Growing Home: Samhain Gathering

The last of the harvest has been gathered. Leaves are falling, and spent flower stalks stand brown. Migrating birds have flown. We're are making our preparations for the winter. And yet, every season carries the seed of all the others. In the depth of autumn, we don't just plan for the cold and the dark. We also save and preserve the seeds of spring. 

Join us as we celebrate the harvest of the year, acknowledge endings, elders, ancestors, and those we have lost, and connect with mortality and the deep cycles of life, death, and rebirth. 

As always, we will offer many ways to connect with the season, with Nature, and with one another. These include workshops and discussions, tranquil sound baths, forest immersion, craft activities for all ages, music, ceremony and ritual, a potluck feast, a bonfire, and more.

Our events are always family-friendly, and admission is free for children under the age of 13.

We love it when community members want to co-create the event with us, and always offer multiple opportunities to plug in. Please keep an eye out for work-trade announcements if you want to get involved.

See you soon!

Schedule:

Samhain FAQ

Where can I get tickets?

Tickets can be purchased here:

https://buytickets.at/growinghome/1820480

How can I sign up for a work-trade shift to exchange my time for a ticket?

Check back soon for work-trade signup!

Is camping available?

Buck Creek has a beautiful group campground available for tent camping. It is primitive, with a porta-potty nearby, as well as a hand-wash station.

If you wish to bring an RV, please reach out and let us know, and be sure to arrive on Friday or very early on Saturday. If you arrive later in the day on Saturday, we will not have a space reserved, and may not be able to accommodate your RV.

How do I sign up for camping?

Please visit our Hipcamp to secure camping here:

https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/indiana-buck-creek-sanctuary-wz6h602l

We ask that you sign up for camping through Hipcamp even if you plan on sleeping in your car, so we know how many people are spending the night on the land.

When can I arrive

Gates will open Saturday morning at 10AM

Will food and water be available on site?

Drinking water will be available to refill water bottles. Please bring your own refillable bottles to drink from. We will also have a donation-based hot tea station.

We will share a potluck dinner feast at 6PM. We encourage everyone to bring lunch and snacks for the day. There will be no food truck or other food available on-site, and Buck Creek is in a relatively isolated area without any food options nearby.

What should I bring for the potluck?

If possible, we’d love if you bring something seasonal, or something that is traditional or meaningful to you. But if that is a burden, please just do whatever works for you. Bring hot things in a crockpot or instant pot, and cool things in a cooler. Snacks like fruit, cheese, crackers, and chips will get set out throughout the day for folks to snack on, if they are brought.

What is the Community Altar?

The Community Altar will be a special sacred space we set up, where we invite everyone to place a photo, memento, or object that represents loved ones who have passed on, ancestors, roots, or traditions, or something that represents the themes of the season, including the harvest, and also the turn into the dark time of the year.

What is the bathroom situation?

There will be a port-a-potty and a composting toilet available, with hand-washing stations next to each.

What should I bring ?

Offering for the potluck feast

A memento, token, or other object for the community altar

Camping Gear (if camping)

Water and snacks

Eating and drinking implements

Chairs, blankets, yoga mats, etc

Drums, musical instruments

Notebook and something to write with

Trash bag(s) to pack out your trash

Wipes and/or hand sanitizer

Flashlight

Weather-appropriate clothing

Bug spray

Flow arts play things - hula hoops, LED poi, juggling supplies, etc

Fun things like bubbles, face paint, etc

Where can I find a list of workshops and offerings?

There will be so many awesome workshops and activities! Check out our schedule on our Ticket Tailor site, Facebook, or Instagram.

Is this a rain-or-shine event?

Yes! We will have alternative locations set up in the event of rain.

Can I bring my dog?

We love dogs! Unfortunately we have to ask that you leave your furry friend at home unless it's a service animal. 

Do you have a substance use policy?

The Samhain Gathering a sober space. While we honor and respect the use of various sacred substances for medicinal, ceremonial and recreational situations, we wish to prioritize presence, unity, togetherness, and a feeling of safety for everyone, especially families with children.

What is the address?

Buck Creek Sanctuary

4309 Smith Campground Rd SE, Elizabeth, IN 47117