Frequently Asked
Questions

TLDR:


Wait, what is this?

  • A grand adventure, WillFest is nominally a birthday party but actually an improvisational festival and experiment in co-created community and self actualization. The entire weekend is created by the participants. A schedule of activities will be circulated closer to the event. Start thinking about what you’d like to bring. This is (obviously) the third time we’ve done this so we’re starting to get the hang of it.

What should I bring to share?

  • Think about what would be in your joy to share that would also create a valuable and/or memorable and/or fun/silly/hilarious experience for your friends. Share from your gift, passion, curiosities or interests and you can’t lose. Let Will know what you’d like to bring or your ideas and we’ll weave it all together into a schedule of activities before the event. IMPORTANT: CLICK HERE AND FILL OUT YOUR INFO ON SHEET ONE. This helps us make the schedule.

What else should I bring?

  • An open heart and mind, and a willingness to step into a co-created group field based on consent, care and creation 💜

  • A headlamp

  • Water shoes

  • If you are local please bring:

    • Extra bedding (pillow, sheets, blankets) & towel

    • Yoga mat and an extra if you have one

    • Camping chairs

    • Any squish you think would be fun to have in the house, snuggle barn, cuddle puddle, etc.

  • Sparkly clothes. Like Burning Man, this is a radical self expression zone so please bring outfits that you feel great in or that express a part of you that doesn’t get to come out too often. Facepaints and other adornment encouraged to leave default reality behind for a few days.

  • Comfy clothes for three seasons. Tennessee weather is unpredictable and it could be chilly, hot, sunny, or pouring rain in May, or perhaps all 4 over the course of a weekend. Bring appropriate clothes so you’ll be comfortable. Hats and sunglasses are great when the sun comes out.

  • Props for fire spinning, juggling, magic tricks, massage, slack-lining, or anything else that would be good for frolicking outdoors or indoors.

  • Noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs if you have them, so you can sleep whenever you might want to.

  • Bug spray (there are ticks and chiggers in Tennessee. They probably won’t mess with you, but natural bug repellent will help ensure they don’t)

  • Sunscreen

  • Party favors to share if you wish :)

  • Snacks to share for between meals

What is the dress code? What should I bring to wear?

  • Be fabulous. All weather fabulous. Fun clothes are fun for everybody and a great chance to express yo’self and light up those around you. So go wild with garb.

  • If you like. Bring something to contribute to the costume closet.

  • Also, bring river shoes! water shoes! very useful in the water

Will there be alcohol? Can I bring alcohol?

  • No, WillFest is an alcohol-free event :)

Can I be naked?

  • Yes. The only neighbor that has sight-lines onto the property is from the river overlook tent accross the river. So don’t be naked there or up the driveway. Otherwise the property is very private you probably won’t be seen. However the middle of the river is technically public property and there might be folks who show up randomly, so if that happens keep your clothes nearby.

Can I be loud? Is there a curfew?

  • You can be loud during the day, and quieter at night. We’ll turn the outdoor music down at 11p and in general try to push the beats towards the pond as their aren’t any neighbors in that direction for about a mile.

Can I be loud AND naked?

  • See above. Yes. With a few little restrictions.

In the unlikely event that the police or any other non-participants show up, should I let them past the gate onto the property?

  • No. If this happens please be friendly, let them know we are hosting a private event and they may not enter, give them Will’s phone number (615 608 1738) and leave them at the gate with a smile.

What is the culture of WillFest?

  • Our culture is based on the ten principles of Burning Man. Here are the ten principles adapted lightly to WillFest (more info here):

    • Radical Inclusion - treat everyone at WillFest as a friend you haven’t met yet. This is a highly curated group and everyone has magic to share.

    • Gifting - As a co-created mini-festival everything here is a gift. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

    • Decommodification - Nothing can be bought or sold at WillFest and nobody should attempt to buy or sell anything here. Instead we prioritize connection, curiosity and creation. The exception is (joke?) products invented at WillFest.

    • Radical Self-reliance - bring everything you need, and be the change you want to see. If something needs to be done, you are the one to do it.

    • Radical Self-expression - Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others.

    • Communal Effort - Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We are literally making this up as we go, so grab the reigns! you are the person you’ve been waiting for.

    • Civic Responsibility - We are all in this together and each of us takes responsibility for everyone here. Treat this like a family and this land as your home.

    • Leave No Trace - We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them. In the WillFest context this specifically applies to dishes and teardown of the event.

    • Participation - Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.

    • Immediacy - We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

What aspects of Tennessee nature should I know about before I run naked through the woods?

  • Good question! Will’s answer is Ticks, Chiggers and Poison Ivy. More info below:

  • Ticks: They are small black insects that sometimes get on you and can carry tick borne illnesses. TN Ticks rarely carry Lyme disease, but they do carry other diseases. The best thing to do is to be mindful of when you are in the bush, and check yourself for ticks before going to bed at night. If you do find one on you, the best way to remove it is with pointy tweezers. Grab it as close to the body as you can and pull it off swiftly in one motion. This minimizes the chances of infection. After a tick bite, it’s good to monitor the site for a week for any signs of infection and/or you can take 5-7 days of 200MG Doxycycline (a common anti-biotic) to prevent infection as a precaution.

  • Chiggers: chiggers are tiny insects that live in tall grasses and can get on the skin and bite. When they bite you you’ll notice a small yellow bump that itches like hell. If you don’t scratch it, it’ll go away in 2 days. If you scratch it, it’ll itch like hell for a week or more. Some people put nail polish on them so they don’t scratch them. Some people put benzocaine on them. Some people (like our friend Lucien Vattel) seem impervious to them and some people (like Will) seem to attract them. The more you get bitten the less the body freaks out. The way to avoid chigger bites is to avoid tall grasses and/or wear long sleeves and pants in the bush, tuck pants or tights into socks, and/or wash off with soap and water after being in the woods.

  • Poison Ivy: There is a ton of poison ivy in Tennessee. We’ve spent many hours trying to rid Monarch of all poison ivy, however we haven’t eradicated it fully yet. Poison ivy comes in two forms (vine and ground covering plant) and almost always exists at the boundary where one kind of ecosystem (eg. River or Forest) transitions into another (eg. Plain or meadow). If you know how to identify poison ivy and keep an eye out for it, it’ll minimize the chances of exposure. Poison ivy has three leaves and a red stem, and the stem of the middle leaf is longer than the side leaves. Sometimes it has a sheen on it and sometimes not. The oil on poison ivy that causes a reaction is called Urushiol, and it can persist on clothing or tools for years. This is why it’s important to change clothes after bush-whacking so as not to bring the oil on clothing into the house or barn. If the Urushiol oil gets on skin of a person who is reactive to poison ivy (about 80% of the population) it causes the immune system to freak out at the exposure site and this immune freak-out is what causes the site to start to bubble and blister, as the immune system tries to expel the intruding oil. Of course all this reaction does is cause discomfort, because the oil is actually harmless. The immune response is what causes the reaction. For this reason the best treatment after exposure is to simply wash the site with good soap or detergent or special poison ivy soap (we have some at the ranch). If the oil is washed off within 6-8 hours there is typically no reaction. However if it lingers on the skin of a reactive person for a while, it starts to trigger the immune response. It’s actually possible to feel it starting to irritate the skin. Once a reaction has started, the best treatment is to start a 7 day taper of prednisone. Prednisone stops the immune response (but has other effects and so it’s very important to taper off it properly).

Is it safe to swim in the pond?

  • We haven’t had it tested yet but Will swims in it frequently. There’s a heated outdoor shower to take rinse afterwards if you wish. Probably don’t go in with open wounds.

Is it safe to swim in the river?

  • Same answer. If you have an open wound it’s advised to be extra cautious. Shower afterwards just to be safe.

What is the cost of the weekend?

  • WillFest is a non-profit event and aims to be regenerative. We will split costs for the weekend evenly between us. Based on previous experiences we expect the entire weekend to cost around $200/pp which will cover all meals and other prep, set up, operational expenses and overflow accomodations. If you’d like to get the finances out of the way before the event please Venmo $200 to @Will-Sacks, otherwise expect a polite but persistent series of messages and emails after the event asking for a Venmo to square event expenses :”)

Food. Tell me about the food.

  • Food at WillFest is delectable. You will eat well and have a happy tummy and get to cook with others.

  • We’ll make all meals together on-site. Each person who attends will be tasked with taking the lead on one meal, including veggie, gluten free, dairy free, sugar free options. Cooking with other people is a great way to connect and tend to each others bellies. IMPORTANT: CLICK HERE AND FILL OUT YOUR NAME FOR A MEAL SQUAD ON SHEET TWO

  • We have 8 meals total (Dinner Fri, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on Saturday and Sunday, and Brunch on Monday) and each meal will be prepared (and cleaned up) by a team of 4 of us. All meal ingredients will be purchased beforehand and will be on site ready to be cooked.

  • Friday dinner should be done by folks arriving Thursday, and Monday Brunch should be done by folks sticking around later on Monday or until Tuesday.

  • Cleanup after each meal is a shared responsibility that can happen very quickly with a few helping hands. Please put your name in two green spots at the above link to form our meal teams. Meal suggestions are shown in Blue on the spreadsheet, but feel free to change them or make them more specific once you have assembled your squad.

Accomodations? where will I sleep?

  • The ranch can accommodate everyone with somewhat rustic accommodations. Expect a bed. When the property is fully built out the options will be more plush. There are also many hotels 10 minutes away in White House TN as a fall back option, however staying together here on the land and away from your normal everyday life is part of the experience and so that’s highly recommended.

  • Also feel free to come camp out on the land, there’s lots of space and shade for tents and lots of parking.

Can I drop in for a day or two?

  • Technically yes, but like a medicine journey or Burning Man, the best way to experience WillFest is to be here during the come-up (Friday) the peak (Saturday) and the come-down (Sunday). This creates a sacred container for us all to exist inside of for 3 days without the disruption of people arriving or leaving mid-experience. If it isn’t possible to attend the whole weekend let us know for special accommodation.

When does it start?

  • WillFest starts with an opening circle on Friday May 30th at 6p and ends at the close of our closing circle after breakfast on Monday June 2nd around 11a. You are welcome to arrive early and help set up, or stay late and help tear down and hang out. Just let us know your travel plans. In general we love having people here on the land so feel free to plan accordingly.

What are the house rules?

  • Please no outside shoes in the house under any circumstances. We do the house Japanese style.

  • If you use dishes please clean them with soap and put them in the dish rack, there is a “No Dish Left Behind” policy at the ranch

Can I invite a friend or significant other?

  • Since this event is capped at 18 participants, please don’t invite anyone else before clearing it with Will first.

Do I need to bring a birthday present?

  • No, your presence is the best present.

What is the address?

  • 6839 Herbert Shannon Rd, Springfield TN 37172. Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SBZqaAhcLmWf5HYj9

Can I see the invite again please?

Front

Back

What do I do with other questions?

  • Call or text 615 608 1738 if you need anything. Can’t wait to see you at the end of May :) - With Love, The Willfest Team