Hearth Fires Festival - 2025

Hearth Fires Festival - October 16-19

Gaea Retreat Center, Kansas

A community-driven retreat for soul nourishment, skill-sharing, and hands-on learning.

In 2021, Hearth Fires began with 65 passionate attendees, 12 teachers, and one very determined cook. In just a few years, we've grown into a thriving, intentional community of over 20+ teachers, dedicated staff, and hundreds of returning participants. Hearth Fires is more than just a festival—it's a celebration of craft, creativity, and community.

In 2025, we're keeping all the magic and expanding on it. We're starting on Thursday afternoon, adding more Life Skills and Master Classes, and growing our Makers’ Market! Whether you're here to learn, teach, shop, or simply be, there’s a place for you at the hearth.

Thursday:

• Festival opens at 4:00 PM (Registration)
• Opening Ritual & Bardic Fire at 8:30 PM with Snacks

Friday:

• Master Classes (10:30 AM – 4:00 PM) Optional, limited spots, additional fees may apply
• Life Skills Classes (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) No cap on attendance
• Makers’ Market (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
• Bardic singing, drumming, and community fire (10:00 PM onward)

Saturday:

• Hands On Craft Classes at 9 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM
• Hearth Fires at 8:30 PM

Sunday:

• Closing Ritual following breakfast

🧠 Life Skills Track (Friday)

Practical, empowering sessions on everything from critical thinking and personal finance to basic cooking skills.

✨ Hearth Fires Craft Classes (Saturday)

Upon registering, you'll receive a confirmation email with a link to choose your top 3 class preferences and alternates. You’ll be enrolled in 3 classes (with one break period). No experience needed! Wood working, archery, bread making, drop spindle and many more.

Previous Class Highlights Include:Culinary Arts – Sourdough, Mead Making, Camp CookingFiber Arts – Felting, Weaving, Shuttle TattingMetal & Woodworking – Blacksmithing, Wood BurningFine Arts – Drawing, Painting, PrintmakingNature & Herbalism – Tea Making, Oil Infusions, Soap Making

Deep-dive sessions with expert teachers. Learn a full skill, ready to replicate at home. Examples include Mead Making, where you can bring your own supplies or pre-purchase a full kit.

🛍️ Makers’ Market – Returning in 2025!

Friday night only! Handcrafted goods from our teachers, staff, and select outside artisans. Come prepared to shop for one-of-a-kind, handmade items. Vendor tables are free to staff and $50 to non-staff.

Join us at Hearth Fires Festival and rediscover the joy of making, learning, and connecting.

At the heart of our gathering lies the namesake experience: The Hearth Fires.

On Saturday night, as the sun dips below the trees and the ridge begins to glow with firelight, Gaea Retreat Center transforms into something extraordinary. Scattered along the ridgeline, 7 to 8 small campfires each take on their own identity—liminal spaces curated by our community members. Each fire holds a different theme, mood, or purpose: storytelling, singing, laughter, food sharing, deep listening, healing, crafting, dreaming.

These fires are small by design, with just a handful of people gathered at each. Just the quiet magic that happens when people come together in honest conversation and shared presence. Some fires serve warm drinks or homemade food; others invite you to share stories or to sit in silence under the stars.

This night is about more than warmth and flame—it's about connection. It’s where strangers become chosen family, where laughter echoes between trees, and where you might finally hear the story you didn’t know you needed.

You’re welcome to move between fires or stay at one all night. There are no expectations—just a place for you to be, to belong, and to burn brightly with others.

Tickets are limited – reserve your spot early!

Also check out other Workshops in Mc Louth, Festivals in Mc Louth, Arts events in Mc Louth.