Summer Festival Round-Up
[EDITOR'S NOTE: WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR THE BHAKTI TICKET GIVEAWAY, CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER!]
Every summer, countless people flock to outdoor amphitheaters, campgrounds, parks, and salt flats to get their yoga/meditation/inspiration on at summer festivals. Yes, there are those festival stereotypes out there, like overpriced vegan burritos, crowded pavillions, and lines for the loo. But you'll also get the chance to deepen your physical and spiritual practices in gorgeous locales with a community of like-minded folks and some of the brightest thinkers and doers out there. This summer, several festivals, conferences, and gatherings with a uniquely spiritual slant caught our eye. Mark your calendars accordingly, as several of these sell out quickly, and don't miss the Bhakti Fest description below for instructions on how to win a pair of tickets to Bhakti Fest Midwest!
Wanderlust Stratton Mountain
June 21-24
The granddaddy of summer yoga festivals, Wanderlust now holds three events stateside and one in Vancouver, BC throughout the summer. In addition to yoga and music, Wanderlust Vermont boasts a farm-to-table dinner, healing sanctuary, guided hikes, wine events, and more.
Location: Stratton Mountain, Vermont. Camping is available.
Featuring: Seane Corn, Rodney Yee, Elena Brower with music by Ziggy Marley, Ani DeFranco & MC Yogi, and many more
stratton.wanderlustfestival.com
Bhakti Fest Midwest
June 29-July 1
With roots in yoga, kirtan, and meditation, the heart-centered and spiritually focused Bhakti Fest celebrates "the devotional path." Dive into a weekend full of continuous kirtan, yoga classes, fire ceremonies, prayer, vegetarian/vegan/raw cuisine, and tons of great workshops. Notable presenters include Sara Ivanhoe, Daren Friesen, Krishna Das, Swami Chidanand and many more.
Location: Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI. RV and tent camping are available; find hotels in nearby Madison.
More info at bhaktifest.com
GIVEAWAY! We've got two tickets to Bhakti Fest to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment below sharing your favorite spiritual/inspirational quotation OR spiritual/inspirational book. We'll draw a name this Friday, June 8, and notify the winner by email.
Yoga Reaches Out
June 30
This yoga event is a one-day benefit for the Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland and Africa Yoga Project. Highlights include yoga instructor Kevin Collins, an AcroYoga playground, and live music from Desert Dwellers. Participants are encouraged to form fundraising teams; the top fundraisers are listed on the Yoga Reaches Out website.
Location: Craneway Pavilion, Richmond, CA
More info at yogareachesout.org
Telluride Yoga Festival
July 12-15
With the Rockies setting a gorgeous backdrop, yogis of all levels are welcomed to the Telluride Yoga Festival in this famed former silver mining town. Advanced and all-day intensive options featuring Duncan Wong, Annie Pace, and Mark Whitwell.
Location: Telluride, CO. Lodging available in the Mountain Village and in downtown Telluride.
More info at tellurideyogafestival.com
Buddhist Geeks Conference
August 9-11
Billed as "the intersection of Buddhism, technology, and global culture," the Buddhist Geeks conference brings together the brilliant minds of Lama Surya Das, Matt Flannery (kiva.org CEO), Stephen Batchelor, and many more great thinkers at the University Memorial Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Location: Boulder, CO. Lodging available at Boulder hotels.
More info at conference.buddhistgeeks.com
Wake Up Festival
August 22-26
The Wake Up Festival in the dreamy mountain town of Estes Park promises a multi-experience retreat with yoga, meditation, Qigong, music, keynote speakers, and break-out workshops. Featuring Caroline Myss, Michael Beckwith, Jack Kornfield with Snatam Kaur, and David Darling, among many others.
Location: Estes Park, CO. Lodging available through YMCA.
More info at soundstrue.com/wakeup.
