FAQ

How many people attend Hexenfest?
~ Hexenfest is a small festival. About 150 people attend. Our venue can support 600 easily, and we hope to grow into that. 

What is the site like?
~ Hexenfest is located in Lake County, California, in a valley. As such it is in shade for a good portion of the day, but not the entire day. There are plenty of shady spots to camp. Unless you are camped directly under a tree, you will get sun in the morning. It is a good idea to bring additional shade support. Although things are cooling off by Mid-October, there could be a heat spell. Hence the large, wonderful swimming pool!

What lodging options are there?
~ Indoor lodging onsite is limited, and sells out quickly. There is a Super 8 Motel 10 minutes away in the town of Upper Lake where some of our folks stay. Campsites are available on a first first come first served basis. We cannot reserve specific spots for anyone. Come early and stake your claim. If you can’t get there early, send an emissary from your camp to grab a spot. There are PLENTY for our size group. 

Are you kid friendly?
~ We aspire to be! We would love to host more children’s activities, however our bandwidth is stretched thin as is. If you would like to offer children’s programming, please contact Sharon @ Hexenfest (dot) magic (at) gmail (dot) com.

Are you inclusive?
~We celebrate our differences, so long as they are rooted in love. We do not tolerate racism, transphobia, sexism, or related behaviors. We value consent culture. Please read our policies on culture and consent. Don’t be a dick.

ALSO: All bathrooms at Hexenfest are gender neutral. 

Can we have a fire?
~ This is Northern California at the end of summer. So unfortunately no fires are allowed onsite due to Extreme Fire Danger. Saratoga Springs was nearly evacuated in 2018 due to fire. For those concerned about fire, the staff has told us that recently burned areas are less of a risk, as what can burn has already burned. We should be safe.

Can I get a refund on my ticket?
~All ticket sales are final. Please understand we are a small, independent event, and we make decisions on behalf of the festival as money comes in. If you are unable to attend, you are responsible for re-selling your ticket. If you are unable to attend, we will assist resale efforts via our social media channels, and if it doesn’t sell we will honor your ticket the following year. (ONLY EXCEPTION: If you test positive for Covid, we will refund your ticket or roll it over to next year).

Why is there no lunch on the meal plan?
~ In our post festival survey from 2023, many more folks voted to have two main meals a day to keep meal plan costs down. Saratoga’s onsite cafe, The Rainbow Bar, will be open from 8:30am-2:30pm, for lunch options. Also, lunch is the easiest meal to make in the outdoor community kitchen.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW:
~Water from spiggets is not potable. There is potable water onsite and it will be labeled.

~ Alcohol is welcome at Hexenfest, with the assumption that you drink responsibly. We are here to deepen our consciousness, not go unconscious. A spontaneous tasting party has coalesced in years past. Bring a favorite to share, if you like.

~ Smoking in designated areas only. Do NOT leave cigarette butts lying around. Saratoga Springs will fine us $10 PER BUTT they have to pick up.

~Pets are not allowed at Saratoga Springs.

~ Hexenfest as a magical act of co-creation. Let our actions create a microcosm of the world we’d like to live in and leave for future generations; a world of co-operation, not competition. A world where we look out for one another, respect each other’s boundaries, share hopes and dreams and hearty belly laughs, and truly listen to one another. Let us cultivate a culture of personal responsibility and accountability, that we may free ourselves to celebrate the beauty and majesty of this life. We celebrate not to escape our world, but to deepen our relationship to it. This is the spirit of Hexenfest.