Twenty years ago, a small group of visionary Pagans deliberated, planned and brought forth the first Pagan festival to be held in the Kansas City area. The Council of the Southwinds could have scarcely envisioned that their first event, featuring Starhawk as its main guest speaker, would someday grow to become one of the largest Pagan festivals in the entire country.

After years of bouncing to and fro between scout camps and other rented facilities, Heartland Pagan Festival came home to roost at beautiful Camp Gaea, the festival's home since 1992. Owned and cared for by Earth Rising, Incorporated, Gaea's 360-odd quiet acres hold some 1,000 to 1,300 Pagans each Memorial Day weekend, the recurring dates for the annual event sponsored by Heartland Spiritual Alliance. Beginning with Open Ritual on Thursday evening and continuing through the Memorial Day closing ritual, Heartland Pagan Festival offers well-known Pagan authors and performers on an up-close and personal basis to curious and interested seekers of education and entertainment.

The theme of Heartland 2005 is "Twenty Years of Magick", a tribute to the efforts of both the organizers and attendees who have made the Heartland experience something to savor and remember. The festival artwork for this year shows the new HSA logo reflected in the waters of Gaea's Lake Onessa and transformed by Her into the form of our old logo. The artist, John "TP" Kramer, wanted to show both from where we have come, and what we have become. He has done so beautifully, and his vision Will be rendered on the event t-shirt and other merchandise commissioned to celebrate our milestone. (Click on the small image to the left for a full sized view.) The opening ritual for HPF 2005 is designed to honor those who laid the foundation for an enduring and enlightening event and to demonstrate our profound appreciation for their efforts.

Heartland Pagan Festival always strives to offer something of interest for everyone. To that end, we have the largest and most diverse lineup of speakers and performers in our 20-year history. Noted authors scheduled to present are Raven Grimassi, Edain McCoy, Ellen Dugan and Christopher Penczak who will share with us insights from their areas of expertise. Marjorie Van Buren, noted energy worker/healer (and attendee of the very first HPF) will also appear. For music lovers, not only are we featuring Spoonfed Tribe, Canvas, and Djembe Kaan, but renowned performer and songwriter Charlie Murphy ("Burning Times") will return to Heartland for the first time in seven years. As an added feature, our daily lunch breaks will feature up and coming Pagan performers doing impromptu "coffee shop" style sets under the Gaea pavilion (scheduled to perform at this writing are Skinny White Chick and Sede, with two more to come).

Heartland is about much more than entertainment and getting your books autographed. Each year, in addition to our featured guests' presentations, our attendees offer an amazing range of workshops and rituals designed to educate, enlighten and encourage understanding and acceptance of other paths and beliefs. From Heathen rites to Rites of Passage of all descriptions, and from crafting to The Craft, HPF offers a dizzying array of daytime activities. Heartland's renowned Magickal Merchants circle features an unmatched assortment of beautiful and magickal items for consideration and purchase throughout the day. As you shop, lunch and relax, don't forget to bring your portable FM stereo radio along so that you can listen to Heartland's exclusive Pagan Radio! Now in its second year, Pagan Radio will broadcast throughout the day, featuring a constant flow of information, music and interviews with our special guests and other attendees of interest. For those who cannot make it to the main lectures by our featured guests, Pagan Radio will carry their presentations live for your convenience. In fact, at every turn attendees will see new and exciting features to enhance the festival experience, from our new PA system designed to make rituals and speakers more audible to a new Safety facility to ensure the best possible care for the less fortunate festival-goer.

In addition to workshops, bands, speakers and shopping, back by popular demand again this year is the Vision Quest, now in its second year of resurrection after many year's hiatus. With a path that winds through the woods and dales of Gaea, questers will meet wise spirits and memorable characters as they experience a hero's journey of discovery and inspiration while night falls across the festival. Once darkness reigns, our spectacular bonfires will be lighted, and the drumming and dancing will begin!

From a modest and intimate beginning, Heartland Pagan Festival has grown into a sociological and spiritual event of remarkable proportions. If you are interested in celebrating with us this year, steer your Web browser to www.kchsa.org for full details regarding registration, HSA membership and HPF 2005 specifics.

Blessings,
Patrick Chambers, President
HEARTLAND SPIRITUAL ALLIANCE 2004-2005