Many people will soon be submitting their 2011 time off requests, and so now is a good time to look at the major events scheduled for 2011. They are not all Pagan events, but they are events for which many people in our community have expressed extreme fanatical interest.

MarsCon

March 4-6, 2011
A local science fiction convention

Paganicon

Friday, March 25 – Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Twin Cities NEW Pagan gathering. For years the Twin Cities pagan Pride celebration has been the single largest Pagan event in the Twin Cities and one of the largest Pagan pride celebrations in the nation, but it was always torn between the desire to fulfill the Pagan Pride mission and the desire to provide top-notch programming. The solution was Paganicon.

Paganicon is an opportunity to build the programming beyond the Pagan Pride model. This is the sort of programming for which the nearest options were at camping festivals. Paganicon offers excellent programming in the far more accessible location of a local Hotel.

The Twin Cities already has the greatest Pagan community in the nation, and now we have our very own convention. This could become one of the major Pagan events in the nation. Come to Paganicon this year and you’ll be able to say that you were there at the very beginning.

Minicon

April 22 – 24, 2011
A local science fiction and fantasy convention

More events behind the cut

In the Heart of the Beast MayDay

Sunday, May 1, 2011
The parade goes down Bloomington Ave, starting at approximately 1pm, and is followed by a ceremony and festival in Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis until dusk. There is no denying the Pagan nature of this HUGE celebration.

MN Scottish Fair and Highland Games

Saturday May 14, 2011 in Farmington MN, just south of the Twin Cities

Climb Witch’s Hat Tower

June 3, 2011

This isn’t a Pagan event, but local Pagans do seem to love Witch’s Hat Tower. One day a year, from 5:30 to 8:30pm, the tower observation deck is open to the public. This is a very popular event, so be prepared to stand in line for a while, but it is a unique thrill to stand under the huge Witch’s Hat.

Northern Folk Gathering

Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12, 2011

This is a family friendly gathering of the folk, north of the Twin Cities in Hinckley, MN, and builds from the Midwest Thing. It is organized by the Volkshof Kindred. Given the popularity of the northern traditions in this community, this is a very important event.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=135018146545161

Earth House Midsummer Gather

June 19-26, 2011

This is a wonderful festival to “Play Like Pagans” at Eagle Cave Campground, a commercial campground near Blue River, Wisconsin with mature shade trees arching over magical grounds, and:
* Electrical (RV & Utility) and water hookups at EACH campsite. FREE!
* Hot Showers and Modern Sanitation available 24/7 – FREE!
* Daily Ice Delivery to, and Garbage Pickup from your campsite! FREE!
* Basketball, Shuffleboard & Sand Volleyball courts FREE!
* Mini Golf & Cave Tours are available.
* A few air-conditioned, non-smoking cabins available at additional cost

This year’s theme is “Father of the Greenwood” which balances last year’s matronly theme, and creates a starting place for their programming track which will include music, a brew contest, workshops, and rituals. There’s also morning coffee at Ricks Cafe, cool stuff from friendly merchants, fun & frivolity, drumming, dancing, storytelling of tales both true and tall, and a general good time.

The people who attend this festival form bonds and become each other’s chosen family. Their attendees communication list is one of the friendliest and supportive out there, a testament to the wonderfulness of this festival. This gathering hse been described as a family reunion without the family politics

25% of the net proceeds for this event will be donated to the Sacred Paths Center. The rest are put into a savings account to help eventually buy (as opposed to the current renting situation) of a Pagan community center.

Twin Cities GLBT Pride

June 25-26, 2011

CONvergence

June 30 – July 3, 2011
A local Science Fiction and Fantasy convention

Faerie Spirit Gathering

July 1 – 6, 2011

A festival sponsored by the Kawashaway and the Northwoods Tribe of Radical Faeries.

“Join with your Faerie sista-bruthas in a Gathering community of spirit, magic, and ritual focus. This extended weekend is a sharing of: magickal practice, working with energies, dancing, singing, drumming, loving, and making our lives into art! Help co-create this focused intentional spiritual event-a heart centered space for ritual honoring, exploring and growing in our talents.

“We call for faeries and faerie-friendlies, regardless of gender, color, age, or sexual orientation, to come to Kawashaway Sanctuary in northeastern Minnesota. Sanctuary space bridges the spiritual and physical worlds-a place where bodies and spirits meet and commingle.”

Sacred Fire Circle in Paradise

Thursday, July 14 — Sunday, July 17, 2011

Alchemical Fire Circles are growing in popularity around the world, and this is the nearest one to the Twin Cities. This is an experience which transcends path, and dives into inner truth. Through darkness, fire, drumming, chanting, dancing, and silence, we are transformed. People travel thousands of miles for these experiences, and all we have to do is to drive a short distance into Wisconsin.

The growth which people experience at fire circles extends into everything they do. The techniques are adapted to enhance magickal practices, grow as ritualists, and teaches new ways of interacting with all life. It is one of the most important and valuable events in this list, but almost impossible to describe.

If you are serious about your path, whatever that path might be, there is a good chance that you will experience profound growth by attending this event.

Oh, and the food is amazing. Really. Wow, that was good food.

Diversicon

July 29–31, 2011
A science fiction and fantasy convention which emphasizes diversity

Sacred Harvest Festival

August 6-14, 2011

This is the largest Pagan camping festival in the region, and one of the largest family friendly Pagan festivals in the nation, and it’s here in Minnesota, just an easy drive down the interstate from the Twin Cities.

Sacred Harvest Festival is known for the workshops, guests and rituals really tying into the festivals theme. This year’s theme is Forest Family: Roots and Branches Intertwined.
https://pncminnesota.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/new-council-brings-new-theme-to-shf/

Sacred Harvest Festival is also known for the fact that the attendees enjoy it very much, and are mostly unaware that the leadership tends to perceive drama everywhere. This makes it very easy to ignore any claims of controversy linked with this festival since they really have no impact on the attendees.

This is a wonderful festival to attend. People have moved to the area because of this festival. There is a strong community bond which is developed. The rituals have been some of the best rituals at any festival.

There is also the Hunt. This is a huge ritual for the growth of about ten people, although every participant experiences great growth. There are about ten hunters who are supported by villagers and drummers, for the good of our tribe.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

August 20 – October 2, 2011

2011 Calendar

(Times calibrated for the Twin Cities)
You might want to bookmark this page, or copy this to your own files. This is the sort of list which will be very useful for most Pagans.

New Moon
Tuesday January 4, 3:03 am
There will be a partial solar eclipse which will be visible on the other side of the planet (not here).

Full Moon
Wednesday January 19, 3:22 pm
Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Cold Moon.

New Moon
Wednesday February 2, 8:31 pm

Full Moon
Friday February 18, 2:37 am
Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Quickening Moon, Horning Moon.

New Moon
Friday March 4, 2:46 pm

Full Moon
Saturday March 19, 1:11 pm
Worm Moon, Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon, Storm Moon, Lenting Moon.

Spring Equinox
Sunday March 20, 6:21pm

New Moon
Sunday April 3, 9:33 am

Full Moon
Sunday April 17, 9:45 pm
Pink Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Wind Moon.

New Moon
Tuesday May 3, 1:51 am

Friday May 13

Full Moon
Tuesday May 17, 6:09 am
Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon, Merry Moon.

New Moon
Wednesday June 1, 4:02 pm
There will be a partial solar eclipse which will be visible to the arctic north (not here).

Full Moon
Wednesday June 15, 3:14 pm
Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, Hot Moon, Mead Moon, Strong Sun Moon, MidYear Moon.
There will be total lunar eclipse from 2:22pm to 4:03pm will be visible in Africa and south Asia (not here).

Summer Solstice
Tuesday June 21, 12:16pm

New Moon
Friday July 1, 3:53 am
There will be a partial solar eclipse which will be visible somewhere between Antarctica and South America (not here).

Full Moon
Friday July 15, 1:40 am
Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, Blessing Moon.

New Moon
Saturday July 30, 1:39 pm

Full Moon
Saturday August 13, 1:58 pm
Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Green Corn Moon.

New Moon
Sunday August 28, 10:03 pm

Full Moon
Monday September 12, 4:27 am
Harvest Moon, Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Shedding Moon.

Fall Equinox
Friday September 23, 4:04am

New Moon
Tuesday September 27, 6:09 am

Full Moon
Tuesday October 11, 9:07 pm
Hunter’s Moon, Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon.

New Moon
Wednesday October 26, 2:56 pm

Full Moon
Thursday November 10, 2:17 pm
Beaver Moon, Frost Moon, Mourning Moon, Fogmoon.

New Moon
Friday November 25, 12:10 am
There will be a partial solar eclipse which will be visible in Antarctica (not here).

Full Moon
Saturday December 10, 8:36 am
Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon, Yule Moon.
There will be total lunar eclipse from 8:05am to 8:57am which will be visible to Asia and Australia (not here).

Winter Solstice
Wednesday December 21, 11:30pm

New Moon
Saturday December 24, 12:07 pm