Brushwood Folklore Center

Brushwood Folklore Center L.L.C. is a campground, festival and seminar facility located in Sherman, New York (a town in Western New York State). This family-run spiritual center hosts a number of well-known Neo-Pagan events and runs programs of its own. Owned by Frank and Darlene Barney, the campground is on 180 developed acres with several permanent structures.

Notable features of the campground include an indoor seminar space, the "Roundhouse" (a fire circle openwork structure reserved for all-night drumming), the "DidgeDome" (a wooden skeletal dome reserved for didgeridoo and small drum music), a candle labyrinth, an outdoor Neo-Druidic temple called the "Nemeton", a playground area, and a pond with an island in the center called "Brushfire Island". There are several wooden pavilions (some with stages and power), a food court, and a poolhouse with pool, hot tub and showers. It is a clothing optional facility, and skyclad participants are common.

Brushwood has hosted the Starwood Festival since 1990, and has hosted the Church of the SubGenius X-Day and the Ar nDraiocht Fein Wellspring Gathering festivals (run by Stone Creed Grove) since their inception. The World Magic Festival, created by Jeff McBride, was held there both years it ran [http://www.magicalwisdom.com/museLetter.php?id=29] [http://www.pietalent.com/Magic.html] , and several smaller Neo-Pagan community events including Opening Inner Doorways, The Thing in the Woods, Craftwise Pagan Gathering, Lumensgate and Heartsong have been held there. It has also had primarily musical events such as the O.U.R. Music Festival, Strange Days, and the SpiritDrum Festival.

The primary event created by Brushwood is Sirius Rising [http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usfl&c=festivals&id=8627] , a Neo-Pagan festival held the week before the Starwood Festival in July. Sirius Rising features classes on nature spirituality topics and arts and crafts, and provides live musical entertainment in the evenings.

References

* Abrahams, Ian (2004) "Hawkwind: Sonic Assassins". (reference to Strange Days event)
* Dunwich, Gerina (2001) "The Modern Witch's Complete Sourcebook". Citadel Press ISBN 0806522933, ISBN 9780806522937 (reference to Sirius Rising and Heartsong)
* Lewis, James R. and Shelley Rabinovitch (2004) "The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism". C Trade Paper ISBN 0806524065, ISBN 978-0806524061 (reference to the Starwood Festival)
* Niesel, Jeff "Slack Is Back: Quit Your Job! Make Waste! The Church of the SubGenius Has Come to Town!" (April 6, 2000) [http://www.clevescene.com/2000-04-06/news/slack-is-back]
* Pike, Sarah M. (2001) "Earthly Bodies, Magical Selves: Contemporary Pagans and the Search for Community". University of California Press ISBN 0520220862, ISBN 978-0520220867 (reference to Lumensgate event)
* Telesco, Patricia J. (2000) "Magickal Places: A Wiccan Guide to Sacred Sites and Spiritual Centers". Citadel ISBN 0806521384, ISBN 978-0806521381
* [http://www.rosencomet.com/thinginthewoods/2002/index.html Thing in the Woods]

External links

* [http://www.brushwood.com Brushwood website]
* [http://www.starwoodfestival.com Starwood Festival website]
* [http://www.ourmusicfest.com O.U.R. Music Festival website]
* [http://www.modemac.com/x-day X-Day Home Page]
* [http://www.stonecreed.org/wellspring.htm Wellspring Gathering Home Page]
* [http://craftwiseevents.tripod.com Craftwise website]