Festival rules & policies
Things you should know
The Festival Site and your vehicle
There is to be absolutely NO driving on the hill adjacent to the dining hall, as this is the septic bed of the festival site. It is shallow and may break! Please only park in areas designated by festival organizers. We prefer cars to remain in the parking lot to maximize camping space. If you need your vehicle at your site, please check with the admin first.
Volunteering
It is the volunteers in our village who keep the festival going. Please support your community and sign up for at least a one hour volunteer shift at Admin upon registration. Your actions make a real difference and will make you feel good about participating. We appreciate the support of the community, Thank You!
Security & Maintenance
If you notice any plumbing or site issues, please pop by the admin and let us know. As we share the site with other groups, you are required to wear your admission bracelet on your wrist at all times during the festival. This will allow our staff members to keep non-festival goers from the fire pit, rituals etc. Again, any concerns or emergency, see admin.
Camping
Please do not camp too close to the water as this is an area to be enjoyed by all and to allow rituals to take place in this location. Remember that ALL fires must be tended at all times and placed in above ground fire vessels. If you choose to camp in a forested area, you may not have open-flame at your site. Remember to put your fires out carefully. If you need to empty a fire bowl or other fire container, do so at a communal fire pit so the forest does not suffer after we leave! We abide by all local fire restrictions.
Cabins
If you have booked indoor space, know that *Each Bed* is spoken for. Please *Do Not* put your luggage etc on another bed. Thank you!
Drugs
While we recognise the importance of sacred natural substances in all of our traditions; possessing, distributing and using illegal chemical drugs onsite (as in non- prescription drugs) (such as XTC, Oxy, cocaine etc…) will see you instantly escorted from the site without refund. Moreover, since we network with many other festivals, you should be aware that all of us have a zero tolerance policy in place with such substances. We build a ritual space and community here and illegal chemical drugs do not agree with this sacred space. Keep all substances away from kids and animals (be aware what you libate) Please party responsibly. Less is more…Love your life!
Children
Midsummer Festival is great for kids. If you are attending with children, you are expected to contribute to the kids program center in any way you can. Make sure your children know where *you* are, at all times, since this is the first question they will be asked if they are found wandering unattended. Be aware that there is a large lake and other natural hazards on this site. Also, make sure that your child understands that we have a zero tolerance for bullying behavior and that respect for the elders, nature, each other and all living things (including rocks) is essential on our site. Thank you.
rules
The staff of Midsummer Festival do not wish to curtail your enjoyment. Please remember that these rules have been put in place for your safety, the safety of the festival site, the safety of others, and for the general enjoyment of all. Those who do not respect the rules of the festival will be asked to leave!
It is vital that those planning on attending this year’s festival understand that no one is permitted on the festival grounds prior to 3:00 pm on the first day of the festival. Please make your travel arrangements accordingly or take advantage of the local restaurants and shops until then.
Please note that EVERYONE attending the festival will be expected to take ALL garbage and recyclables home with them. Thank you for your consideration and understanding. The Earth is our mother. Do not litter anywhere. If you see litter, pick it up. Leave your site as if you never were. Thank you!
The Nitty Gritty:
- Please respect the rules and prerequisites (if any) of the diverse offerings rituals and special presentations on site, even if you do not understand them…it is a matter of respect.
- We strive to create a community where everyone conducts themselves with self-respect and treats others with kindness and dignity. Please see Code of Conduct below.
- No sexually aggressive or inappropriate behaviour will be tolerated on the site. Please see the Sexual Harassment policy below.
- It is not permitted to dig or create any additional fire pits or to collect ANY living vegetation for firewood. Please use the wood provided by the festival for cooking and camping purposes.
- At least one parent or legal guardian MUST accompany any minor attending the festival. Parents are responsible for their children at all times. Parents who do not, in the opinion of the festival Directors, exercise good parental care of their children, will be asked to leave.
- No child under age 12 may be left unattended near ANY body of water on the site. If the beach is open, anyone aged 16 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult who can swim. The beach is not supervised and swimmers swim at their own risk.
- You are not permitted to wander through the site at large while skyclad.
- Except at the discretion of the Festival, no electrically amplified instruments may be used.
- It is strictly against festival rules to photograph or record anyone without their prior consent. Cell phones, tablets, and similar devices are not permitted at the main fire. This includes all rituals and group gatherings — no photos or videos are to be taken in these sacred spaces. Recording devices such as cameras may be confiscated if misused. Event organizers may take photographs or recordings for documentation and promotional purposes. However, no identifiable images of attendees will be shared publicly without their express permission.
- There shall be NO washing of any kind, including hair, bodies, clothing etc, in the lake. There are showers and sinks provided for this purpose.
- Do not flush ANYTHING in the toilets, except for human waste, and only pee is allowed in the urinals. The plumbing of the facility is fragile and septic pumping fees are outrageous. Therefore, use the garbage bins.
- Anyone creating a hazard to the site or creating a situation that could have a potentially hazardous outcome will be asked to leave.
- Smoking is strictly forbidden in all cabins and buildings. It is permitted to smoke elsewhere on the site provided you dispose of your cigarette butts in an environmentally friendly way. (Use the Butt Cans provided).
- Except by special permission, pets are not permitted on site. Service animals are, of course, the exception. If necessary, please make arrangements with a local kennel.
- All laws of Canada and the Province Of Ontario apply to those visiting the festival.
- The Earth is our mother. Please do not litter anywhere on the site. If you see litter, pick it up. Thank you!
Anyone who violates these rules will be asked to leave the festival without refund. Thank you for being honorable and helping us keep Wic-Can Fest a safe and respectful space for all.
CODE OF CONDUCT & sexual harassment policy
CODE OF CONDUCT
Wic-Can Fest (including Midsummer Festival and Harvest Fest) is a community dedicated to respect, inclusivity, and the shared enjoyment of our festival space. Every participant — including attendees, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and guests — is expected to treat others with kindness, dignity, and respect at all times.
We do not tolerate mistreatment, harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior of any kind — whether based on the protected grounds outlined in this policy or for personal reasons. This includes, but is not limited to, bullying, intimidation, yelling, aggression, or any behavior that creates a hostile or unsafe environment.
Wic-Can Fest is a place for community, connection, and celebration. Anyone whose behavior disrupts this environment or violates these standards will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the severity of the behavior, individuals may be asked to leave the festival grounds immediately and may be prohibited from attending future events.
Our goal is to ensure that all members of the Wic-Can Fest community feel safe, welcome, and respected.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Wic-Can Fest is committed to fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and forms of sexual misconduct. The community can only flourish when we treat one another with dignity and respect. To this end, Wic-Can Fest prohibits discrimination, harassment, retaliation and other forms of misconduct on the basis of race, disability, religion, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The protections and prohibitions in this policy extend to any participant, including attendees, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and guests taking part in Wic-Can Fest-sponsored events and activities. All participants, including staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and guests, shall engage in respectful behaviour.
Reports should be directed to a Wic-Can Fest Committee member. Members can be requested at administration.
DEFINITIONS AND FURTHER INFO
Discrimination
Discrimination is any prejudicial treatment of an individual or group of people based, but not limited to such factors as, race, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination can be behavior or inaction that is physical, verbal, or visual; it can be in person, over the phone, written or online. This prejudicial treatment can include: offensive jokes or demeaning remarks; name calling, offensive nicknames, or slurs; threats and intimidation; threats or solicitation made by a person in a position to confer, grant, or deny a benefit or advancement outside Wic-Can Fest sanctioned events.
Sexual Harassment
Wic-can Fest prohibits sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is behaviour (speech or actions) in formal or informal settings that demeans, humiliates, or threatens an individual on the basis of their sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment can also take nonsexual forms and includes discriminatory remarks or actions based on an individual’s sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal comment or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including situations in which the request or conduct involves any implied or expressed promise of reward for complying; or the request or conduct involves any implied or expressed threat of reprisal or denial of opportunity for refusing to comply; or the request or conduct results in what reasonably may be perceived as a hostile or intimidating environment. Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature or consensual personal and social relationships without discriminatory effect. It refers to behavior that reasonably situated persons would regard as not welcome and as personally intimidating, hostile, or offensive.
Sexual Misconduct
Wic-Can Fest prohibits other forms of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct is a broad term encompassing any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that is committed without consent or by force, intimidation, coercion, or manipulation. Sexual misconduct can be committed by a person of any gender, and it can occur between people of the same or different genders. Sexual misconduct may vary in its severity and consists of a range of behavior or attempted behavior. It can occur between strangers or acquaintances, including people involved in an intimate or sexual relationship. It includes but is not limited to: sexual assault (a continuum of conduct from forcible penetration to nonphysical forms of pressure that compel individuals to engage in sexual activity against their will); sexual exploitation (taking nonconsensual, unjust, or abusive sexual advantage of another person); and sexual intimidation (threatening another person that you will commit a sex act against them or engaging in indecent exposure).
Consent
For the purposes of this policy, consent is a freely and affirmatively communicated willingness to participate in particular sexual activity or behavior, expressed either by words or clear, unambiguous actions. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and, by definition, a person is incapable of consent if the person is unable to understand the facts, nature, extent, or implications of the situation and/or if the person is incapacitated, which includes incapacitation by extreme intoxication, drug use, mental disability, or being unconscious. Critically, the person initiating a particular sexual activity or behavior bears the responsibility of receiving consent. In examining the existence of consent under this policy, Wic-Can Fest will seek to determine, in view of the totality of the circumstances, whether a reasonable person would conclude that the recipient of the initiated sexual activity or behavior was (a) capable of consenting and (b) affirmatively communicated consent to the sexual activity or behavior at issue by words or clear, unambiguous actions.
Retaliation
Retaliation against a complainant of sexual discrimination or harassment or other forms of sexual misconduct is also a violation of these policies. Retaliation occurs when a complainant is deterred from, or punished for, making a complaint in good faith. Retaliation is not limited to formal employment actions such as termination, demotion, non-promotion, or non-selection, but includes any harassing behavior made against a complainant as a result of filing a complaint in good faith.
Reporting, Confidentiality and Acknowledgement
Wic-Can Fest will endeavor to keep all proceedings related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation or other forms of sexual misconduct confidential between Wic-Can Fest, the parties and witnesses. However, Wic-Can Fest cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality of such proceedings. Wic-Can Fest will cooperate with and otherwise share its knowledge and findings with public authorities as required by law.
Possible Consequences
In investigating a complaint, Wic-Can Fest will hear from both the accuser and the accused. If a violation is determined, possible consequences to be implemented during or after the meeting, activity, or event may include:
- Warn the violator to cease their behavior and that any further reports will result in more serious consequences
- Issue a “no-contact’ directive that prohibits the violator from contacting the complainant
- Require that the violator immediately leave the event and not return
- Ban the violator from future events (either indefinitely or for a certain time period).
- Immediately end any volunteer responsibilities and privileges the violator holds.
- Require that the violator not volunteer or serve as a contract employee or vendor for Wic-Can Fest, either indefinitely or for a certain time period.
- Remove and ban the violator from participating in any Wic-Can Fest sanctioned events in perpetuity.
The Wic-Can Fest Committee is responsible for implementing and enforcing any response to a violation.
Appeals Procedure
Violators who wish to appeal the Wic-Can Fest decision may contact the committee in writing with further information regarding the incident.
If a majority of the committee finds that a reconsideration of the decision is warranted, it may overturn the earlier decision.