As the Coventide season once again draws to a close, we invite you to join us for an evening of feasting, ritual, reminiscing, and sharing works of creativity and art. Please RSVP using the Google Form at the bottom of this page by September 1st. This is a public event, and all are welcome!
What is The Feast of Avalon?
The Deá Noctist religion distinguishes two main spiritual seasons of the year; “Somnicall,” the dark part of the year, and “Coventide,” the light part of the year. Somnicall, meaning ‘the call to sleep,’ refers to the time when our spiritual works are more personal most focused inward, through prayer, personal ritual, and introspection. Coventide, on the other hand, loosely meaning ‘community time,’ focuses on gathering-focused spiritual growth and making memories that later become stories. Obviously, we still pray in the summer and spend time with community in the winter, but by allowing individual and community work to each have their own time of precedence, we more easily keep our cups filled of both.
The Feast of Avalon is the last holiday of the Coventide season, typically celebrated on the second or third Saturday of September, shortly before the Autumnal Equinox. It gives us a chance to mark the beginning of the shift to the darker and colder days, as well as regaling each other of our tales from the summer. We have a formal dinner, ritual, and give offerings to the Goddess. These offerings include not only food and drink, but also the sharing of creative works such as storytelling, poetry, and songs, as the act of creation is sacred to Mother Night. Anyone attending is encouraged to share a creative work of their own, though it is not required to attend.
Potluck-style gatherings are popular in our community, and we are grateful to those who plan to bring a dish to contribute to this meal. We only ask that you let us know in your RSVP form what course of the dinner you plan to contribute to, so we can plan to have a good amount of food for each course.
The order of events is as follows:
5pm - Folks arrive and get their drinks (please know that THIS IS AN ALCOHOL FREE EVENT, per rules from the City of Bellingham for our rental of the space. We have been using public parks for our gatherings for years and wish to stay on good terms with parks and rec.)
5:30pm - Opening statements, and anyone who contributed an appetizer will give a bit to the altar as an offering. We will acknowledge these offerings, have our opening prayer, and then enjoy the apps together.
6pm - The main part of the ritual. Primary prayers and a sermon are spoken, and those who contributed main course dishes give a bit of their food at the altar as offering. Then we share in the main course.
6:30pm - Desserts are served at the altar, then shared with the community. This final hour or so is dedicated to sharing creative works, which we refer to as offerings of Clair. Over dessert, we will enjoy whatever our community has brought to perform and share. Bringing a story, song, poem, or anything else is certainly not required, but is encouraged.
7:30pm - Clean-up begins. We have reserved the space until 8pm, and at the time a worker from the city will be by to do their closing routine. We want to respect their time and be ready to go by then.
Please RSVP using the Google Form at the bottom of this page by September 1st. This is a public event, and all are welcome!
We have reserved the building pictured here for the event, which is the Beach Pavilion at Bloedel Donovan Park in Bellingham. When you arrive, walk toward the lake, and you will find us here, across from the playground.
The altar from The Feast of Avalon 2025
Our venue, the Bloedel Donovan Park Beach Pavilion