A Feast of Lights
Finding Light and Hope in the Midst of Darkness
Jan 31-Feb 2, 2025
Northampton, Massachusetts
Registration Online!
A Feast of Lights is a time to gather to rekindle our fires and replenish ourselves at the season of the Celtic festival of Imbolg or midwinter, when the cold is deepest. It is a time to find warmth in community and tap into the strength of the returning light. This winter we truly need the promise of that small flame in the darkness, and so we will stir together a rich community with a wonderful collection of teachers, performers, artists, and merchants. Together, we will kindle the fire within to nourish our hearts and spirits through the dark of winter and the challenges to come.
This very special weekend is a time to celebrate with, and learn from each other, a time to find power – in the old traditions, in creative and artistic expression, in vibrant discussion, and in community, planning direction for the coming year. Come to make music, listen, learn, dance, shop, laugh, reflect, and enjoy warm company. Come to look toward the future, to think, and to make plans. As we share with one another, and support one another, we can feel the spark of life, hidden deep beneath the snows of winter, begin to glow warm within our hearts.
Weekend Features include:
Weekend features include: The Art Salon, rituals, merchants, workshops, a massive clothing swap, music performances and sharing, panel discussions, games and The Midwinter Masque – a masquerade feast followed by ritual and dancing.
We are excited to feature The Gaslight Tinkers for the Masque this year! – African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music. It’s the genre-bending future of the music of the past!
The Gaslight Tinkers’ blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song.
Since its formation in 2012 the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. Playing what The Valley Advocate describes as “Music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns,”
The Gaslight Tinkers’ shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship. The sound and energy of I-Shea, Clara, Garrett, Elie, and Peter are universally irresistible.
Registration Online!
Presenters 2025
Special guest:
Angie Buchanan, founder and spiritual director of Earth Traditions in Wisconsin
Additional confirmed presenters so far include:
- Juniper Talbot
- Andras Corban Arthen
- Moira Ashleigh
- Christopher Croucher, Stormdancer
- Miriam Klamkin
- Carrie Baracco
(A complete schedule and list of presenters will be posted when it is available.)
Scheduled programs begin midday on Friday, January 31 and continue until midday on Sunday, February 2.
Health protocols
We rely on everyone to keep our community as healthy as possible. We are not requiring documentation of vaccination for this event, though we encourage everyone to stay up to date on these – a spike is expected this winter, as usual. Masking will be optional and appreciated during the event, though we reserve the right to change this if numbers are especially high.
Please take a personal covid test before arriving, either for the weekend or for the Masque, and please do not attend if you are feeling unwell.
Thank you for your care.
A Feast of Lights Winter Images 2
Video credit: Martin Bridge
Friday night features an Art Salon – where you can exhibit or enjoy work by many fine community artists, a Bardic Circle and a Midwinter Ritual Meditation.
Sharing at A Feast of Lights 2025 – Bardic Circle sign up
Saturday night we celebrate with a delicious Feast, then ritual and dancing at the Midwinter Masque.
With these special events alongside the workshops, crafting, discussions and performances during the days it will be a full weekend!
Programs and Proposals
Each year we offer a wide variety of presentations, performances and rituals. In our selection process this year we will prioritize proposals for adults, children and families with a focus on pagan culture, lore and traditions, participatory ritual, makers and crafts, sustainable pagan living, arts and music, spiritual practice and activism/service.
We are currently accepting program proposals until December 20.
Clothing Swap – Bring your apparel treasures that you no longer need, and perhaps find some others to take home instead. You do not have to donate in order to take something home, and visa versa. Clothing items and accessories of all kinds are welcome as long as they are in excellent condition. Fancy and ritual clothes are among the favorites. (One person even found her wedding dress at the swap!)
Merchants – A Feast of Lights always brings together fabulous vendors and craftspeople! We have a reduced registration price for craftspeople or vendors who want to set up a table in the Merchant and Community Room for the weekend. You can indicate that you would like to be a merchant on your form when you register, and we will send you more information. You can also write to Ali with any questions: alib.massage@gmail.com
Our Location
The Hotel Northampton
413-584-3100
We are delighted to return this year to Northampton, MA, the Hotel Northampton. Located right downtown, the hotel is a wonderful space for A Feast of Lights. It has all the meeting space we need, a beautiful venue for the Masque, free parking and a fantastic location. Please call the hotel to request the block for A Feast of Lights when you reserve your room, to receive the discounted rate and to help us meet our required minimum for the event! You cannot reserve the block rates online. Our special room rates will be in effect until January 10, after which they cannot be guaranteed.
The Midwinter Masque
The Midwinter Masque is a celebratory journey into a winter realm of mystery.
With a Feast, a Ritual, and a Masquerade Dance, we travel into the winter forest to the realm of the Stag King and other magical beings, where we join the creatures of the otherworld at midwinter to revel and celebrate in the darkest time of the year.
The format this year will begin with a Feast in the rustic “Tavern Kitchen”! After dinner, we will move across the hall for the ritual and dancing with The Gaslight Tinkers. The Merchant and Community Room will be open after dinner until the end of the dance.
Watch the Gaslight Tinkers on Youtube: Suma Yay Boy
A Feast of Lights full weekend registration includes all of the Saturday night festivities.
A Feast of Lights Application Information
A full weekend registration for A Feast of Lights includes admission to daily programs and performances and the Community Room / Merchant Hall throughout the weekend, beginning at 2pm on Friday and ending at 2:00pm on Sunday, including a ticket to the Feast and the MIdwinter Masque.
We are glad to be able to keep the rate the same as last year. (We are sorry that, due to hotel requirements, we are not able to offer a reduced price if you choose not to participate in the Feast, but if the space fills up, we may be able to refund the cost of your meal ticket if someone else wants it). If you would like, you may create a table group of up to 8 people for the Feast on your application form. Please know that we must fill every seat in the Tavern, so make sure everyone on your list is actually registered and know that you may also have additional people at your table who are not on your list.
The Hotel Northampton also has a famous buffet brunch on Sunday, continually rated the “Best in the Valley”. We will have a special room available to us for that and you may choose to add brunch as an option on your registration. It is priced “at cost” and includes all taxes and tip (unless you order from the bar in addition).
Single day registration is available for Saturday only, providing admission to the Merchant Hall, social activities, and workshops for that day only. Saturday registration includes a ticket for the Masque.
The Midwinter Masque will begin at 8pm on Saturday night and tickets are available in advance or at the door. You do not have to be attending the weekend to attend the Masque. Costumes or fancy-dress are strongly encouraged!
We ask for your awareness that A Feast of Lights registration is not just about attending workshops, but is about connecting with the community that grows around the gathering as well. Please register for the event if you intend to be on site for all or part of the weekend, and suggest the same to your friends – that is what financially enables us to have space to come together. If you can’t register for the whole weekend, consider coming for just Saturday and then participating in the Feast and the Midwinter Masque, or coming for the Feast and the Masque on Saturday night and then join us for brunch on Sunday.
Advance Registration Rates:
- Full Weekend, including the MIdwinter Masque Ritual, Feast and Dancing $185
- Saturday Single Day (including all evening events): $140
- Children: Ages 0-4 are free, 4-12 are $50 and 13-17 are $75 with any adult registration
- Saturday Night Events – Stag King’s Masque – Ritual, Feast and Dancing: $75
- Midwinter Ritual and Masquerade Dance arriving after the Feast, are $20 ($25 without a costume) and are available only at the door. The merchant room will be available throughout the evening.
Brunch add-on for Sunday morning is $42 including all taxes and gratuity. Chiildren ages 4-12 are $30 (brunch can be added to any registration, including on site.)
The deadline for pre-registration in any format is January 13, 2025.
After this time, limited weekend registrations will be accepted at the door at the same prices, but these will include only the Masque and not the Feast.
Refund Policy: NO refunds are available after Dec 31, 2024.
Prior to that, full refunds are available minus a $30 processing fee.
Online Registration Instructions:
Registration Online!
Please complete a separate registration form for each adult attending.
You will receive a confirmation e-mail with your registration number.
Online payment options are: credit card (via PayPal), check, or money order. If you choose PayPal, you’ll be taken to the secure PayPal site at the appropriate time in the registration process.
You may also mail in your registration payment.
If you registered on line and are mailing in your payment, please include your registration number with your check or money order.
To pay for more than one registration:
With PayPal, make a separate payment with each registration form.
With check or money order, you may combine payments. Please write all relevant registration numbers on the check.
Some work exchange is available for A Feast of Lights, most of it requiring physical agility and moderate strength. If you are interested, please go ahead and register and indicate that on the form in the appropriate box.
Volunteers are also needed and welcomed in capacities ranging from participation in the ritual on Saturday, to assisting Merchants with moving in and out, from helping at the registration table, to helping us unload everything at Glenwood after the event, and more. Please let us know when you register if you are able to help!
All registrations and full payment must be received by January 13, 2025 to:
Tamelin Productions
P.O. Box 340
Williamsburg, MA 01096
phone: 413-238-4240
Reminder – NO refunds after Dec 31, 2024
Where to contact us about A Feast of Lights:
By phone: 413-238-4240
By email about A Feast of Lights: folreg@tamelinproductions.com
By email about other matters: earthspirit@earthspirit.com
By postal mail:
Tamelin Productions
P.O. Box 340
Williamsburg, MA 01096
phone: 413-238-4240
Please call our office if you have questions. Our website will be updated with program information as it becomes available.
We look forward to seeing you at this midwinter celebration of spirit, hope, community, and the arts
We look forward to seeing you at this midwinter celebration of spirit, hope, community, and the arts
