The event has been growing and growing since it started back in 2021
A festival with a twist is set to make its return to the West Midlands next month. The Festival of Witches & Pagans will take place just outside Coventry at the Heart of England Conference Centre in Meriden from 3 to 5 May
Set to be the biggest festival so far since it was launched in 2021, the previously two-day event has now been extended to three days and will feature over 140 workshops as well as special rituals through the days and nights. There will also be a ‘transformational’ fire walking experience for attendees to take part in.
The festival was initially founded by witches from Coventry in a bid to create a family-friendly event aimed at removing the taboo around witches and pagans. CoventryLive previously spent an evening with the coven that started the festival, finding out all about their rituals and practices.
Attendees can book to camp at the festival should they wish, though it needs to be done separately from purchasing your ticket. You can book a full weekend ticket for £40 or pay for each day if you prefer for £15 per day. A child ticket is £15 for the weekend or £5 per day ticket.
You can expect food stalls and plenty of workshops to register for - you can pay for workshops on the day, but spaces may be limited so booking ahead might be wise. The site is said to be fully accessible with Blue Badge spaces in the main parking field.
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https://afestivalforpagansandwitches.co.uk/Julie Aspinall, from the Coventry-based Coven of Gaia, who first launched the festival, said: “Our festival has grown hugely from when we first started it and as promised we have combined what was previously two festivals each year into one single three-day event so we can channel our effort into laying on more on offer than ever before.
“From our impressive opening ritual to more workshops than ever, the festival will also feature a Viking Battle, Witches’ Ball, and now a transformational firewalking experience. There are stalls, entertainment, children’s activities and more for people to get involved with, along with a third night of night rituals to give even more festival-goers the chance to get involved.
“Our festival has done a wonderful job not only in bringing together the community of witches and pagans, but also offering a safe space for people who may want to explore this way of life and find out more.”
Although not a registered charity, the Festival for Pagans and Witches operates as a not for profit organisation, with any money made put towards running costs of the next festival as well as to chosen charities.
Profits from the May 2023 festival were also used to take 10 people nominated by festival-goers, on a retreat to Glastonbury, with one participant who had been suffering from severe depression saying the retreat had “changed her life”.
The Festival of Witches and Pagans is held at the Heart of England Conference Centre in Fillongley near Coventry. Activities during the weekend include rituals, workshops including spellcraft, wand making, crystals, flower crowns, pagan sign language and more, and festival-goers also enjoy yoga and meditation sessions and family-focused entertainment and workshops.
