The Gathering has popped up in the most unlikely locations in the US and the UK. Below are descriptions of the current micro-churches happening.

Salem, MA

Salem is the home to semi-regular gatherings, and a month long community outreach with hundreds of musicians, dream interpreters, worshipers, praying saints, and lovers of other people who come from around the globe to share God’s love, entertain people and greet the visiting world that descends upon Salem each October. This is where the dream of reaching transformational festivals began in 1999. Time: The entire month of October and regularly through the year in pubs.

Burning Man and Regional Burns

This small rag tag team of people has been as many as twenty and as few as two, but has been a part of the Burning Man festival since 2010. Prophetic outreach, art installations, and photography projects have been a part of this edgy outreach. Time: each year during the week leading up to Labor Day. Website.

We also have a soft spot in our hearts for the Regional Burns. Beginning in 2014, five people from the US and UK joined this regional festival when it was in Port Talbot, Wales. The festival is now in Devon.  This team began in 2015. Time: Early June. Website. More recently, some of our friends began making new friends near Houston at Unbroken Spring. Time: mid-March. Website.

The Wild Goose Festival

Pastor Phil was part of the Wild Goose Festival in the early days when it was only a glimmer in the eyes of the organizers. A number of friends of The Gathering have been a part of this “Progressive Christian Music and Social Justice Festival” since the first event in 2011. Time:  each July in Hot Springs, NC. Website.

Stonehenge at the Summer Solstice

Each year at the Summer Solstice access to the stones is granted to everyone who wants to be there. Between 15,000 and 25,000 people arrive, and we are there to share the experience and to share the love of God with people. Four days prior to the event, we meet at the Stonehenge campground and its small festival about 2 miles from the stones. This team began meeting in 2015. Time: At the Summer Solstice.

HowTheLightGetsIn Philosophy Festival

This event took a year off in 2017, it returns for five days in 2018. Our small community which first gathered in 2015 is determining what to do with their time at the beautiful Hay-on-Wye this year. Time: Late May. Website.

Events We Touched in 2019:

SXSW – visiting this influential Austin, TX music festival in March
HowTheLightGetsIn – At Hay-on-Wye, Wales in Late May
The Hay Festival – Welsh border, Late May to Early June
Burning Nest – June 4-10, in Devon, UK
Stonehenge at the Solstice – mid-June at the Solstice
Meziprostor – Prague, early July
Welsh National Eisteddfod – July 30 – August 6, Tregaron, Wales

Obviously, 2020 and 2021 were a blowout for most of the festival world. Things appear to be coming out into a new normal. Of course, we pray the continued health and safety of our world in this transition. 

Along with the above list here are a few of the places we are looking to attend this year:

Focus Wales – this festival is a music industry event highlighting Welsh artists.
Gwyl Fwyd Caernarfon (Caernarfon Food Festival) – Caernarfon Wales turns into a culinary delight, and we will be there.
Three Wishes Fairy Festival – Hopefully joining Diana the Goth Vicar again as she helps organize some of this event.

Maybe you would like to participate in a church that meets in this way. Contact us if this is something that seems up your alley.