Happy Castle? What Should I Know?
Happy Castle is an eco-commune and cooperative-enterprise in the desert whose members host both a year-round public campground as well as multiple art-festivals throughout the year. We're a group of artists and creatives striving to establish a carbon-negative, self-sufficient, communal-lifestyle in the desert while simultaneously building and operating a successful, cooperatively-owned, brand and business. We're a festival, we're a family, we're a culture. We're a lot of different things, but most of all we're people who all share a vision of building a life of purpose together. Our community isn't just the dedicated people we have living and working onsite though. It's everyone who participates in building this radical, revolutionary project, from those who visit the campground and make art to all those who attend our festivals and contribute their energy to the culture.
When and Where is the Happy Castle Art Festival?
A few things. Firstly, our first few events likely won't be music-festivals in the traditional sense, but celebrations more akin to Burning Man and other art-festivals where attendees help to collectively create the experience through radical inclusion and participations as opposed to simply being an audience to performances onstage. As the Art-Festival matures, we will start to integrate more musicians into the overall experience, but we'll never attempt a traditional lineup like other music-festivals do, and we'll always be a community-centered-culture. The land is located off of the Dates for our first Art-Festival have not been announced because it depends largely on when we launch the Kickstarter Campaign and how successful it is. When we do launch on Kickstarter, everyone following the project will be able to buy a ticket to our first-ever desert-festival for just $25. We're hoping to have the first festival in late-2025 when the weather is nice and shooting for around 1,500-3,000 attendees! If we hit our stretch goals, we can build the infrastructure to host even bigger festivals in the future.
Is There Parking at the Festival?
The Happy Castle Art Festival is an open-camping experience. This means that you'll park you car and pitch your tent wherever you can find the space. We're expecting between 1,500-3,500 attendees across an enclosed 116-acre festival area. Even at the upper limits of this range, this is only a density of about 30 cars per-acre. Although sites will vary in design and proximity to amenities, most will operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. A few specific areas will be reserved by the festival organizers as experience centers, serving as central-hubs for communal art and performances. So the short answer is: yes, there's ample parking, just make sure you get the car-pass.
How Can I Get Involved in the Art Festivals?
If you feel like you have something to offer Happy Castle, we want to hear it. We're looking for experienced festival organizers, vendors, volunteers, entrepreneurs, musicians, marketing-specialists, artists, and more. Click here to view our open applications or submit and Art Grant and get paid to share your creations with others.
What are the Box Office and Will-Call Hours?
We will keep the box office staffed 11am-11pm throughout all three days of the festival so you can arrive when you want. However, once you check-in, there is no reentry, so plan to bring everything you will need for the duration of your stay. There is one main-gate along Sunset Vista that will function as the primary entrance for most gests. There are two overflow entrances on the upper West and Northern corners of the parcel that may open depending on traffic and special circumstances. Mostly these will serve as private entrances for the festival organizers. ​ Day Zero: Early Arrivals 2pm-2am Although there won't be much going on tonight, some ticket-holders will be allowed to arrive and set-up early. This will mostly be those bringing art-installations or planning to perform. The first night will be a comparatively intimate gathering in contrast to the nights to come. For the rest of us, please no lining up overnight or roadside camping. Day One 11am-11pm Beginning at 11am, we will open the gates and allow attendees to find their camping spaces. We will remain onsite to check tickets and provide wristbands to guests until 11pm. Please arrive within Box Office hours. If you arrive after 11pm, you will not be allowed in until the following morning. ​ Day Two 11am-11pm We'll remain at the Box Office from 11am to 11pm tonight for stragglers, car-troubles, and the fashionably-late. Day Three 11am-11pm Last night! Ask any seasoned festival-goer and they'll tell you that the last day is always the best. We've gotten to know each other, found ourselves, and we're ready to express ourselves. Tonight will feature a multitude of art-performances and attractions including the fiery grand-finale. We'll remain at the Box Office from 11am to 11pm, but after that we're clocking-out to enjoy the fun.
Is the Happy Castle Art Festival an All Ages Event?
Yes! Happy Castle is open to participants of all ages, but anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal-guardian. The festival will attract people from all walks of life who are here to celebrate, discover, express, and lose themselves in the mix. Some might challenge social-convention or push your personal boundaries of what is appropriate in public, but we want to promote exactly this kind of radical-self expression and exploration, so expect to see some pretty far-out stuff. Just respect one another.
Is the Festival a Drug-Free Event?
Probably not. Cannabis is recreationally legal on private property in New Mexico and we don't mind if people smoke or drink, just be safe and respectful or you could be asked to leave. However, we will not be serving alcohol onsite so bring your own beer! For other types of drugs, unless they're prescribed by doctor, please do not bring them with you. Consuming illegal substances onsite is a major liability for us and if anyone is caught using or attempting to enter with illegal substances, they will be removed from the event. All vehicles will be searched prior to entry.
Is Clothing Optional?
Yes. We love all bodies and you should love yours too. If radical self-expression means getting naked, then we encourage you to do so.
Will There Be Food or Beverage Vendors?
While this is something we intend to provide at future festivals, there will likley not exist such amenities at our first event. This means that you need to bring everything you'll eat or drink for the entirety of the festival. However, like Burning Man, we're hoping to fostering a similar culture of radical-gifting, designing the physical landscape to encourage community and interaction, so we encourage you to share a meal with your fellow attendees. At future event, we hope to be able to operate our community-kitchen as a restaurant and bar, but this will likely be years down the road.
What is the Photo Policy?
If you want to take photos we ask that you be respectful and be sure to get enthusiastic consent from anyone who might be pictured. With such a strong emphasis on radical self-expression, you are bound to see many of our attendees donning elaborate costumes and personas. While this can be exciting to witness and you might want to share their creativity with the world, it can also be an incredibly vulnerable experience for them, so make sure others are comfortable with being photographed or recorded before you do so. Enthusiastic consent is key to building a community where people feel safe being who they truly want to be. Besides personal devices, Happy castle will have professional photographers wandering through the campground during the event who will be happy to take your picture!
Is the Festival a Drug-Free Event?
Probably not. Cannabis is recreationally legal on private property in New Mexico and we don't mind if people smoke or drink, just be safe and respectful or you could be asked to leave. However, we will not be serving alcohol onsite so bring your own beer! For other types of drugs, unless they're prescribed by doctor, please do not bring them with you. Consuming illegal substances onsite is a major liability for us and if anyone is caught using or attempting to enter with illegal substances, they will be removed from the event. All vehicles will be searched prior to entry.
Will it be Hot?
This depends largely on what time of year we host the event, but most likely yes, it will be hot. The average daytime temperature in Socorro is around 92°F during the Summer, 75°F in the Spring and 48°F in the Winter. Although we don't have a date yet, we're aiming to have our first event in late 2025, so it'll likely be pretty chilly, especially at night! Ultimately, however, we plan to host multiple festivals a year, exposing our attendees to all extremes of weather. Regardless of temperature, it's important to remember there isn't very much sun-protection in the high-desert, so please wear sunscreen and dress appropriately!
Is There Parking at the Festival?
The Happy Castle Art Festival is an open-camping experience. This means that you'll park you car and pitch your tent wherever you can find the space. We're expecting between 1,500-3,500 attendees across an enclosed 116-acre festival area. Even at the upper limits of this range, this is only a density of about 30 cars per-acre. Although sites will vary in design and proximity to amenities, most will operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. A few specific areas will be reserved by the festival organizers as experience centers, serving as central-hubs for communal art and performances. So the short answer is: yes, there's ample parking, just make sure you get the car-pass.
Health and Safety
Probably not. Cannabis is recreationally legal on private property in New Mexico and we don't mind if people smoke or drink, just be safe and respectful or you could be asked to leave. However, we will not be serving alcohol onsite so bring your own beer! For other types of drugs, unless they're prescribed by doctor, please do not bring them with you. Consuming illegal substances onsite is a major liability for us and if anyone is caught using or attempting to enter with illegal substances, they will be removed from the event. All vehicles will be searched prior to entry.
Happy Castle? What Should I Know?
Happy Castle is an eco-commune and cooperative-enterprise in the desert whose members host both a year-round public campground as well as multiple art-festivals throughout the year. We're a group of artists and creatives striving to establish a carbon-negative, self-sufficient, communal-lifestyle in the desert while simultaneously building and operating a successful, cooperatively-owned, brand and business. We're a festival, we're a family, we're a culture. We're a lot of different things, but most of all we're people who all share a vision of building a life of purpose together. Our community isn't just the dedicated people we have living and working onsite though. It's everyone who participates in building this radical, revolutionary project, from those who visit the campground and make art to all those who attend our festivals and contribute their energy to the culture.
Ethos and Culture
Yes. We love all bodies and you should love yours too. If radical self-expression means getting naked, then we encourage you to do so.
When and Where is the Happy Castle Art Festival?
A few things. Firstly, our first few events likely won't be music-festivals in the traditional sense, but celebrations more akin to Burning Man and other art-festivals where attendees help to collectively create the experience through radical inclusion and participations as opposed to simply being an audience to performances onstage. As the Art-Festival matures, we will start to integrate more musicians into the overall experience, but we'll never attempt a traditional lineup like other music-festivals do, and we'll always be a community-centered-culture. The land is located off of the Dates for our first Art-Festival have not been announced because it depends largely on when we launch the Kickstarter Campaign and how successful it is. When we do launch on Kickstarter, everyone following the project will be able to buy a ticket to our first-ever desert-festival for just $25. We're hoping to have the first festival in late-2025 when the weather is nice and shooting for around 1,500-3,000 attendees! If we hit our stretch goals, we can build the infrastructure to host even bigger festivals in the future.
Is There Parking at the Festival?
The Happy Castle Art Festival is an open-camping experience. This means that you'll park you car and pitch your tent wherever you can find the space. We're expecting between 1,500-3,500 attendees across an enclosed 116-acre festival area. Even at the upper limits of this range, this is only a density of about 30 cars per-acre. Although sites will vary in design and proximity to amenities, most will operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. A few specific areas will be reserved by the festival organizers as experience centers, serving as central-hubs for communal art and performances. So the short answer is: yes, there's ample parking, just make sure you get the car-pass.
How Can I Get Involved in the Art Festivals?
If you feel like you have something to offer Happy Castle, we want to hear it. We're looking for experienced festival organizers, vendors, volunteers, entrepreneurs, musicians, marketing-specialists, artists, and more. Click here to view our open applications or submit and Art Grant and get paid to share your creations with others.
What are the Box Office and Will-Call Hours?
We will keep the box office staffed 11am-11pm throughout all three days of the festival so you can arrive when you want. However, once you check-in, there is no reentry, so plan to bring everything you will need for the duration of your stay. There is one main-gate along Sunset Vista that will function as the primary entrance for most gests. There are two overflow entrances on the upper West and Northern corners of the parcel that may open depending on traffic and special circumstances. Mostly these will serve as private entrances for the festival organizers. ​ Day Zero: Early Arrivals 2pm-2am Although there won't be much going on tonight, some ticket-holders will be allowed to arrive and set-up early. This will mostly be those bringing art-installations or planning to perform. The first night will be a comparatively intimate gathering in contrast to the nights to come. For the rest of us, please no lining up overnight or roadside camping. Day One 11am-11pm Beginning at 11am, we will open the gates and allow attendees to find their camping spaces. We will remain onsite to check tickets and provide wristbands to guests until 11pm. Please arrive within Box Office hours. If you arrive after 11pm, you will not be allowed in until the following morning. ​ Day Two 11am-11pm We'll remain at the Box Office from 11am to 11pm tonight for stragglers, car-troubles, and the fashionably-late. Day Three 11am-11pm Last night! Ask any seasoned festival-goer and they'll tell you that the last day is always the best. We've gotten to know each other, found ourselves, and we're ready to express ourselves. Tonight will feature a multitude of art-performances and attractions including the fiery grand-finale. We'll remain at the Box Office from 11am to 11pm, but after that we're clocking-out to enjoy the fun.
Is the Happy Castle Art Festival an All Ages Event?
Yes! Happy Castle is open to participants of all ages, but anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal-guardian. The festival will attract people from all walks of life who are here to celebrate, discover, express, and lose themselves in the mix. Some might challenge social-convention or push your personal boundaries of what is appropriate in public, but we want to promote exactly this kind of radical-self expression and exploration, so expect to see some pretty far-out stuff. Just respect one another.
Is the Festival a Drug-Free Event?
Probably not. Cannabis is recreationally legal on private property in New Mexico and we don't mind if people smoke or drink, just be safe and respectful or you could be asked to leave. However, we will not be serving alcohol onsite so bring your own beer! For other types of drugs, unless they're prescribed by doctor, please do not bring them with you. Consuming illegal substances onsite is a major liability for us and if anyone is caught using or attempting to enter with illegal substances, they will be removed from the event. All vehicles will be searched prior to entry.
Is Clothing Optional?
Yes. We love all bodies and you should love yours too. If radical self-expression means getting naked, then we encourage you to do so.
Will There Be Food or Beverage Vendors?
While this is something we intend to provide at future festivals, there will likley not exist such amenities at our first event. This means that you need to bring everything you'll eat or drink for the entirety of the festival. However, like Burning Man, we're hoping to fostering a similar culture of radical-gifting, designing the physical landscape to encourage community and interaction, so we encourage you to share a meal with your fellow attendees. At future event, we hope to be able to operate our community-kitchen as a restaurant and bar, but this will likely be years down the road.
What is the Photo Policy?
If you want to take photos we ask that you be respectful and be sure to get enthusiastic consent from anyone who might be pictured. With such a strong emphasis on radical self-expression, you are bound to see many of our attendees donning elaborate costumes and personas. While this can be exciting to witness and you might want to share their creativity with the world, it can also be an incredibly vulnerable experience for them, so make sure others are comfortable with being photographed or recorded before you do so. Enthusiastic consent is key to building a community where people feel safe being who they truly want to be. Besides personal devices, Happy castle will have professional photographers wandering through the campground during the event who will be happy to take your picture!
Is the Festival a Drug-Free Event?
Probably not. Cannabis is recreationally legal on private property in New Mexico and we don't mind if people smoke or drink, just be safe and respectful or you could be asked to leave. However, we will not be serving alcohol onsite so bring your own beer! For other types of drugs, unless they're prescribed by doctor, please do not bring them with you. Consuming illegal substances onsite is a major liability for us and if anyone is caught using or attempting to enter with illegal substances, they will be removed from the event. All vehicles will be searched prior to entry.
Will it be Hot?
This depends largely on what time of year we host the event, but most likely yes, it will be hot. The average daytime temperature in Socorro is around 92°F during the Summer, 75°F in the Spring and 48°F in the Winter. Although we don't have a date yet, we're aiming to have our first event in late 2025, so it'll likely be pretty chilly, especially at night! Ultimately, however, we plan to host multiple festivals a year, exposing our attendees to all extremes of weather. Regardless of temperature, it's important to remember there isn't very much sun-protection in the high-desert, so please wear sunscreen and dress appropriately!