Dear Dragonfest Community:
Imbolc is almost here, the light is slowly returning! Here’s the news we have to share:
Dragonfest Cityside: Online Registration Ends 2/1/26
Community Magic Minus the Mountain!
Day & Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Location: 2680 W Hampden Ave, Englewood (Sheridan), CO 80110
Tickets: $15 for Elders (60+) & Disabled, $25 for Adults, Kids under 16 are free with an adult or elder ticket. Tickets will be available at the door for $35
If you have donations for the silent auction, we must have them in hand by February 1, 2026. Please contact Ellen or Lyn via email regarding pick up or drop off.
Board Member Spotlight
Ellen Valentine, Board Member
I first attended Dragonfest in 1997 at Wellington. I was taken by the drumming, the rituals and the community. Dragonfest became my home away from home, a retreat I looked forward to every year. In 2009 I had a vision of becoming part of the board, but first I had to go work on my dream of getting my theology degree. I had to take a break for 8 years due to work and school issues, but I came back ready to give back I am getting ready to step back from my board duties but it has been such an honor and a privilege to be a part of the board first as secretary and then as a board member since 2018. When my professional and private life were all cancer related from 2023 until 2025, being a part of Dragonfest was integral to my healing. My wife Lyn, and I have enjoyed vending with our shop InCahoots for the last several years. These days I enjoy crochet, reading Sci-Fi, walking in nature, swimming, and helping create community. To me, community is a two way street. I help others when I can, and I lean on others when needed. I am looking forward to the next chapter both for me and for Dragonfest. I have recently joined a small coven and I am looking forward to growing deeper into my spiritual path. I have also enjoyed watching my daughter, Lydia, grow up in the community, bring her close friends and partners to the event, and start to share her personal path with the community. Hail the community and our collective growth.
Registration is Open for 2026!
Registration for the 2026 retreat is now open. Beginning this year, registration will be open nearly year-round. It will close about a week before the retreat and re-open a few weeks after the retreat. Dragonfest 2026 will be Wednesday, July 29th to Sunday, August 2nd.
Register Now!
Volunteer Procurement Coordinator Needed
Please contact Challon, Director of Finance if interested
Dragonfest is looking for a dependable volunteer who enjoys organizing, sourcing, and solving practical problems to serve as our Procurement Coordinator for the retreat. This role focuses on helping the retreat run smoothly by finding the goods and services we need, working with vendors, sorting out any issues that arise, and making sure payment details get where they need to go.
Experience with purchasing or vendor coordination is extremely helpful, as this volunteer will often be the person our teams rely on when supplies need to be found, compared, or secured on a deadline.
If you’re someone who enjoys tracking down solutions, communicating with vendors, and being the behind-the-scenes hero who helps everything land in the right place at the right time, Dragonfest would love to welcome you into this role.
Email Challon (aka Aeneas) at aeneas@dragonfest.org
Staff Opportunity: Gate Lieutenants
Gate Coordinator, Arwen of Trek seeks lieutenants to help with gate
If you have been thinking of volunteering for staff this year, but haven’t decided what you would like to do, our gate coordinator for 2026 is looking for 2 lieutenants. If you have already signed up for staff via the google form, but have not been assigned a position, please send email to julia.lavooi@dragonfest.org and copy Ops@dragonfest.org to express interest so that we can get you assigned. If you haven’t signed up yet via the google form, please do so and indicate that you want to help with gate. After signing up, then email Arwen & Ops.
Looking Ahead: Rituals and Workshops
If you are interested in putting on a workshop or ritual for Dragonfest 2026, please complete the sign up form here.
Staff Opportunities for 2026
If you would like to be part of the team of volunteers that makes our retreat possible, start thinking about what you would like to do. Here is a list is a list of volunteer opportunities. To sign up for a staff position, please click here to complete the sign up form. Please complete this form only once to make things easier for Ops.
Staff Meetings for 2026:
The 2026 meeting are third Saturdays at 10:00 AM. January through May meetings will be virtual ONLY via Google Meet. The May, June & July meetings will be in person at the Jefferson Unitarian Church (14350 W. 32nd Avenue, Golden, Colorado 80401) The in person are hybrid we will be using Google Meet.
February 21st 2026 – Virtual
March 21st 2026 – Virtual
April 18th 2026 – Virtual
May 16th 2026 – Virtual
June 20th 2026 – Hybrid
Work Weekend – TBD (optional)
July 19th 2026 – Hybrid
July 28th (Tuesday ON THE LAND – this is a mandatory meeting discussing safety, radio communications, etc)
Please email ops@dragonfest.org for the Google Meet link.
Handy Links for Members
Dragonfest has multiple ways to keep you informed on what’s happening with the upcoming retreat and our organization, including a new Bluesky account. Click here to see them all.