Pan Pagan Festival
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The Pan Pagan Festival (PPF)[1] is one of the United States's first and longest running nature spirituality festivals,[citation needed] organized by the Midwest Pagan Council[2] that spans from Wednesday through Sunday in late July or early August each year. The first Pan Pagan festival was held in 1976 as a way of bringing different groups together to share knowledge and experience. The festival grew each year until 1980 which was the largest Pagan gathering ever held up to that time, with an attendance of almost 600, including Raymond Buckland, Isaac Bonewits, Z Budapest, Herman Slater, Prudence Priest, Margot Adler, and Selena Fox.[citation needed] From the Pan Pagan Festival other festivals grew including Circle's Pagan Spirit Gathering and Chrysalis Moon.
There are three rituals that are perennial to the Pan Pagan Festival:
- Opening Ritual — Wednesday afternoon
- Main Ritual — Saturday evening
- Closing Rituals — Sunday afternoon
PPF caters to people of all ages, with activities ranging from crafts and scavenger hunts for children, teens, and young elders, to workshops on herbs, crystals, and home remedies. Regular events include:
- Opening Ritual, the only thing scheduled for Wednesday, to give attendees time to arrive and relax as they set up their tents and settle in.
- Town Meeting, held every morning of the fest.
- Meet & Greet, held Thursday night; everyone introduces themselves, the council supplies limited amounts of beer, wine, and soda as well as snacks to encourage mingling.
- The Annual Duck Races, held Friday morning.
- The Follies, a talent show held Friday night.
- Scavenger Hunt for kids, held Saturday morning, with prizes.
- Auction & Raffle, Saturday late afternoon; each vendor is asked to donate one item from their shop, and other attendees may donate items as well. All money raised goes to the MPC to help offset the costs of holding next year's PPF.
- Feast, held Saturday night, the council supplies an assortment of food.
- Main Ritual, Saturday night, ending with a bonfire; drumming and dancing take place after the bonfire has been lit.
- Closing Ritual, held Sunday afternoon.