Go back to main page Back to Main Page

DMF LogoDesert Magic Festival

An ADF Druidic Gathering
May 7-10, 2009

Go To Festival Application Form (to print out and mail)

Go To PayPal Page to Register with a Credit or Debit Card

The Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF is pleased to announce this year's ADF Festival in the Tucson, Arizona area. The Festival will take place at the COD Ranch Retreat center in Oracle, AZ. Accommodation will be in shared rooms with shared baths. There will also be limited camping available. All entries will include the meal plan.

Desert Magic Festival Auction

For photos of this year's auction items, click here. Take a look at what creative and talented folks have donated. What will you bid on?

 

Click on the subjects below for more information (as Presenters and Workshops are finalized, those links will become live):

Presenters and Workshops

Fire Safety
Event Schedule

Site Hazards
green ball About the Area

Oracle Emergency Information
Amenities and Location

When You Arrive
Weather

When You Leave

Rituals

What To Bring
Entertainment

Prices
Getting Here

Application Form
General Guildlines  


About the Area

The town of Oracle at 4415' elevation is a place such as Frazier speaks of in the Golden Bough "where clouds gather and oaks grow." A reprieve from the valley heat, Oracle is usually 15 degrees cooler than Tucson. It is lush with oaks, beargrass, and boulders. The town sits on a ridge running down the spine from the back of Mt. Lemmon where saguaros are absent, and the only vestige of desert is visible in the prickly pear and chollas that dot the landscape.

This quaint little town is much more than meets the eye; the majority of it is not visible from its one main thoroughfare, American Avenue. A large part of the population are artists, musicians or aficionados. Art galleries abound. The currently active artist-in-residence colony, Rancho Linda Vista, drew such notables as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg in its heyday.

The character of Oracle is best revealed in its organizations and gathering places -- a historical society and museum, a land trust, a state park, a community center, a very active garden club, and even a tiny wi-fi café and organic grocery called "The Station" which serves as the Saturday morning hub of town activity.

Although the town presents itself as a bit worn as one passes through it, Oracle's hidden vistas of the Catalinas, the Galiuros, and the San Pedro River Valley as well as cool temperatures and warm residents make it a coveted sanctuary from the city. For more information visit: www.oracletown.com. By Julian Greene

Amenities and Location

The COD Ranch Retreat in Oracle boasts a heated pool and hot tub, dining room with commercial kitchen, a 'barn' for workshops, a ritual area and lots of rooms, bathrooms and showers. Also, the site is clothing optional.

C.O.D. Ranch and Retreat
PO Box 241
Oracle, Arizona 85623
Toll Free: 1-800-868-5617
Tucson: 520-615-3211

Weather

The average temperatures there in early May are highs in the mid 90's and lows in the 50's, so bring layered clothes for various conditions!

Rituals

There will be at least four rituals - An opening ritual on Thursday night, a Hellenic pantheon rite, the main ritual with the ADF Unity Rite on Saturday night and a special closing ritual. Rituals will take place in the ritual area or in the barn if weather is bad.

Entertainment

Gareth MacKenzie will play the harp and tell tales from IE Lore.

Getting Here

The festival will be located at the COD Ranch Retreat in Oracle, AZ.

From Tucson

From Tucson: As you leave the airport you will be on Tucson Blvd. When you get to Benson Hwy. go left to I-10. Take I-10 west, exit Ina Rd. and go east to Oracle Rd. Go left on Oracle Rd. Oracle Road (77East) through Catalina and Oracle Junction, past the Biosphere. To the Business District turnoff into Oracle on the right. Proceed on American Avenue through the town of Oracle (approximately 2 miles) to the Mt. Lemmon turnoff. Turn right onto Mt. Lemmon Road and proceed approximately 2 miles to the C.O.D. Ranch turnoff on the left. The ¼ mile dirt road ends at the C. O. D. Ranch. Proceed through the gate and park in the corral in front of the barn.

From Phoenix

From Phoenix: Superstition Freeway (60 East) through Apache Junction to Florence Junction. Turn right onto 79 South at Florence Junction. Proceed through the town of Florence to Oracle Junction (approximately 60 miles). Turn left onto 77 East at Oracle Junction. Proceed east past the Biosphere to the Business District turnoff into Oracle on the right (approximately 2 miles) to the Mt. Lemmon turnoff. Turn right onto Mt. Lemmon Road and proceed approximately 2 miles to the C.O.D. Ranch turnoff on the left. The ¼ mile dirt road ends at the C. O. D. Ranch. Proceed through the gate and park in the corral in front of the barn.
You can view Google maps at: http://www.codranchandretreat.com/maps.asp.

There are many flights into Tucson and Phoenix for those wishing to come by air.

Flying to Tucson? For arrivals in Tucson, contact the Grove at SD @ sonoransunrisegrove.org for airport pickup (copy and paste address into your e-mail client and remove the spaces).

Flying to Phoenix? For those flying into Phoenix, there is a shuttle service that will take you into Tucson (takes about 2.5 hours driving time). Take the shuttle to the 5051 W. Ina Road location in Tucson. Make the arrangements in advance and let us know when you will be arriving at the Ina location and we'll send someone to pick you up! Contact SD @ sonoransunrisegrove.org

Arizona Shuttle can be reached at www.arizonashuttle.com or call 1.800.888.2749.

Hotels and B&B's - The nearest hotel or inn is down in Tucson which is too far for an easy commute.

General Guidelines

  1. Firearms, including air rifles and air guns are prohibited.
  2. Motorcycles, trail bikes, and off-road vehicles are prohibited.
  3. Parking is limited. Please do not plan on parking trailers or campers on site. Arrange to park campers at one of our members homes.
  4. Use of illegal drugs is prohibited and cause for removal from Desert Magic Festival.
  5. Attendees are responsible for providing their own alcohol and monitoring their consumption. Excessive drinking that results in vomiting is frowned upon. As Ian says “This isn’t amateur night folks”.
  6. Nudity will be allowed in the pool and hot tub area after 8pm. Minors are not allowed in those areas after 8pm.
  7. Any attendee who has consumed too much alcohol must be escorted back to their sleeping area.
  8. Vehicles cannot travel past the parking lot area. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
  9. Smoking is allowed only in designated areas. We have had a dry winter and the risk of causing a fire is very high.
  10.  Dogs and other pets should be left at home in the interest of safety, liability, and group living.

Fire Safety

  1. Fires may be built in fireplaces and designated fire circles only.
  2. Please use wood sparingly and use charcoal pieces from previous fires.
  3. Never leave a fire unattended.
  4. Keep fire safely equipment (bucket and a shovel) close at hand if a fire circle is to be used.
  5. Take care to burn your fire down to ashes, leaving your ashes in fire circles.
  6. If you must put out a fire put all logs and pieces in a bucket filled with water. Before you go pour out water and lay all charcoal pieces to dry.
  7. Fire extinguishers are located in each area.

Site Hazards

  1. Loose gravel: Wear sturdy shoes, watch footing, and discourage any running. Rocky trails and roads can be treacherous.
  2. Please do not leave any food, or candy outside. We do not want to attract uninvited guests.
  3. Lightening and severe storms: The pool area will be closed during storms and folks are encouraged to seek shelter.
  4. There are rattle snakes, scorpions, and black widows in Arizona. Please watch your hands, feet, and where you place your seat.  Avoid the stinging wild life.

Oracle Emergency information

  1. Fire Department                520.896.2980                      

2.   Pinal Co. Sheriff's Dept.   800-352-3796 or 520.385.2222

When you arrive:

  1. Members of Sonoran Sunrise Grove will assist you with parking.
  2. The check-in table will be in the main house.
  3. Sign-in sheets will be posted for volunteer work. All attendees will be asked to sign-up for 2 hours of the volunteer work of their choosing. This will help ensure the festival runs smoothly for all.
  4. All people attending Desert Magic will sign a no-harm clause and are responsible for any and all medical expenses as a result of injuries sustained while at Desert Magic Festival. Each individual should not seek damages from Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF, or COD Ranch and Retreat.
  5. All attendees will be assigned a sleeping area.
  6. Members of Sonoran Sunrise Grove will assist with luggage and escort you to your sleeping area

When you leave:

  1. Your unit should be swept, cleaned, all debris removed, and doors closed.
  2. Members of Sonoran Sunrise Grove will be available to assist you with luggage and unit cleaning.  
  3. Dispose of any trash you may have in the dumpster. Any recycling must be taken with you down the mountain.

What to Bring

  1. Campers: You are responsible for bringing sleeping materials including: pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags. 
  2. Sturdy comfortable shoes the terrain can be rough.
  3. Medical Insurance Card
  4. We will not be near shopping so remember all personal supplies including: tooth brush, tooth paste, allergy medication, soap, shampoo, sun block, sun glasses, brush, powder, vitamins, and pain relievers. (All items I have forgotten on trips).
  5. Offerings for rituals.
  6. Songs and skits for the Bardic Night.
  7. We will have vendors, raffles, and auctions bring cash or checkbook.

Prices Per Person

All prices below include the meal plan, which is not optional this year.
We are unable to offer a family rate. Sorry!

Indoor accommodations (3-4 people per room minimum):

$ 175 - indoor rate
Child's indoor rate will be the same as the adult rate (per child)

 

Camping accommodations (limited space):

$ 150 - if paid by March 31, 2009
$ 175 - if paid between April 1 and May 7, 2009
$ 75 - child's camping rate (per child)

There will also be a drink plan (cola, diet cola, sprite, bottled water) available for $20 at the door.

$50 of the price is non-refundable. NO REFUNDS available after April 1, 2009.

We don't have a childrens' program at this time. We feel they would be happier with a sitter. However, if you are bringing your child, a parental form must be signed and mailed to us by April 15, 2009

Parents are responsible for their children. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.

For more information, contact the Grove at: SD @ sonoransunrisegrove.org
Copy and paste the address into your e-mail client and remove the spaces.

Go To Festival Application Form

Go To Our PayPal Page to Register with a Credit or Debit Card