News Archives - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

Recycling and Compost Details for Spring 2018

May 3, 2018 by David Dean Leave a Comment

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is committed to producing events that are environmentally sound and Leave No Trace. Please remember that if you pack it in, you need to pack it out.

All food, paper and official food vendors’ utensils can be composted. Please take a moment to sort your waste and avoid contaminating the compost.

Free well water is available throughout the camp and you are encouraged to bring your own bottle.

For a chance to win a 4-Day Festival Pass and other prizes, bring your sorted garbage and recycling to the Recycling / Trash Field between 11:00 am – 3:00 p.m. Friday – Sunday.

More details are found in the Festival Program that are free at the Ticket Booth (while supplies last).

Download a PDF of the Festival Map.

’Twas the Night Before Shakori

May 2, 2018 by Sarah Cullen

’Twas the night before Shakori, when all through the ‘ground
Not a performer was playing, not even a sound;
The Ticket Booth was stocked by volunteers with care,
In hopes that all our Shakori friends soon would be there;
The Early Campers were snuggled all warm in their tent;
While dreaming of music and a weekend well spent.

The stages were set, the Dance Tent was ready;
How is it here? Shakori Season already?
And up in Middle Earth and down in Creekside;
Both children and adults all sit starry-eyed;
And all through the festival and all through the air;
You could feel GrassRoots coming, we’re practically there!

The moonlight was shining on all of Peace Park;
The night before it shares it’s magic in the dark;
And the banners are dancing, and the trees they are shining;
Leave all complaints on the road – It’s Shakori! No whining!
So pack up the campers, fill the coolers with beer;
We finally made it, Shakori is here!

The Grove Stage will be rocking, the Meadow enchanting;
After all the building and painting and planting;
All of us here at Shakori, we have waited since fall;
We welcome you back – oldies, newbies, and all;
Take it all in, all the sound, smell, and sight;
‘Happy Shakori to all, and to all a good night!’

by: Sarah Cullen, Spring 2018

What to Bring and Not to Bring

April 27, 2018 by Sarah Cullen Leave a Comment

Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced Shakori friend we ask that you review what to bring and what not to bring to Shakori Hills. Make sure to pick up a program at the Ticket Booth for more information that will help you enjoy your time on the Farm.

Please “Leave No Trace” and haul out what you bring in especially couches, blankets, and camping chairs.

WHAT TO BRING

– Sunscreen (contrary to popular opinion we do get sun)
– A hat
– Sunglasses
– Rain boots (we have been known to get some rain)
– Camping supplies, including a tent, mat, sleeping bag, and tarp
– A flashlight and extra batteries
– Bug spray
– Trash bags
– Toothpaste & toothbrush
– Reusable water bottle (deep-well water is available for free)
– Snacks
– Blanket or camping chair
– A towel, soap, and shampoo (outdoor hot water showers are available)
– A smile!
– If you forget anything the Country Store carries most everything you need and is open throughout the festival. (located across the road from the Coffee Barn)

WHAT NOT TO BRING

– Firearms
– Weapons of any kind, including axes, machetes, and hatchets
– Drugs
– A bad attitude
– Outside firewood (plenty on the grounds and you can buy more at the Country Store)
– Amplified radios or music
– Generators
– Pets (service dogs allowed only if they are for the service of the human they are with)
– No motorized scooters or golf carts. Persons with mobility needs should email shakorihillsaccess@gmail.com in advance.
– Bikes must have lights on the front and back and be on at night.
– No fire spinning, except in the performers’ safety circle
– No driving around after dark
– No unapproved vending

CAMPERS

Place camping sticker on your tent pole. Tent Camping Stickers are good for tents, canopies, and tarps up to 10×10. Every tent, canopy, and tarp must have a tent sticker for each 10×10 space. Tarps covering tents for rain protection do not need a separate sticker. Tents, canopies, and tarps larger than 10×10 must have two stickers.

Vehicle / RV Campers must have a 4-Day Festival Pass PLUS a Vehicle or RV Camping Pass displayed on the windshield of the vehicle that is camping.

Vehicle, RV, and Tent Camping are in designated areas only and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Camping tickets can be purchased at the Ticket Booth or in advance here.

LOST & FOUND

Located at the Ticket Booth.

My First Journey to the Farm

April 25, 2018 by Sarah Cullen

For families and friends who have been coming to Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance for years, this post will hopefully resonate with the feelings you have to come to know and love. For those who have not ever visited the special magic that is found on these 80 rolling acres, I hope this post will give you some insight on what it is like being a part of this festival for the first time and encourage you to join us this spring.

I have lived in Raleigh for the past seven years, and as I started my journey to ‘The Farm’ for the first time, I found myself leaving the busy, loud, bustling place I have grown to love for the quiet, beautiful, serene countryside of Pittsboro, North Carolina. I immediately felt myself relax, and that quick calm was only just the beginning of a weekend that was going to forever change what I thought a music festival was.

As you turn down the long gravel drive into Shakori Hills, passing the wooden sign gently welcoming you back, you are immediately greeted by smiling faces leading you to Parking, Camping, and Tickets. As someone who had never been, this was all very overwhelming. I had come on to help work the festival in August, but had never seen the land with this many people, all so excited to be back ‘home’. I was invigorated by everything – the striped Dance Tent, the lights that seemed to dance in every tree, the smells coming from the Coffee Barn, the hand-painted signs welcoming and guiding. I was barely parked before I jumped out of my car, camera in tow, and started making my way around the land.

Starting by The Garden, I walked back through the campsite full of people all catching up on what their ‘neighbors’ had been up to since the last festival. Babies being passed around and kissed. Beers being toasted and cheered. Music pouring from every campsite and trail. It was all so beautiful and comforting, but the true magic started when the sun set over the Grove Stage.

With the rising stars came the true enchantment of Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance. People brought their lights and dancing shoes (or lack thereof) and the party began. That easiness I felt while driving out to The Farm only grew with every beautiful shared moment I experienced while the festival days and nights continued.

That magic, those special moments of community and love all set to the soundtrack of incredible music, is what Shakori Hills is all about. It is what keeps people, including myself, coming back every spring and fall and spring again.

As the festival quickly approaches again, I find myself driving down that same driveway that first welcomed me to this place. Like the tire tracks down it made by artists, families, and friends you fall into a groove the moment you are on the land. A groove that feels natural and authentic. One that is easy to slip into and feel its significance. A groove that molds to you and welcomes you back again.

See you in the groove soon.

Love & Peace-

Sarah Cullen

Enjoy The Outpost

April 15, 2018 by Sarah Cullen Leave a Comment

Plant Your Roots in the Outpost!

GrassRoots might be turning 16 this year, but that doesn’t mean you’ve gotta be all grown up to enjoy the festival!

The Outpost is the perfect place for attendees between the ages of 10 and 18. Offerings in this space range from instrument workshops to Boff Games (foam swords and shields = super cool!), led by the Wandering Swordsman.

The Outpost is programmed throughout the day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Children can learn the Art of the MC from (J) Rowdy, who is performing Friday in the Cabaret Tent or the basics of magic during the Slight of Hand session.

For those that prefer creative and mental arts, The Outpost features a wide range of board and table games, community art installations, and hands-on crafts.

Kids 12 and under get in free and we have a special advanced ticket rate for 13 – 15 year olds of $59. Advance ticket sales end Monday, April 30.

There’s something for all at the Outpost, so come spend the weekend with us!

Road to Shakori Spring 2018

April 6, 2018 by Sarah Cullen

We are pleased to announce a series of #RoadToShakori shows this month with our good friends at The Pour House, Motorco Music Hall, Second & Green, and our exclusive festival beer sponsor Foothills Brewery.

Friday, April 6
Foothills Brewery, Tasting Room
Winston-Salem, NC
Music: Shiloh Hill
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Win: A pair of day passes!

Saturday, April 14
Motorco Music Hall with Parts & Labor
Durham, NC
Featuring: Shakori Hills Vinyl Lounge
Time: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Music: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Enjoy: Fresh paella and Foothills specials!
Win: A pair of day passes!

Saturday, April 28
Second & Green
Winston-Salem, NC
Music: Perpetual Groove and Marvelous Funkshun
Doors: 6:00 pm
Win: A pair of day passes!

Saturday, April 28
The Pour House
Raleigh, NC
Music: Emily Musolino CD Release Party with Rebekah Todd & The Odyssey and Matt Phillips & The Back Pocket
Doors: 8:00 pm, Show: 9:00pm
Win: A 4-Day Festival Pass!

Other opportunities to win passes to the festival include Friday, April 6 and Sunday, April 29 at The Pour House.

Spring 2018 Ticket Locations

April 5, 2018 by Sarah Cullen

Below is a list of all the locations you can buy physical tickets for the Spring 2018 Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance.

Schoolkids Records – Raleigh

2237 Avent Ferry Rd., Ste. 101

Raleigh, NC 27606

(919) 821-7766

Schoolkids Records – Chapel Hill

405-C W. Franklin St.

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

(919) 960-9272

Townsend Bertram & Company

200 N. Greensboro St.

Carrboro, NC 27510

(919) 933-9712

Capital Bank – Pittsboro

37 Hillsboro St.

Pittsboro, NC 27312

(919) 545-5533

Circle City Books & Music

120 Hillsboro St.

Pittsboro, NC 27312

(919) 548-5954

The Regulator Bookshop

720 Ninth Street

Durham, NC 27705

(919) 286-2700

Redix – Downtown Wilmington

104 Grace St.

Wilmington, NC 28401

(910) 726-1194

Redix – On the Beach

120 Causeway Dr.

Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

(910) 256-2201

Festival T-Shirts

October 1, 2017 by Sara Waters Leave a Comment

Isn’t it marvelous?! If you want your own version of our Fall Festival shirt, they can be purchased at the Merch Tent along with artists’ merchandise, festival stickers, & more!

Full Moon Moments

September 18, 2017 by Sara Waters Leave a Comment

I was recently on a week-long vacation with my family. Perfect, right? Beautiful scenery, good food, surrounded by my favorite people, a week off from responsibilities. But I was having a hard time. I couldn’t…let go. It had taken some organizing to get away: figuring out who’d take care of the dog and cat, paying all the bills, packing up, checking all the things off the list. And then there’s what would happen when I got back! Work piling up, things to catch up on, replying to all the emails. Even during the vacation there was the planning: what was next? where were we going to eat? was everyone happy? were we spending too much money? – finally, by the second to last day, I stopped and realized – woah, I’m on vacation, I should be enjoying this!

As children, living in the moment is our specialty – we see only what is in front of us, enjoy what there is, not even knowing what the next activity or day will bring. When something upsets us, we cry and hate the world – and then the moment is gone. When we are happy, that’s all there is, pure joy. We are blissfully unaware of the weight on our parents’ shoulders and what responsibilities we will later have as age and adult worries take over.

Somehere along the way to adulthood, I seem to have lost that crucial ability to get lost in the moment! To let go and just…be. To open my eyes, look around and realize that right now, I truly have everything that I need to be in this moment and that, often – here especially – it’s a good one.

Even (especially) in the festival office, we can get so wrapped up in the planning, the details, making sure everything goes right and everyone else is happy, we forget to jump in and take what this whole thing is offering us! And it’s offering us so much!

There’s the music, such incredible artists sharing their gifts with us. There’s dancing our bodies to the beat, moving under the night sky in new ways. There’s family together time, amazing food, pitching tents and making new friends, campfire jams, reminiscing, new experiences and – somehow all of us come together, with everything we have to offer, and we create something. Together, we create the biggest, most beautiful moment!

So I’m challenging myself this fall, and I invite you to join me. Let’s jump into that moment! Let’s live in it!

For this moment we have created together – maybe it lasts four days, maybe only an afternoon – let’s recognize it for what it is, and leave that other stuff behind. Let’s invite that beautiful, full October moon and her sister stars to come down and dance with us! Happy Shakori, everyone!

Love & Peace,
Sara Waters Schwartz
Festival Co-coordinator

Community Corner: Growing Up At Shakori

September 11, 2017 by Sara Waters Leave a Comment

Every festival we include a piece of writing from someone in our community about what Shakori Hills means to them. This fall, we want to thank Elaine Atwell for her beautiful thoughts on growing up at Shakori Hills…

You mark the age of a child in birthday candles, in drawings on the fridge, and for a lucky group of people, in Shakoris. I’ve been coming to Shakori Hills for nearly half of my thirty years and like a lot of people, I feel like I grew up here. I started (relatively) late, as a teenager, when I would keep safely to the edges of the dance tent, mumble my name when asked, and wonder why I had to be in a family that took such weird vacations. I stewed in awkwardness and resentment for years until, during one Shakori in my early twenties, I realized I didn’t feel that way anymore. I spoke up. I helped pitch tents and prepare food. I danced, and saw my family’s mouths open with surprise, and realized I had passed some sort of milestone since the last Shakori.

I’m old enough now to watch other children do the same thing, with Shakori functioning as a kind of time-lapse camera of maturity. The unborn child of a fall Shakori is the infant passed around the campsite in the spring, and a few festivals later, is an entire person full of will and energy and opinions (usually a passionate enthusiasm for mud). I’ve watched adolescents make the same journey I did: testing boundaries under the watchful eyes of a loving community, trying out new identities, taking that first brave step out to the center of the dance tent. It’s a breathtaking privilege to witness, and to be one of the adults who can help teach, play, and encourage.

Lately I have felt grown in some fundamental sense, in part because I feel an urgent protectiveness for what we have here at Shakori Hills. The teenager who took these precious days for granted is gone, and now I am committed to tending this fire so another generation of children can have the unique advantages of a Grassroots childhood. In a world that is frequently isolating and deeply cynical, kids at Shakori get gloriously dirty, reach beyond themselves to make new friends, and witness the incredible rarity of a true community, caring for itself and trying always to live up to its highest ideals. Perhaps most importantly, kids at Shakori get to see adults at play, and realize that it is possible to preserve the joy and wonder of childhood, even as you grow up.

Inspired by your Shakori Hills experience? We’d love to hear from you! We’ll be looking for a new community piece to include in the spring program. Submit yours to shakorihills@grassrootsfest.org and we will consider it for publication.

Photo by Val Waegerle.

Recycling and Compost Details for Spring 2018

’Twas the Night Before Shakori