will be on hand to assist you.
Departure - All participants MUST have left the site by 3 pm on Monday 17th August at the latest.
If you haven’t already, please do read through the festival terms and conditions. There is also a PDF copy available.
Camping - The site has various camping areas and you are welcome to camp in whichever feels right for you:
Main camp site: The main camping area is a short walk from the car park and has plenty of room for everyone!
Camping with children: We have an area designated for those that are camping with children which is close to our CYP activity space.
Women's camping: A welcoming camping area for all women.
TNBI camping: A clearly signed, semi-permeable space will be available for TNBI campers, offering both connection and choice. For those sharing tents with other non-TNBI people, or who wish to be a near strong TNBI presence while remaining open to a more mixed environment, camping will extend outward into surrounding areas.
Global Majority village: Nested between the TNBI and Fae camping is our little village. Last year, we dreamt up a scenario, where at first waking and last thing before bed we greeted our fellow siblings from the Global Majority. Out of this vision we berthed the Global Majority Village. This will be a camping area that is designated for folks who identify as part of the Global Majority *as well as* their white lovers, friends and families.We will have a central hearth for connection, conversation and music.
Radical Faerie Camping: The AlbionFae are hosting a camping area at Queer Spirit, open to all, where you can mingle with Faeries and learn more about the community.
Glamping: After you have been issued your wristband etc at the box office, our glamping crew will take you to your glamp and check you in. Note that if you do not check in and out with us, we may not be able to return your deposit.
Live-in vehicle camping: We have a dedicated space available on site for live-in vehicles that have purchased a live-in vehicle ticket. Please note that no services (power, water etc) are available. Our stewards will be on hand to guide you to a parking spot that ensures plenty of clearance (at least 6 meters between units, with at least a 3-meter clear space between awnings or associated equipment).
Accessible camping
- Lower camp: There is an area set aside just for accessible camping so please do contact us and let us know if you would like to camp here. The space is easy to access by vehicle and fairly central to the site.
Glamping - We will also have some glamping tents in this area. Please let us know un advance if you have booked glamping and require one of these. - Upper camp: This area is closer to some of the main structures but does not have an accessible shower and may also be noisier that the lower area.
Safety - Our stewards will perform regular checks to ensure there is at least a 3 m separation between guy lines in the camping areas, to minimise the risk of fire. They will also be on hand if you need any guidance on positioning etc. Please be aware that ff you do place your tent somewhere they deem not suitable, they will ask you to move it. Please also do not camp under any of the trees.
Please do not have candles, t-lights, barbecues or other types of fires/flames inside tents.
Gas camping appliances may only be used according to safety instructions and in the open air, or in properly fitted camper-van/caravan (gas cookers and barbecues can emit carbon monoxide - you cannot see or smell it but it is a deadly gas and so you need to be using in conjunction with a correctly fitted chimney.) No disposable barbecues are allowed.
Please do not bring any glass items.
Main pathways will be well lit but please bring a torch with you. Keep pathways/fire lanes free of tents and guy ropes.
Please pay attention to any health and safety information given, for example at the sauna. Please wash hands before touching food and use hand-wash provided at toilets. Extra care around hygiene can ensure that diseases are not passed around. Please be aware of fire safety and supervise young people around fires.
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Stewards - Our stewards are here to help make things run smoothly. Please do respect any actions they may ask you to make. They are also useful people to talk to if you have any questions.
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Young People - Young people are the responsibility of their parents at all times. Our under 18’s wristbands have a space for a contact phone number on and we kindly ask you to write one on there as part of the arrival check-in.
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Access needs - If you have any access needs in terms of setting up your tent, moving about the site etc, please do get in touch with us as soon as you can before the festival, so we can work with you to find ways to assist.
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Camping tips - for those who feel the cold more, putting a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag before you go out for the evening means you can come home to a cosy bed. Although we will have lighting on site, a torch is always handy to have with you especially if you remember to carry it with you before it gets dark!
A good concept at festivals is not to bring anything you don’t mind losing - the site is a big field where things can get lost and your home is often just made out of canvas with minimal security. Although we will have a lost & found space at the festival, we are not liable for anything you may lose. You may wish to think about registering items (for free) at https://www.immobilise.com
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Parkland Deer - the venue has a herd of parkland deer which roam freely all year round within designated areas of the Park. To protect them please clear up all rubbish from the ground and keep all dogs on leads at all times.
The deer must never be approached by any persons coming to the festival for any event whatsoever. Whilst the Deer are a very beautiful and prominent feature of the venues landscape, they should always be considered a wild and dangerous species who would not hesitate to act vigorously and aggressively to protect their calves or themselves. If provoked, a Deer could seriously harm if not kill a dog, another animal or human being.
Because there are deer on the land, you should be aware of the possibility of Lyme disease. Ticks in general are worth checking for anyway (a fun way for two people to get to know each other!) You can also visit the welfare team who will have access to specialised tick removal devices. You can find more information on the NHS website.
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Health and well-being - please do be aware that we ask everyone to be responsible for their own well being at the festival. If you have an ongoing medical condition please inform the welfare team in advance and if possible carry evidence with you. We have a welfare team just in case things get a bit much for you but prevention is better than cure often.
There will be a lot going on and you may be tempted to try new things which is great, but do always check in with yourself how you are feeling and remember it’s okay to stop and take time out at any time.
As a responsible adult we do also encourage you to be aware of safer sex practices and although we will endeavour to have safer sex supplies on site, please do consider bringing your own - after all, you know what you like best.
See our covid & health policy
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Medications - please do bring any prescription medications you may need. If you need any special storage (such as a fridge) please do contact us before the festival to chat about this.
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Nudity - 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 has a clothing-optional policy, which means that you can wear as much or as little as you like as long as you honour yourself and others, are respectful of personal boundaries, do not make assumptions about intimacy and sexuality in your interactions, and are comfortable in your choices. Please be especially sensitive around young people as they may not be used to nakedness and it can be upsetting for some.
This policy relates only to the main festival field, not to the rest of the Bridwell Park grounds including the Orangery, where you must wear clothing. If you are concerned about any issues arising from the clothing-optional policy please talk to a steward or someone from the welfare team.
We reserve the right to ask anyone at any time to put on their clothes or leave a space or area. If someone’s state of nudity is regarded as sexually inappropriate we will ask them to cover themselves.
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Respect and Consent - we are working to make Queer Spirit Festival as safe a place as we possibly can. As lgbtqi+ people, we are often reminded how unsafe the world can be for us, and the festival has, in part, been created out of the need for spaces free from homophobic and transphobic abuse. Issues of consent are incredibly important, not just in the sacred sexuality workshops but all over the site: when we dance, when we meet people for the first time and offer a hug (there are many people who don’t wish to receive hugs), when we admire others outfit or hairstyle, and when we say goodnight. It can also be relevant in our conversations with others, when we may wish to ask personal questions or open up a conversation about an emotive topic. When you are unfamiliar with a person’s boundaries it is essential to ask. More on this on the website 'Queer Spirit Ethos'
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Weather - British summer is notorious for being unpredictable, so we do suggest you bring sunscreen and sun-hat as well as waterproofs and boots. Also an extra jumper or blanket for sitting round the fire at night. Please watch out for and be aware of dehydration in hot weather - bring a water bottle that you can carry around site with you. All taps on site will be drinking water unless clearly stated.
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Green & Eco friendly - at the festival and the site we strive to be as gentle on the land as we can. If you plan to bring wet wipes, soap and other cleaning products, please do only bring eco-friendly products. Also if you possibly can, be prepared to take all your rubbish and recycling home with you. If this is impossible then please rinse and sort your recycling and put in containers provided. Please do not leave us to clear up your camping space when you leave!
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Comfort - we recommend to bring a cushion to sit on for workshops, meditations etc (maybe bring your yoga mat too, though we will have some on site). Also “nesting” material such as blankets, throws etc can be great if you are thinking of going to some of the more sensual workshops. Camping chairs are good for carrying around the festival site.
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Food - There will be a range of food available to purchase on site which is all vegetarian or vegan. The Bridwell catering options may also include meat and fish. Please note that the only venue serving food on the Monday will be the Bridwell Orangery.
You are also welcome to self cater any food you bring with you including meat and fish etc although we do ask you to be considerate of other campers. All sources of heat for cooking must be off the ground so as not to scorch it. If the grass is particularly dry, we may set up a dedicated area for cooking.
To help keep the festival as green as we can, we encourage everyone to bring their own cups, plates, knives etc. There will be washing up facilities next to the main café.
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Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs - Queer Spirit Festival doesn't sell alcohol at the festival, although it will be available as part of a meal in the Orangery café (run by Bridwell). You are welcome to bring your own alcohol, but only for your personal use.
Smoking of any kind (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in any of the structures at the festival. We ask that cigarette butts are properly extinguished, disposed of safely and not left in the ground - not only can they pose a fire risk, they may be eaten by the resident deers.
Recreational drugs are not tolerated at our event and this is also a condition of our Licence. Failing to respect this will result in the person being asked to leave or detained by security teams and the police called. We reserve the right to search persons, luggage or vehicles as a condition of entry at any point during the event.
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Property - there are no 'lock-up' facilities at the festival. A good rule of thumb is to only bring items that don't matter if they get lost/broken.You are responsible for your belongings. There will be a 'lost property' box in the village hall but note that we cannot accept liability for loss or damage. Lost property will be kept, where possible, for up to two weeks after the event, after which time it will be donated or recycled.
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Money - there isn’t a cash point on site so do bring any money you may need (eg for cafe, for healing treatments or purchases from the festival traders). The nearest cash point is about 5 miles away.
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Mobile phones - the signal is not so bad considering we are in a field although we do encourage everyone to think about embracing person to person connection as much as possible at the festival. We will have limited charging available in the Village hall, available for a small donation, but please be aware you should also bring your own charger unit and cable to plug into it. The charging station is often very over-booked so we do encourage you to bring your own solar powered charge system, as these are available at very low cost and help us produce less CO2
Photos & videos - we will have a team of official photographers and video makers who create amazing memories for us all. You may, therefore, wish to focus more on being 'present'. If you do decide to take photos/videos always ask for consent before taking them and make sure everyone in them is aware and in agreement of where they may or may not be shared.
Please note that no photography or filming is allowed during rituals or in workshops without facilitator permission.
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Workshops - please be on time for start of workshops if you wish to participate. Once a workshop door is closed there will be no late entry. Some workshops are age restricted, this is marked on the on-line programme and also some information on age suitability can be found in the printed programme. Unless otherwise stated, all workshops operate on a first come first served basis and if very popular we may have to limit the number of participants.
All 'Outdoor' workshops meet at the Village Hall. For workshops in the Temple of Sacred Sexuality, please make sure you have read the specific information for that area, ideally before the festival.
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Market Day. Saturday 10 am - 4 pm. Festival attendees are welcome to fly pitch, offering their crafts/tarot readings/etc. We ask simply that you donate 10% of your takings to the festival funds. If you already know you will be doing this, it would help our planning if you could fill in the market day trader application form, thanks!
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Village hall - We have this message from our village hall team: "Calling all Queer Spirits with transport, please consider bringing rugs, cushions, blankets etc to add extra cosiness to our Village Hall. The Village Hall is offers a covered place to relax, chat, stay informed, drag up, co-create and take in scheduled stage performances. Please help us by bringing anything you can to make it special and inviting. Please keep a photo or list of your items so you can retrieve them at the end of the festival. Thanks lovelies and see you very soon!
Although we will take every care to look after your things, we ask you to understand that all items left with us are left at your own risk and the festival won't be able to reimburse you for any loss or damage."
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Messages on Queer Spirit Community
We have a lot of activity in our Queer Spirit Social section of the website, Travel shares and Community - News feed are worth a look.
Why not join our (free!) online social at QueerSpirit.net/community where you can post for travel shares, ask questions and connect with others.
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Official 'Merch' Shop
Don't forget to order your Queer spirit merchandise - we suggest you place orders a minimum of 2 weeks before the festival to ensure they arrive on time.
Please note that items are only available by mail order, we don't sell them at the festival. All profits go to Queer Spirit Festival.
Queer Spirit Festival is a non-profit community event, run by volunteers.
Please help us spread the word by inviting your friends!
