About Membership
As a nonprofit, Dragonfest operates using a membership tier system rather than by selling tickets to the retreat. Annual membership is paid when you register for that year’s retreat and your membership includes attendance at the same year’s retreat.
Beginning in 2025, all members who would like hot breakfast from the kitchen will need to sign up for one of our breakfast plans. Details on those plans are listed on the Registration page.
All new and returning members who are up to date on their membership payment are considered full members of Dragonfest, regardless of their level of membership. Full membership includes:
- Attendance at the annual Dragonfest retreat from Wednesday at 10 am to Sunday at noon.
- Free entrance for any children or grandchildren of the member, under the age of 15.
- Voting membership in the Dragonfest board election or bylaws adjustments for two years.
- The email address you signed up with is automatically added to our membership newsletter mailing list. Current members will be the first to receive notification that the membership sign-up period is open.
Registration Deadline
Online membership registration ends on July 1.
Membership Levels
A thorough break down of each membership level with pricing is available on the Registration page. This chart shows a visual break-down of the perks available at each level.
Membership Add-ons and Scholarships
Breakfast Plan
Beginning in 2025, Dragonfest has shifted to a separate breakfast plan that members must sign up for in addition to your membership tier if you would like to have hot breakfast from the kitchen. Please review the Breakfast Plan details on the Registration page.
Membership Discounts
As thanks for volunteering as staff, we offer a significant discount off the membership price. The staff discount is a percentage off the Regular Member rate only, it does not increase with higher tier registration. Any member may apply to be staff for the event by committing to additional volunteer service for Dragonfest. Please see the Volunteer page for more information. Please note that because of the volunteer time commitment, staff must have a Regular Membership or higher.
Scholarships
We know times are tough for some within our community, and we would like to help those who need it. Please visit the Registration page for more information.
FAQ
Why did we change the way registration and breakfast works?
2025 – Breakfast plan change: Inflation has impacted many industries, which in turn increases Dragonfest’s operating costs. By separating food costs from attendance fees, we’ve been able to keep membership price increases small, while also ensuring more accurate breakfast planning. This change will help reduce food waste by providing our kitchen staff with a precise count of those who want hot breakfast each day.
2024 – Membership tier change: Dragonfest is a nonprofit organization, and many nonprofits use membership levels as a way for people to support the organization while providing access benefits to members and protecting the nonprofit status of the organization. The membership system is based on those goals.
How do I get a Fest T-shirt now?
Selecting a membership level of Supporting Associate Member, or a Supporting Member or above will automatically come with a current year t-shirt. T-shirts, hoodies and other goodies will also be available by donation in the Foundation booth during the retreat. If you want to sign up for one of the membership levels that comes with a t-shirt, you must complete your registration by July 1 – this is because we must have an estimated count of t-shirts when we order them.
Tell me more about the Dragon’s Guard and Dragon’s Patron levels.
Members have expressed to staff that it would be great to have an option to enter the land early, before the retreat opens, to claim a prime camping spot and spend more time on the land. This year we came up with a way to provide early access for those who would like to provide additional financial support to Dragonfest in exchange for the privilege.
We have also provided a few scholarships each year to members who want to attend the retreat but are unable to afford it. In order to provide for those scholarships, we created the Dragon’s Patron level. At this level, you are funding the cost of a Regular Membership and that extra money is used to provide that year’s scholarships.
In recognition of this additional support, individuals selecting these levels will also receive special recognition at the retreat.
What is the Dragon’s Guard t-shirt?
As a way to say “thank you” to those who contribute at the Dragon’s Guard or Dragon’s Patron level, we are creating a new t-shirt design that is available at those levels.
Tell me more about early entry.
Early entry means entering on Monday (or Tuesday if you choose) before the retreat is officially set up or open so that you can set up camp. Early entry is just access to the land prior to the official retreat opening. There’s no breakfast, port-a-potties may not yet be set up (Deb’s potties are available), tents, tables and chairs will not be set up in the community areas. You will be responsible for setting up your camp in an area that is not already sectioned off for retreat purposes and, depending on retreat needs and when you arrive, you may need to move your camp to accommodate retreat infrastructure.
How do I apply my staff discount/merchant booth addition to my registration?
Options for staff discounts and additional donations are programmed into the registration process, you will select them when you register and pay for your membership. All merchants must contact the Merchant Coordinator to receive a code to sign up for a merchant booth. You will not be able to add booth fees to your registration until you have been in touch with the Merchant Coordinator.
Staff will also need to get a code from the Ops Director to apply staff discounts.
What if I have a question that isn’t answered here?
Email us! Send your questions to communications@dragonfest.org.