Thistlerock Grand Opening & 3rd Annual Beltane Festival

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Thistlerock Grand Opening & 3rd Annual Beltane Festival

Join us at the 3rd Annual Beltane Festival & Thistlerock's Grand Opening Celebration in Partnership with BRIMS and WTJU!

By Thistlerock Mead Co.

Date and time

Sunday, April 28 · 11:30am - 5:30pm EDT

Location

Thistlerock

3075 Gables Run Road Charlottesville, VA 22902

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

Agenda

11:30 AM

Gates Open

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

BRIMS Spring Recital

BRIMS

The Blue Ridge Irish Music School (BRIMS) in Charlottesville has been celebrating Irish culture for 24 years. BRIMS is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating community through sha...

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Albemarle Pipes and Drums

Albemarle Pipes and Drums

Steeped in the rich Scotch-Irish heritage of the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley, Albemarle Pipes and Drums are dedicated to the preservation, education, and promotion of the music of the Great High...

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Beltane Merriment: Farm Tours, Tastings, Picnics, and Flower Crowns!

Wayflowering

Welcome to Thistlerock -- a regeneratively managed flower farm, apiary, and meadery inspired by ancient craft traditions and pioneering modern sustainable beverage production! We invite guests to sig...

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Official Grand Opening Ceremony

Thistlerock Mead Company

Join us for our official Grand Opening Ceremony and Butterfly Release with remarks from the Thistlerock's executive team and specials guests Matt Lohr, Secretary of Agriculture, Rita McClenny, Presid...

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Maypole Dance & Haggis Hurling Competition

Thistlerock Mead Company and BRIMS

Maypole dancing is a tradition on May Day or Beltane, believed to have started in Roman Britain around 2,000 years ago, when soldiers celebrated the arrival of spring by dancing around decorated tre...

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Eileen Estes & The Good Folk with BRIMS Trad Ensemble

Eileen Estes & The Good Folk

The Good Folk, Meghan Mette, Eileen Estes, Joanna Clare, Sophie Chang, Agi Kovacs, and Patrick Winch, deliver powerful instrumentals, haunting vocals and three styles of percussive dance. Rooted in t...

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Awarding of the Beltane Spirit Crowns

Throughout the day our spotters will be watching our community to see who brings the purest spirit of Beltane to the Festival - think of this as a costume contest+. Winners will be invited to our amp...

About this event

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Beltane Festival at Thistlerock, a day filled with magic, music, dancing, and community as we mark the arrival of summer and celebrate the Grand Opening of Thistlerock Mead Company!

Music and Dance: This year's program, co-produced by the Blue Ridge Irish Music School (BRIMS) and sponsored by WTJU, includes performances by Albemarle Pipes & Drums, BRIMS' Traditional Folk Ensemble, and headline by Eilieen Estes and the Good Folk.

Honored guest speakers include Virginia's Secretary of Agriculture, Matt Lohr, Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation, and Susan Kruse, Executive Director of the Community Climate Collaborative.

Activities include the farm tours, flower crown making, face painting, honey tastings, a May Pole Dance, haggis rolling competition, butterfly release, and a crowning of the Beltane Spirits

Food and Drink: Mead, non-alcholic drinks, and a selection of Thistlerock Mead Company's food menu, prepared in collaboration with Chef Harrison Keevil, will be available for purchase on site.


Frequently asked questions

Can I bring children to the festival?

Absolutely! This is a family friendly event. Tickets are free for children <12 years of age.

Can I bring my pets?

Unfortunately our insurance rider does not cover any non-human creatures, so please leave your four-legged or winged friends at home.

Can I bring outside drinks?

Please do not bring any outside alcohol to the event. Other, non-alcoholic drinks are ok.

Is the event space wheelchair accessible?

We have an ADA ramp and ADA accessible bathrooms for guests using wheelchairs, though guests can expect uneven ground on grass areas and the amphitheater.

Organized by

Thistlerock Mead Co.
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