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What is RISE?
RISE is a five-day festival dedicated to building intergenerational, lesbian-centered community through dialogue and connection in the woods of Michigan. Join us to learn about and participate in our lesbian herstory and culture, strengthen your communication and other skills, and connect with sisters from all walks of life. Play and listen to music, share stories, drum and dance around the campfire, honor the ancestors, walk among the ferns, stargaze, make art, make friends. Welcome home.
RISE shares our week on the Land with WPI, the Women’s Performance Initiative camp, bringing rehearsal & musical performance to the shared space. WPI brings expert coaches to a weeklong feast of performing arts for women and girls. Learn a new skill, jam and perform onstage. WPI ticketholders have access to all RISE workshops, and evening performances and dances are for all WPI & RISE attendees.
When and where is the festival?
RISE will take place July 29–August 3, 2025, in Oceana County, northwest Michigan, USA. Exact details will be sent by email to those who purchase tickets.
Need to get there? Need to borrow camping supplies? The lesbian community has always had an informal network to help us get our needs met. Join our Facebook group and ask for what you need. A sister may be able to help out.
What are the sleeping and food arrangements?
Bring your camping gear! The Land offers rustic tent camping in the heart of the woods, with accessible camping sites near our community activities, a chem-free/sober camping area, as well as space for RVs & car camping farther from “downtown.” There are porta-janes located along the main path, and warm open-air showers. Prepare for all weather, and bicycles are allowed. While we love animals, no pets are allowed on the Land (service dogs must be registered in advance).
New in 2025, we’re offering an optional add-on meal plan, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Choose your dietary plan on your registration form. Many sisters choose to bring their own snacks and food: please don’t start a fire at your campsite, but our community kitchen tent offers camp stoves, coolers and dish washing for everyone’s use.
So, what happens at RISE?
Workshops start as early as 9am and usually end by around 5pm. You can attend as much or as little as you like. Learn about lesbian publications and archives, struggles for civil rights, how to talk to people you disagree with, differences between “butch” and “masc,” how to start a lesbian potluck in your area, and more. Share your own experience by leading a workshop. In the afternoon, join a discussion group or a jam session, or watch a film screening. Walk in the woods.
After dinner, join us at the stage for musical performances and dances with DJs. Our lineup will be announced on our Facebook group once it’s finalized. There may also be late-night movies and, weather permitting, a fire pit.
I want to share my knowledge and skills! How can I lead a workshop?
Thank you for helping create this week! All our workshops are participant-led, and your contributions are welcome. We are especially hoping to highlight intergenerational conversations, workshops led by women of color, and topics in lesbian cultural heritage.
How to: on your registration form, there’s a place to indicate your interest & share a description of your proposed workshop. The organizers will email you to follow up.
Are there vendors at RISE?
Yes! RISE hosts vendors selling everything from art to massages to jewelry to snacks, musical instruments and palm readings. The crafts area is a great place to support women artists and do some holiday shopping. Also in the crafts area are Goldenrod Music, who sells performer merchandise, and the Land Sustainment Shop.
Want to be a vendor yourself? There’s a space on the registration form to tell us about your booth. There is no extra charge for having a booth in the crafts area. Each vendor is responsible for her own booth and all products.
What disability accommodations are available?
We know that sisters show up to the Land needing various accommodations. There is an accessible camping area with a section reserved for those who need medical access to electricity (e.g. for a CPAP). There is also a paved path alongside the main road to aid with mobility, and we place mats on the ground to bridge gaps where needed.
RISE also offers ASL interpretation at all performances, and at workshops by request. We are working to offer assistance with load-in and load-out to everyone who needs it, and assistance with tasks during the week. On your registration form, select which accommodations you need. And if you’re able to offer assistance to sisters who need it, let us know!
OK, where do I sign up? How much do tickets cost?
Head over to the Register Now! tab above to sign up. Once we receive your registration, we’ll email you the link to purchase your ticket. The rates are:
Sisters 18+ (Early Bird rate thru 12/31/24): $300
Sisters 18+ (starting 1/1/25): $350-$500 sliding scale
Girls 13-17: $75-$100 sliding scale
Girls 5-12: $50
Children 0-4: Free
Limited scholarships are available, with priority to BIWOC and young sisters: apply at tinyurl.com/rise25scholarship.
Our sliding scale is in $25 increments, and anything you can contribute helps us offer more scholarships.
Payment plans are available! Email sales@goldenrod.com to set one up.