27th Annual High Summer Gathering
Wednesday, July 30 at 1pm to Monday, August 4 at 4pm
on The Land aka Amber Fox
Ah, summer on the Land! Seventy-five acres of rolling hills and valleys, populated by maple, larch, wildflowers, birds, rabbits and Fae.
For over a quarter of a century, the High Summer Gathering has attracted diverse men from around the continent and beyond. These are the sunny carefree times to frolic through the forest by day and dance under the moon with your Faerie brethren by night. Come swim in the mighty Mississippi, party in the Departure Lounge, roast by the fire, and steam in the sauna.
The Foxy Boutique has been restocked and stands ready to furnish all your drag and dress up needs. Clothing is optional but can be fabulous!
Some activities are planned, and any more are up to us: crafts, spa treatments, mud wrestling, face painting, ritual & magick, drumming & meditation, anything we can imagine or desire.
Each day at the Gathering begins with a Circle. The Circle starts with a brief administrative meeting, followed by a longer Heart Circle (aka group therapy session, aka bitch fest, aka story time, aka ...).
The play is shared and so is the work. There are no paid staff on the Land, so everyone needs to help out with a few chores each day to make the Gathering go smoothly. Washing dishes, preparing meals, chopping wood, mowing lawns, tidying and cleaning, repairs, new construction ... it's all up to us. But the work becomes play when shared with your fae friends!
As well as help with the chores that keep the Land going, we rely on contributions to the Purse for food, fuel for the pump & lawn mowers, propane for the fridge & stove, paint, materials for repairs, paper products and all our other mundane needs. We use an honour system with a suggested contribution of $25 per night, more if you can or less if you can't. For example, if you are coming for the whole Gathering (5 nights) we suggest a $125 contribution. If you are camping for the weekend (Friday to Monday) the suggested donation is $75. No one is turned away for lack of funds, but we ask that you contribute
something, even if you can only afford a few dollars per night. It is also helpful if you can make your contribution near the beginning of the Gathering, as that is when most of the shopping is done.
The meals are vegetarian, communal and delicious. The Erection contains a fully appointed kitchen, and we are always looking for chefs, assistants, and learners. Whether you want to plan a whole meal, create a single dish, or help chop ingredients, we've got you covered!
There is plenty of room for tenting along the Path of the Snake and in the May Pole field. There is also room for some to sleep in the Bunkhouse (though this is on a first-come first-served basis and space is limited).
This Gathering is for those who identify as gay or queer men.
Remember this is eastern Ontario in the summer, so bring your sun and bug protection! If this is your first gathering, be sure to check out
what to bring.
Friday Night: The Return of Fetish Night
Pre-empted for the past two summers by the Departure Lounge Blastoff parties, this year marks the return of an Amber Fox classic, Fetish Night.
Break out your leather, whips, ball gags and truncheons. Wear your fur, feathers, rubber or PVC. Clamp your titties, lock your chain, shave those balls and serve. Don your diapers or magic underwear, insert that plug or doggy tail. What better time to try out a new fetish?
Of course this is a party in the Departure Lounge, so don't be surprised if you see some alien fetishware this year too!
Saturday Night: Know Talent Show
Saturday night we will enjoy the many talents the Fae folk bring to the Know Talent Show. Can you sing, dance, recite a poem or play an instrument? Or do you have a flair for performance art? If so, we would love to have you join us on stage!
A bit shy but want to try? Talk to the show's organizers and they will be sure to find a suitable role for you. More of a watcher than a performer? An appreciative audience is the other essential ingredient for this ever-popular event!
Rumour has it that this year's show will feature a Karen Carpenter Retrospective including never-before-revealed details of the true story of her "death". Don't miss it! More details to come.
Sunday Afternoon: High Tea on the Lawn
Picture yourself in a warm forest glade,
With colourful silks hanging there in the trees.
A cocktail, the music, some dancing or croquet.
The sun licks the glittering gown that you wear.
For many, High Tea is the highlight of High Summer. Don't dream it, be it, at High Tea.
All meals are vegetarian, prepared collectively usually under the direction of a kitchen faerie, pulling it all together. We ask $20 a day, more if you can, less if you can't, no one turned away for lack of funds. This helps us pay for our food and maintain the space.
Come prepared for summer camping, a tent, a change of clothes, flashlight, bug spray if you use it, bedding, toiletries. Bring your fav drag, your musical instruments, your play stuff. Its time to let loose. No drag, no problem, the Foxy Boutique has the best collection this side of Paris and puts New York to shame. Be fab.
We will have heart circles each day, a variety of activities and on Saturday evening, the Know Talent show. We invite your creativity as a performer or audience participant. You can recite a poem, a reading from a book, do a skit, sing a song or play an instrument, drag of all kinds is welcome. 
If you are a member of our Facebook Group, you can RSVP to the Facebook Event. Otherwise, please email to obtain directions and contact information.
