So what kinda festival is this anyway?

Aestival (Merriam-Webster: of or relating to summer), in it’s first year, is an opportunity to camp out on a beautiful piece of land and have a good time with good people who are all invited to create something new with us. There will be a few rad activations, some classes and DJ sets, as well as an awesome bonfire/effigy. Expect plenty of downtime for swimming, strolls through the woods and sprawls in the grass.

If you are seeking non-stop stimulation in a cushy environment with loads of amenities, this is not be the festival for you! There will definitely be some thumping dance parties and a few dazzling art installations, and we aspire to provide more robust programming and comforts in future iterations, but for now we are excited to provide a low-stakes environment with plenty of whimsy and fun throughout.

What’s included in my festival ticket?

Along with access to our idyllic site for three days, all ticket holders will have access to fresh mountain spring water delivered to central camping areas. There will also be lots of firewood available for your cook or campfire. We will have bags of ice available for purchase for $5 each.

Theme camps will be able to arrive a day early to set up and make production requests for their community offerings. They will also have the opportunity to purchase dinners, which will be delivered to central camping areas, on Friday and Saturday night. Theme camps will be able to get garbage bags carted away for $10 each.

What should I pack?

  • Tent

  • Sleeping bag

  • Sleeping pad

  • Pillows

  • Warm clothes

  • Waterproof boots or shoes

  • Swimsuit & towel

  • Drinks

  • Ready-to-eat food

  • Easy-to-cook food

  • Camping stove

  • Snacks

  • Camping chair

  • Cooler

  • Rain Tarp

  • Lighter or matches

  • Headlamp

  • Lantern

  • Sunscreen

  • Bugspray

  • Plate, Cup, Utensils

  • Garbage bags

  • Picnic Blanket

  • Coffee Mug & Cup

  • Crafting equipment

  • Games and activities

  • Gifts

  • Cash

Can I drive right up to my campsite?

Parking spaces adjacent to the campsites will be limited to theme camp early arrivals. Any vehicles that drive to their camp site must have a high carriage and all-wheel drive. Due to our narrow one-way road, vehicles parked at the campsite once the gate opens on Friday will have to stay in place until the end of the festival on Sunday.

All other vehicles are limited to our parking lots. Once you’re done unloading your car we will have shuttles available to assist you in getting to your camping area. If you decide that you need to drive into town (5 minutes away) or into the city of Oneonta (15 minutes away), you will be able to do so.

Is Aestival kid-friendly?

Yes! We will be sure to isolate late-night DJ sets and parties so you and your family can get a good night’s sleep under the stars. We highly encourage self-expression amongst theme camp activations so there may be some rowdy and raunchy daytime activities, but we will be sure to highlight that information in our programming pamphlet so you can decide how and where you and your little ones can enjoy your time.

Are there volunteer and artist opportunities?

Absolutely. Volunteers tickets are available. Inquire here. We are more than happy to discuss whether your art or activation is a good fit for Aestival. If your work is well developed for a festival atmosphere and can directly engage with lots of participants, we’d love to figure out how to support you! Fill out our Activation Sign Up form

What exactly is a theme camp?

A theme camp is a group of folks who collectively bring something fun for the rest of the festival. Right now we have discounted blocks of tickets available for 25 person and 10 person them camps. Theme camps get the benefit of arriving early, being able to buy into our dinner plan and requesting assistance from our production team. We will also work directly with your theme camp to help figure out where and when to place your activation to make sure that it is fun, effective and stunningly beautiful.

What is this Chthonics you speak of?

Chthonics (pronounced tha-niks) is a wonderfully esoteric word with a few readings. We use it to describe the belief that every tree, rock, plant and stream has its own unique spirit. However we are not terribly reverent about these spirits. Sometimes spirits need to move on to a better place in order for humans to achieve our dreams and made a better place for our community.