The Kickstarter

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BRINGING THE FESTIVAL TO LIFE

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HAPPY CASTLE ART CAMP

Farm. Festival. Campground. Commune.

Happy Castle Art Camp is an interactive art community and campground in the heart of the New Mexico desert. With large-scale art installations, unique eco-architecture, and a one-of-a kind festival experience, we’re creating a space for creativity, self-expression, and community. Help us bring this magical desert adventure to life and join us for an unforgettable festival in the Land of Enchantment!

LET'S BUILD A COMMUNE

Join the Project and Build the Dream

Join us in building Happy Castle Art Camp and be part of something truly revolutionary! Back our project today to bring this immersive desert festival, commune, and art-filled campground to life. Secure your ticket, support groundbreaking art, and become part of an unforgettable experience!

Be a part of something bigger. By supporting Happy Castle Art Camp, you're not just backing a festival—you’re joining a movement. A movement against isolation, destruction, and inauthenticity. Together, we’re building a creative sanctuary in the desert, a place where art, community, and purpose intersect. Your pledge helps bring people together, fosters radical self-expression, and supports a vision of connection and impact that the world needs right now. Join us, and let’s create something extraordinary—together.

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THE KICKSTARTER

Fundraising for the Festival and Commune

REWARD TIERS

What You Get for Giving

The Kickstarter is still several months from pre-launching. Rewards Tiers and Merch designs have not yet been finalized.

BASIC REWARDS TIERS

$5 – Postcard

One collectible postcard featuring iconic Happy Castle slogans like “It’s Not a Cult”, “Let’s Build a Commune”, or “Come and Find Me”. A perfect keepsake from the heart of the desert.
Limited to 15,000 backers.

$10 – Two Postcards

Two postcards from Happy Castle Art Camp.
Bonus: Five stickers.
Limited to 10,000 backers.

$15 – Socks

A random pair of limited-edition Happy Castle Socks.
Bonus: A postcard and three stickers.
Limited to 10,000 backers.

$25 – Festival Ticket

One ticket to the first-ever Happy Castle Art Festival.
Bonus: Early access to event schedule & secret map of the festival grounds.
Limited to 3,500 backers to maintain festival intimacy.

$10 – Car/RV Pass

Parking pass for your vehicle or RV during the festival.

$40 – Happy Castle Sticker Pack

A set of 5 exclusive stickers featuring unique Happy Castle art and slogans.
Bonus: Festival ticket, car-pass, and a limited-edition collectible postcard.

$50 – Sticker Overload

Even more stickers—10 total, including a surprise holographic sticker, three postcards, and enamel pin.
Bonus: Festival wristband and car pass.

$60 – "Let’s Build a Commune" T-Shirt

High-quality, ethically sourced shirt with the playful slogan, available in various sizes.
Bonus: Festival wristband, random postcard, and a sticker.

$75 – "It’s Not a Cult" T-Shirt

The iconic phrase on a soft, durable tee.
Bonus: Includes a festival wristband, early festival check-in, the first shirt, a sticker, an enamel pin, and a random postcard.

$100 – "First Day Alive" T-Shirt

Celebrate the spirit of Happy Castle with this special edition tee, available only to early backers.
Bonus: Include the other two shirts, a festival wristband, early check-in, all the postcards, three stickers, an enamel pin, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.

MID-LEVEL REWARDS

$125 – Pins, Hat and Fanny-Pack

A stylish hat and fanny-pack with five custom-designed enamel pins and three button pins featuring Happy Castle’s most popular artwork.
Bonus: A festival wristband, a random shirt, and a limited-run festival patch.

$150 – The Ultimate Merch Bundle

Includes an exclusive wide-brim hat, a limited-run "Lost and Found" tee, all three patches, all fifteen stickers, all ten postcards, all five pins, all five buttons, and an exclusive festival logo sticker.
Bonus: A festival wristband, the other hat, the fanny-pack, and all three of the other shirts.

$180 – Blanket/Flag Combo

Cozy up with a Happy Castle woven blanket or fly the camp’s colors with a high-quality flag. Choose either two blankets, two flags, or a combination of the two.
Bonus: A festival wristband, all three of the shirts, a hat, a fanny-pack, three pins, three postcards, and ten stickers.

$200 – Happy Castle Woven Sweater and Backpack

A beautifully crafted, custom woven sweater perfect for chilly desert nights, plus a cool hemp backpack to carry all your festival essentials.
Bonus: A festival wristband, all of the shirts, a hat, three postcards, three pins, ten stickers, and an embroidered Happy Castle patch.

PREMIUM REWARDS TIERS

$250 – VIP Festival Experience Package

VIP Festival ticket, car/RV pass, and VIP perks like early access, commune tours, and an exclusive campsite in the Art District.
Bonus: All of the shirts, all of the postcards, all of the stickers, all of the pins, VIP lounge access, a limited-edition Happy Castle festival poster, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 350 backers.

$350 – Special Group Campsite

Reserved large campsite with water and electricity hook-ups, plus a shaded lounging area.
Bonus: A gift bag with three festival wristbands, all three shirts, three postcards, 10 stickers, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 50 backers.

$500 – Dome School

Receive an exclusive “I’m Only Weird Because I Was Dome-Schooled” shirt, plus exclusive access to pre-event dome-building workshops.
Bonus: A festival wristband, all of the shirts, all the stickers, all the postcards, all the pins, a custom Happy Castle poster, a shout-out during the festival, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 500 backers.

$600 – Dome-Home Cabin Rental

Stay in a Superadobe Dome-Home for the full festival experience, plus a free car pass and early check-in.
Bonus: VIP wristband, an exclusive festival tote bag with all the swag , and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 50 backers.

HIGH REWARDS TIERS

$750 – Art Benefactor’s Package

Receive a personalized piece of art from a Happy Castle artist, an exclusive “I Built an Eco Art Commune in the Desert” shirt, plus exclusive access to pre-event art and dome-building workshops, plus a campsite in the Arts District for the festival.
Bonus: VIP wristband, an exclusive festival tote bag with all the swag, a shout-out during the festival, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 100 backers.

$1,000 – Lifetime Entry to Happy Castle Art Festivals

Lifetime access to all future Happy Castle Art Festivals, non-transferable.
Bonus: VIP entry, all of the shirts and swag, and a custom commemorative festival wristband for every event, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 1000 backers.

$1,500 – Founder's Denim Jacket & Lifetime Entry for You and A Friend

Lifetime festival entry for you and a friend, an exclusive, limited-edition Founder’s Jacket with custom Happy Castle embroidery, and your name immortalized on the "Founders Wall" at Happy Castle, and a personal thank-you from the founders.
Bonus: VIP entry, all of the shirts and swag, a custom commemorative festival wristband for every event, and access to an exclusive festival afterparty.
Limited to 1000 backers.

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A BETTER WAY TO LIVE

A New Kind of Intentional Community

In a world that often feels disconnected and overwhelming, many of us are searching for deeper meaning, authentic community, and a way to reconnect with both ourselves and the planet. The daily grind of modern life leaves little room for creativity, exploration, self-expression, or a sense of purpose and belonging. The planet is dying and getting worse by the day, but sustainable alternatives are out of reach for the average person. People crave purpose, but the spaces to explore and live out those values don't exist. The life available to most of us is little more than one of toil, loneliness, and consumerism.

Happy Castle Art Camp is more than just a festival—it's a radical answer to these challenges. We’re building a desert sanctuary, a campground and commune where creativity, community, and sustainability come together. At Happy Castle, you can break free from the confines of modern society and embrace a space where art flourishes, and connections are made through shared experiences. Our interactive art installations and unique festival aren’t just events—they’re a chance to reimagine what life can be, focused on community, self-expression, and a different way of living. Whether you choose to live and work onsite, physically building the commune, or simply choose to share your light at the Art Festival, Happy Castle is a place where we can all build a better world.

Happy Castle Art Camp offers an immersive experience that combines large-scale art, radical inclusivity, community, and the freedom to create, all in stunning contrast to its desert surroundings. By supporting this project, you're helping to build a place where people from all walks of life can come together, explore new possibilities, and be part of a movement that redefines what it means to live with purpose.

STRETCH GOALS

How to Build Happy Castle Art Camp Bigger, Better, and Faster

Our initial goal of $385,000 will allow us to bring Happy Castle Art Camp to life, but we’re dreaming even bigger! With your support, we can take this project beyond its original vision and accelerate our timeline, leapfrogging years of construction and expanding the experience for everyone. Here’s what your additional support can help us achieve:

STRETCH GOAL ONE: $500,000

At this level, we’ll be able to significantly expand the scope of Happy Castle beyond our current Phase One plans. With the extra funds, we’ll:

Build additional Superadobe Earthbag Dome Homes, power and water infrastructure, increasing accommodations for Villagers and campers.

Fast-track the construction of larger and more ambitious art installations such as the Labyrinth, Ozymandias, and Pyramid of the Sun.

Expand the festival grounds, adding more interactive experiences and creative spaces as well as possibly acquiring various adjoining plots.

Begin construction on additional communal buildings apart from Phase One necessities such as various art studios and a gym.

STRETCH GOAL TWO: $1,000,000

Reaching $1,000,000 would be a game-changer for our project. This level of support will allow us to:

Leap forward several years in our construction plans, completing much of the infrastructure far ahead of schedule.

Develop a large-scale reforestation initiative and desert nursery to restore the local ecosystem.

Create a permanent festival venue with expanded event programming and year-round activities, capable of supporting much larger events and musical performances.

Build even more communal spaces and business infrastructure such as an onsite meadery, skoolie conversion factory, tool shed, and event spaces, making Happy Castle a fully operational community faster than we ever imagined.

By supporting the project, you’re not just funding a festival—you’re helping to build a long-lasting creative community that we can all belong too. We can build something that matters, a new kind of community that gives back to the people and planet, rather than just take. With your support, we can make the Happy Castle Art Camp into a desert oasis where art, connection, and purpose thrive.

So how much will it all cost?

To understand our budget, imagine it divided into two components: how much we need to host a successful festival and how much it will cost to build the permanent infrastructure necessary for a year-round commune, campground, and festival venue. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot.

The first part—throwing a successful music festival—is relatively straightforward, thanks to our background and connections in the music festival industry. It’s all about balancing revenue and costs. While there are ways to cut expenses and still create an incredible experience, Happy Castle isn’t about a one-time event. Our vision is to build a permanent venue that can host festivals for years to come. Unlike other organizers who might maximize profits by renting temporary facilities like porta-potties or tents, we’re investing in permanent infrastructure that will pay for itself over time. While the land has already hosted smaller-scale events, including New Mexico’s official Burning Man Regional, we haven’t yet built the long-term structures needed for our own Happy Castle Art Festival.

The second part—building the infrastructure for a commune, campground, and festival venue—is more complex. The type of infrastructure required varies depending on the festival model. Burning Man, for example, practices radical self-reliance, providing no amenities and requiring attendees to bring everything they’ll need for the duration of the event. In contrast, festivals like Coachella or Lightning in a Bottle offer an array of amenities from showers to food vendors, phone charging stations, and VIP cabanas. Happy Castle will likely fall somewhere between rugged camping and glamping, but even for our first festival which will be decidedly rugged, we’ll need to establish key infrastructure like entrances, box offices, campsites, bathrooms, power, attractions, and fencing. These upfront costs are significant, but once built, they’ll serve every future event we host.

By investing in permanent features like bathrooms, cabins, roads, and stages, we’re enhancing not just the festival but also the campground and commune itself. That said, the most significant cost won’t be the festival infrastructure—it’s the commune. Building homes, greenhouses, water systems, and solar panels is expensive.

Our initial fundraising goal is $385,000, which sounds like a lot but will go a surprisingly long way. While this won’t cover everything we ultimately envision, it will plant the seeds for growth, enabling us to host festivals, sustain 10-25 residents onsite, and continue expanding over time.

If we exceed our goal significantly, we could build everything we need all at once (fingers crossed). More realistically, we may only raise enough to host an awesome first festival while building the minimum requirements for the commune. Either way, with basic infrastructure in place, future festivals will generate consistent revenue to fund additional growth and improvements, allowing Happy Castle to thrive for years to come.

QUESTIONS?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Happy Castle Art Camp?
Happy Castle Art Camp is an exciting new eco-village and festival experience set in the New Mexico desert. Our mission is to create a vibrant community centered around art, self-expression, and off-grid living, where participants can explore creative workshops, interactive art installations, and a unique camping experience.

2. When and where is the festival taking place?
The Happy Castle Art Festival is set to take place over three unforgettable days at our stunning desert campground in Socorro New Mexico. We haven’t chosen a specific date yet, as this depends largely on our fundraising success and construction pace, but we’re tentatively anticipating hosting the festival in early fall when the weather is best.

3. How will my contributions help the project?
Your support will directly fund the construction of our festival grounds, communal living spaces, and unique art installations. Each reward tier is designed to enhance the festival experience while helping us reach our goal of building a thriving community.

4. What happens if we reach our funding goal?
If we successfully raise our target of $385,000, we will begin construction on festival facilities, art installations, and camping accommodations right away. Plus, we have exciting stretch goals ($500,000 and $1,000,000) that will allow us to expand the scope of the project and accelerate construction timelines.

5. How can I secure my spot at the festival?
To secure your spot, choose a reward tier that includes a festival ticket, such as the $25 Festival Ticket or higher tiers that offer additional perks. Once your contribution is made, your ticket will be reserved for you. As we nail-down and approach the festival date, you’ll be contacted at the email you provided with additional info and updates. If you plan to drive yourself, be sure to get a Car/RV pass as well. If you’re carpooling then your group only needs one pass per vehicle.

6. Are there any age restrictions for the festival?
We welcome all ages at Happy Castle Art Camp! However, attendees under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please note that some events or activities may have age recommendations. The festival will likely feature some nudity, recreational drug use, and controversial art-installations.

7. Can I bring my Car, RV or tent?
Absolutely! We have special passes available for cars and RVs. Be sure to select the appropriate reward tier for parking and camping arrangements. We only require one Car/RV Pass per vehicle, so if you're carpooling, make sure your group has a pass. A RV/Car Pass entitles your group to park their vehicle in any open-camping space. There are also special campsites featuring amenities like power and water hookups, but availability for these spaces is extremely limited, so secure your spot early!

8. What if I can’t attend the festival?
If you're unable to attend, consider choosing a higher-tier reward that allows you to support the project while receiving exclusive merchandise. Additionally, your contributions will still help build the community and create future festivals for everyone to enjoy.

9. Will there be food and drink available at the festival?
Yes, but not much! We intend to invite a variety of local food and beverage vendors to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences, but this likely won’t be sufficient to meet all your food and drink needs for the duration of the event. Please plan to bring enough food and water for yourself for the entirety of the event. There will be communal campfires which you’ll be able to prepare food at or, if you prefer, you’re also welcome to bring your own camp stove for personal use.

10. How can I stay updated on the project?
Follow us on our social media channels and sign up for our newsletter on our website to receive the latest updates, sneak peeks, and exclusive content about Happy Castle Art Camp and the festival!

11. How do you ensure the festival is environmentally friendly?
Happy Castle Art Camp is dedicated to sustainability. We’re implementing eco-friendly practices like waste reduction, renewable energy sources, and water conservation efforts to minimize our negative environmental impact while creating a vibrant festival experience. There will always be effects, but we're committed to offsetting these costs in other ways.

12. Who do I contact if I have more questions?
If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out through our Kickstarter page or via our website’s contact form. We’re here to help! More information about the Art Festival will be posted as we get closer to the date, but you'll be able to track the progress of our construction through our Newsletter and social-media.