Updated July 21st 2025
Simply put, a little bit of preparation will make for a better, more fulfilling festival experience.
Please read all of the sections of the guide, in order. Make mental notes along the way. When you are finished, be sure to visit the F.A.Q. to get an even better idea of what to expect.
Preparation Can Be Half The Fun!
Everyone is on Crew at Soulshine. Enjoy exploring the Portal which outlines the many teams which make a festival run. Think about how you can show up to co-create in a community festival environment.
Everyone at Soulshine Festival is a member of the Soulshine P.M.A. Create your profile in our private online space and get access to our community resources including the festival participation form.
You’ll find this at the top of the private online space when you login. Once you send in your form, you will be contacted to orient you to a team of your choosing.
After you join a team, the final step is to secure your pass to cover the cost of your food and logistics. This will come to you via email once your festival crew is confirmed.
Soulshine Festival is hosted in Newcastle, Ontario, approximately one hour drive East of Toronto. The exact address will be provided upon completing your integration form.
We highly encourage carpooling. You can connect with other drivers or passengers in your area through our Facebook Group Here and Telegram social group to organize rides.
Please pack your things in closed, sturdy bags for ease of transport by the luggage team. No loose items.
Get familiar with when things are happening so you don’t miss out on your favorite activities.
Click image to download the PDF. Tip: Save the schedule and map to the Notes App on your phone for easy retrieval during the festival.
The map isn’t just so you don’t get lost, but to help you plan for the best possible experience. Come and visit the Info and Vibe Tents in the Village. The First Aid Tent and the Community Kitchen are close by.
There are three main campsite areas this year: Sunshine, Family, and Moonshine Camps.
Sunshine Camp is a little further from the action but still close enough for easy access.
Moonshine Camp is situated near the Village.
Family Camp is close to all the family activities and the Community fire.
Questions? Check out the Camping F.A.Q.
Take a breath. Appreciate the potential of the journey you are about to embark on.
The Gates are open:
Friday: 12pm – 10pm
Saturday: 9am – 9pm
Sunday: 9am – 9pm
No entry outside these hours without prior arrangement. Once you arrive, you will be given a wristband and instructions for parking.
You will have the option of getting help to transport your gear. Drop off whatever you cannot carry at the Baggage Drop-Off Tent, and the Transport Team will haul your gear to the Sunshine/Family Camp or Moonshine Baggage Tent.
Once you have chosen a camping spot, take a few minutes to to prepare the ground (check for poky sticks) for patching your tent. please take the time to set up your tent
The arrival of everybody is very exciting so remember to breathe, meet your neighbours, and enjoy the beauty of the land. Take a walk around and get oriented with the layout of your new community home for the next four days!
Get your camp site ready before dinner time!
Visit the Community Kitchen for dinner on Friday, just before the Opening Ceremony. This first meal is served from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm.
The Opening Ceremony begins at 8:00 pm.
We invite everyone to come together as we intentionally ignite the Festival Fire and explore what collective embodiment can look like. Expect song, dance, and moments of inner work and introspection as we set the intention of the festival together.
The momentum of the Opening Ceremony continues, and builds in support of a unique and large festival-wide drum circle.
Bring your own drum, or you can borrow one of the many Djembes the festival is renting.
As the drum circle winds down, enjoy connecting with the community, with conversation, music, and nature. The festival grounds will enter into *quieter* hours at 11:00 pm.
We strongly encourage you to get adequate sleep each night. Our bodies may not be used to walking around for 3-4 days, attending workshops, and dancing day & night. Getting proper rest is the top tip for having the best experience possible. If you don’t need as much sleep as others, please respect quieter time hours from 11 pm to 7 am. Take the time to ground and unwind.
Bring only what you need and leave no trace. We ask everyone to be kind to the land. This will help make the Earth Keepers’ lives easier, too.
Please place recycling, compost, cigarette, and filter waste in the designated bins and cans throughout the grounds.
This gathering is intentionally subtle, flowing, and soul-enriching. While you can bring your own food (and drink), we will not be serving any alcohol. We discourage excessive drinking and encourage a healthy respect for the all-ages environment. We anticipate most attendees will not be drinking, and those who do will do so responsibly. This is the same for any substance.
Let’s bask in the high vibration of the festival gathering and lift each other’s spirits with internally generated life force energy.
Breathe again.
Soulshine has a fully equipped, well-trained, and mobile team active on-site 24/7. First Aid is across the roundabout from the Community Kitchen Trailers.
The Info Tent is also home to the General Store, where you will find Soulshine Festival merch, a variety of necessities you may have forgotten and some Soulshiner-made products for sale.
Soulshiners can expect a rich selection of whole food plant based options. Gluten-free options can be requested in advance at hello@soulshinefestival.ca.
Remember to bring re-washable dishes, cups and cutlery. Dish and hand wash stations are near the dining tent.,
Centrally located in the Village, you can enjoy a selection of snacks and drinks from the Elixir Bar well into the evening.
With your thinking cap on and your heart open, we invite you to engage with community leaders sharing their unique perspectives. Let’s explore new ideas and appreciate the benefit of having our beliefs challenged.
Check out the schedule and notice what piques your interest.
From higher energy music stages to softer tones in the Healing Forest and ceremony spaces, music is woven into many aspects of the festival.
The Shine Stage features live soulful performances between 8 pm-11 pm.
The Village Hub features a community sign-up option for workshops and music.
Glow Stage is host to a diverse set of electronic music genres and audio-visual feasts. Enjoy dance music on Saturday night from 11 pm – 3 am, and down-regulating ambient, creative art and envisioning on Sunday night.
Nestled in the woods near Sunshine Camp, you will find an oasis with many healers offering one-on-one and small group sessions in a variety of modalities. Visit the signup board at the Healing Forest entrance to book your session.
Family Camp is a designated area for families to pitch their tents in proximity to each other near the Family Village.
Soulshiners are creators! With this in mind, all crew are invited to sell their creations beginning Saturday morning in the centrally located Village.
You are welcome to vend your creations for the hours that work for you and enjoy the festival for the rest of the time.
