Vikings of Bjornstad - Bjornstad Event Information

Event Information

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Event:
KVMR Celtic Festival

Date/Time:
Friday, May 2, 2025
Set up: 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Event: 10:00 AM
End: 10:00 PM

Saturday, May 3, 2025
Event: 10:00 AM
End: 10:00 PM

Sunday, May 4, 2025
Event: 10:00 AM
End: 6:00 PM

Location:
KVMR Celtic Festival
Nevada County Fairgrounds
11228 McCourtney Road
Grass Valley, CA 95949
https://kvmrcelticfestival.org/

Vikings of Bjornstad Coordinator:
Jack Garrett
Vikings of Bjornstad
(925) 575-1996

Event Coordinator:
Connor Pool
Living History & Guilds Coordinator
(916) 835-8424
events @kvmr.org
KVMR Community Radio

Description:
- Céilidh (a traditional Scottish and Irish social gathering)
- Marketplace
- Living History
- Animals of the Celtic Lands
- Celtic Dance
- Scottish Highland Games

The Following information was provided by Connor Pool, the Living History & Guilds Coordinator for the KVMR Celtic Festival.

Weapon Restriction: The Festival is now requiring folks to secure-tie their weapons unless they are doing a demonstration of some sort. They will be making the rounds to ensure everyone is on the same page about this.

Set-up Date/Time: I have guild check-in volunteers scheduled from 2pm - 10pm on Friday, but we can coordinate arrivals for earlier that day or even Thursday evening depending on your participants' schedules. The main thing is just keeping me apprised so we can accommodate you effectively.

The general expectation is for groups to set up their primary encampments throughout Friday afternoon but, again, let me know if you would like to set-up as early as Thursday and I will explore that option. You can drive onto the grounds long enough to unload equipment at your site before parking in the nearby parking lot. However, I should stress that we like people to park promptly once they've finished unloading. This is to mitigate logistical concerns re: overcrowding of vehicles, as well as to prevent traffic hazards to guests once Friday's late afternoon children's activities begin.

Group members being present for some days and absent for others should not be an issue, provided we account for what days each person will be there on your gatelist. Inclusion of estimated arrival times will also be helpful; if someone arrives after security locks the fairgrounds at night, I want to know beforehand so I can coordinate their access. Notify Jack if you will be arriving or leaving at odd hours during the festival.

Encampments should be ready to go before gates open to the public each day. I have no issue with quiet carryout on Saturday as things cool down and the guests' focus shifts more to the main stage music. We tend to play that aspect a little by ear, but I anticipate 6pm being a reasonable estimate for the guilds beginning to secure their encampments for the evening.

Friday Directions/Unloading Gate: You will ultimately go through Gate 5 to reach the guilds area for unloading. First, guild participants will enter through Gate 4 (please refer to the attached 2025 Festival Map). Volunteers will guide you through, but please stay in your vehicles and runners will assist you with checking in. From there you may follow paths to the inner parking lot, connecting you to Gate 5.

Sat/Sun Parking: When you check in, each participant's vehicle will be given a parking pass to keep on the dashboard. You have the option of parking in/alongside your overnight camping areas, provided the vehicles are not blocking any roadways/trails. Alternatively, you may simply park anywhere in the Guest Parking area you pass by en route to Gate 5 from Gate 4.

Entry List: Bjornstad has put together a gate list including the general hours of the festival for its members. Please let Jack know if you have anyone arriving at odd times so Connor Pool can coordinate with gate and security staff to arrange access after hours.

Driving Onsite: As discussed above, driving onsite to unload is well within our expectations. I know some groups bring a great deal with them and we like to facilitate as best we can. To that end, we may be able to coordinate with gate staff, allowing you to drive heavier weapons and equipment to your encampment in the morning before gates open to the public.

Please note, we would be more limited in the evening as we cannot allow vehicles on the grounds while the event is taking place/ticket holders are present. That being said, I see no issue in you pulling your vehicle up close to a gate near your encampment Saturday night if you'd rather drive heavier equipment back to your camp than walk it. As always, it is just a matter of coordinating with each other beforehand.

Staying Overnight: Onsite camping is encouraged, but it will not be allowed in the groups' encampments. I am afraid this is a fairgrounds regulation we must adhere to. However, I am happy to say we have 24/7 security, including routine patrols overnight and gate coverage. Only staff are allowed in after hours, but you are welcome to keep anything you're particularly wary of leaving overnight close. I know groups occasionally bring such items back to their overnight camp at the end of each day.

Guaranteed guild participant camping is reserved up on the hill beside the inner parking lot if you'd like to embrace some separation from the public and a little quiet at night. I believe this is available to you as early as Thursday night, but groups can also utilize dry camping space available to the public once we hit 2pm on Friday. We encourage groups to utilize the guild camping location so as to leave dry camping largely to ticket holders, but I completely understand if being closer to their encampment via a dry camping space works better for a group logistically.

Distance to Camping: Building on the last section, the guild camping area is maybe a few minutes walk away from the event encampments. If you look at the 2024 map, you will see Gate 5 right in the center. Left of that is the inner parking lot with Guild Camping on the hill that rises from the ADA Parking side of the lot. The trail surrounding the Guild Camping patch of green is both a literal path and a clear outline for the space we reserved for guild campers.

However, as stated in the prior section, a dry camping space may be more conducive if you're worried about distance or the slope. Gate 5 will be your entryway to the inner grounds, with the guilds immediately on your right as you step through.

Ref: 5T87Ew