Extended FAQ

12-STEP
In an effort to help women connect with others for support, there will be times for women to meet throughout the SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival. There are no assigned facilitators for these meetings; women attending them will decide who should facilitate.

ACCESSIBILITY See Main FAQ

AIRPORT See Mass Transit

ALCOHOL
SisterSpace does not sell alcohol at the Weekend. You are welcome to bring your own. All applicable laws still apply – you must be 21 or over to consume alcohol at camp. (Please note that anyone found to be selling alcohol to others will be asked to leave, without refund.)

AMTRAK See Mass Transit

ARRIVAL
The Festival opens at 10 a.m. on Friday. Unless you are a volunteer, we cannot accommodate any arrivals before that time—so please don’t ask to come early.

ART SPACE
Stocked with art supplies galore, feel free to drop in & create – or sign up for a scheduled workshop.

ASL See Deaf Accessibility

ATM
There is not an ATM on the land, so it might be best to pick up some spending cash before you arrive.

BONFIRE
Weather permitting, there will be a bonfire on both Friday and Saturday nights, after the performances. Rumor has it that there could be s’mores there.

BOYS
Boy children ages 7 and under are permitted at SisterSpace.

CABINS
Cabins sleep from 7-10 people, and have spring beds with Tempur-pedic mattresses. All cabins have electricity, ceiling fans, overhead lighting, hot showers, and toilet facilities. BYO sleeping bags, pillows and bed linens, towels, and soap.

CAMP
SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival is held at a private campground in the beautiful rolling hills of northern Maryland, about 1 hr drive from Philly and 2 hrs from NYC and DC. Registered campers will be given details and directions to the camp.

CAMPER SERVICES
Camper Services is the “command center” where you can go to find maps and schedules, sign up for workshifts, and ask any questions you might have.

CANCELLATIONS See Terms and Conditions on Rates and Information page

CHEM FREE CAMPING
The chem-free cabins and tenting areas are for people who want to avoid tobacco, alcohol, or any other intoxicants. Please refrain from smoking or drinking in or near chem-free space—and remember, illegal drugs are still illegal at the Festival. See Drugs

CHILDREN
All female children, and boy children age 7 and under, are welcome. Child Care is not currently available at camp, and children are expected to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please be aware that some of the workshops are not appropriate for youth, and kids will not be admitted. There are lots of other workshops and things for kids to do with their Mom or Moms, Aunts, Grandmoms, etc.!

COOKING
Unapproved open flames are prohibited at the camp. Please leave all grills, camp-stoves, etc. at home.

CPAPs
The cabins at the camp have electricity, so CPAP users are encouraged to choose cabin accommodations and to arrive early to facilitate choosing a bed that’s suitably close to an outlet.

CROSS-PROMOTION
We would love to talk with your business or organization about mutually beneficial cross-promotional activities. Contact us and let us know what you have in mind.

DANCES & PARTIES
SisterSpace hosts an Opening Pool Party, Tea Dance, Night Dance and various rotating late night activities such as the Midnight Pool Party or the Late Night Jazz & Blues Club throughout the weekend, switching off from year to year. Check your festival program upon arrival for details.

DATES
SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival always takes place on the weekend after Labor Day Weekend. Coming your way on September 5-7, 2025.

DAY PASSES
Day passes are for attendees who wish to only attend individual days. Day Pass holders are required to check in with Registration and/or Camper Services, starting at 10 am Friday and 9 am Saturday and Sunday. You must be off the Land by 2 am and check out with Security which will be located at Camper Services.

DEAF ACCESSIBILITY
ASL interpretation is available for performances, with prior notice. Email us if you’re planning to attend and need ASL interpretation.

DEADLINES See Registration page

DEPARTURES
We’re sorry to see you go, but all campers need to hug all your new friends goodbye (or wave, if that’s your style) and still be off land by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8. No exceptions!

DEPOSITS
We don’t accept deposits. Every registration must be paid in full in order for it to be considered valid and complete. If you’d like to arrange installment payments, please contact us.

DIETARY NEEDS
If you have particular dietary needs, you must come prepared to provide for yourself. We will not be able to prepare individual meals, or provide food storage or cooking facilities. Ice can be purchased from the General Store.

DIRECTIONS
Google Maps • Mapquest • Bing Maps

DOGS See Main FAQ

DONATIONS
Why, yes—we do accept them, thanks for asking! Contributions to the Linda Bacon-Bass Send-A-Sister fund, which enables disadvantaged women to attend the Weekend, are always appreciated. See Donate page

DRUGS
Please note that illegal drugs are just that – ILLEGAL. Even though SisterSpace takes place in a private space, all federal and state laws still apply. Please leave the “stash” at home.

DRUMMING
We usually try to schedule some drumming workshops throughout the festival. If you have a drum, please bring it and join in. If you’d like to host a drumming workshop, please contact us.

EARLY ARRIVAL See Arrival

EARLY-BIRD
Sign up by June 15 for a big discount! But don’t worry, our regular prices are sliding scale, and include meals!  See Registration page

EARPLUGS
Bring some—just in case.

EMAIL
Click: email us. Or scroll down to the bottom of any page.

ENTERTAINMENT
See the homepage for more info.

FACEBOOK
Follow us! Click here.

FAMILY CAMPING
Cabins and tenting areas reserved for campers and their children.

FEES See Rates and Information page

FILMS
Videos are generally not shown during the overnight and early daytime  (2 a.m. – 4 p.m.) hours.

FOOD ALLERGIES/INTOLERANCES See Dietary Needs

FUN
You will have fun! It’s in the rules.

GATE REGISTRATION
Please call or email before registering at the gate to ensure that gate registration is available. Cash and credit cards will be accepted; we will not accept checks at the gate. In the event that cabin space is no longer available, please come prepared to tent. See registration page

GENERAL

CAMPING
“General” cabins and camping areas. Lights out/quiet after 1:00 a.m. nightly.

GENERAL STORE
A place to grab a snack, a beverage, and those odds and ends you forgot to pack (toothpaste, anyone?). Also the site for karaoke. See karaoke

GIVEAWAY TABLE
If you have women’s/lesbian/feminist books, movies, CDs or other small items to give away, please bring them and put them on our giveaway table in the back of the dining hall. Anything left will be donated after the festival to women’s/lesbian/feminist organizations. Please, no bulky or broken items.

HAUNTED
The White House is rumored to be haunted, and has been the subject numerous paranormal investigations. If you’d like to explore this topic further, here are a number of YouTube videos you can watch. Scary!

HOURS
The Festival opens on Friday at 10 a.m. and closes on Sunday at 5 p.m. Registration takes place on Friday only from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Registrations after 9 p.m. or on Saturday can be accommodated ONLY with advance notice.

IN-AND-OUT
Comings and goings are not permitted. We ask that campers remain on the land unless you have prior permission due to day passes or other residential arrangements – in other words, once you’re at the Festival and your car is parked, you’re there until you leave for good (for this year!). So, please make sure you have all supplies and necessary items before you arrive on land.

KARAOKE
In the General Store every night after the Night Stage ends. A very popular destination!

KIDS See Children

LATE DEPARTURES See Departures

LATE/”LAST CHANCE” REGISTRATION See Registration page

LOADING/UNLOADING
Although we do not allow campers to drive their vehicles into camp to load and unload their gear, there will be shuttle vans running on Friday and Sunday to transport women and their stuff to and from the general vicinity of their cabin or tenting area. However – unless you have a physical disability or special need, you will be ultimately responsible for getting your gear to your cabin or tent. Please keep this in mind when you pack for the Festival. We recommend that you bring a carry cart if you have lots of gear.

MASS TRANSIT We will run a shuttle from the Aberdeen, MD Amtrak station to the camp. Based on the Amtrak schedule, we will have our van at the terminal several times on Friday; pickup times will be listed in the letter acknowledging your registration. We will drop you off on Sunday between noon and 5 pm. Please try to schedule your arrival to meet one of the scheduled shuttles. If you miss the shuttle, call us at camp. If you are flying into BWI, take the Amtrak train to Aberdeen and we’ll pick you up from there.

MEALS
Meals include Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and an extended brunch on Sunday. A meal schedule and menu will be posted on this site before the Festival. Please note that we cannot serve meals outside of the scheduled times, and cannot accommodate special requests due to dietary concerns. See Dietary Needs

MEALTIME DISCUSSION GROUPS
In an effort to create opportunities for people to meet others with similar interests, issues, needs or concerns, a variety of networking groups have been established at meal times. Topics have included Marriage, Single Women, Parenting, Spirituality, Coming Out, Women of Color Forum, Radical Feminism, Love to Travel, Butch/Femme, Military/Ex-Military Women, and many others.

MEDICAL
Any medical emergencies/situations should be reported immediately to the Health Space or to Camper Services, who can contact the roving medical staff day or night.

MERCHANTS
SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival features a number of merchants and craftswomen in our Vendor Village. If you’re interested in vending, see the Vendor info page.

MOTELS See Off-Land Accommodations

NIGHT STAGE
Begins at 7:30 pm on Friday, 8 PM on Saturday

ODYQ
SisterSpace’s Intergenerational Forum (Old Dykes/Young Queers). Please join the discussion! Time TBD

OFF-LAND ACCOMMODATIONS
While we prefer campers to stay on the Land for the entirety of the weekend, we recognize that is not ideal for all attendees. Please contact us ahead of time if you will be seeking alternate accommodations so we can advise you on security and parking procedures.

OPEN MIC
If you enjoy dabbling in the performing arts, here’s your chance to share it! Sing a song, read your poetry, do stand-up—whatever it is you like to do.

PARKING
Your vehicle will be parked in the lot upon arrival at camp, and must remain there until your departure. There will be a special parking area for attendees who have received prior authorization to leave overnight (such as Day Pass holders, and those who live locally.) Only pre-authorized vehicles are allowed on land. Shuttles will help you get your gear from the parking lot to your cabin or campsite.

PETS
Sorry, but they aren’t permitted. Please don’t bring them, as you and your pets will be asked to leave. If you are traveling with your pet and need boarding info, you might try Hickory Animal Hospital in Maryland.

PHONE
SisterSpace’s phone number is (888) 294-1110. If you need to contact us after noon on the Thursday before the festival, please call the camp. (Registered attendees will be given the number to call.) We will also be checking email.

POOL
The camp features a large swimming pool, with plenty of chairs available for lounging poolside. Swimsuits are optional.

PRICING See registration page

PROGRAM ADVERTISING See Advertise Page

PUBLICITY Help us keep SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival going! If you can help spread the word, click here.

QUIET CAMPING
Cabins/tenting areas for the “early-to-bed” crowd. Lights out/quiet at 11:00 p.m. Note that although we’ve placed the quiet area as far away from the rowdies as possible, the camp is small enough that you might still be able to hear noise from other parts of the land. Earplugs are highly recommended if you really need your sleep.

READMISSION See In-and-Out

RECYCLING
We are pleased to announce our Green Team! The Green Team is tasked with creating and executing an environmental plan for the Weekend, which includes recycling management.

REFUNDS See Terms and Conditions on the Rates and Information page

REGISTRATION See the Registration page

ROWDY CAMPING
The rowdy cabins/camping areas are up and jumping 24/7.

RVs
RVs are permitted. Call or email us ahead to make sure there’s space. No hookups.

SATURDAY ARRIVALS
If you can only attend for a limited time, consider taking advantage of our new Saturday arrival option. Get there on Saturday, leave at any time between your arrival and Sunday at 5 p.m. See the registration page for more details.

SCHOLARSHIPS See Main FAQ

SEND-A-SISTER See Main FAQ

SERVICE DOGS Only service dogs as specified by Title II and Title III of the ADA will be allowed. https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/#definition-of-a-service-animal
Emotional support (Companion) animals or service dogs in training are not considered for entry under the ADA Title II and Title III as listed above.

SHUTTLE
The shuttle will help you get your gear from the parking lot to your cabin or campsite. If you’re arriving by plane or Amtrak, the shuttle can also pick you up from the airport or train station. See Mass Transit

SLIDING-SCALE
SisterSpace’s ticket prices operate on a “more if you can, less if you can’t” philosophy. Women who earn more are requested to pay higher admission fees than those who make less. We don’t check tax returns or W-2s to ensure that people are paying at the levels they’re supposed to; we instead rely on the honor system and hope that everyone is honest when assessing their fee category. See the Registration page

SMOKING
Smoking is permitted outdoors (except in Chem Free areas and during outdoor meals), and “butt cans” are positioned in many areas around the camp for smokers’ use. Note that there is NO SMOKING in the cabins or other buildings! The smoke detectors are very sensitive, and will automatically alert the fire department if triggered. Please don’t disrupt the Festival by calling the fire department! Additionally, smoking is not permitted in or near seating areas at performances.

SPECIAL DIETS See Dietary Needs

SPONSORS See Sponsorship page

SPORTS
The camp has tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, hiking trails, plus a ropes course. Feel free to also bring softball equipment as there is often a game or two scheduled. The sports schedule will be available at Camper Services at the Festival; other games may be added as space permits.

TENTING
We don’t provide tents, so be sure to bring your own unless you are RV’ing, or have reserved a cabin bed(s). Tents can be set up pretty much anywhere on the land; if you’d prefer a specific camping area (i.e., quiet, rowdy, etc.), ask the parking crew and they will direct you to the right place. There are several bathroom/shower facilities on the land reserved specifically for tenters.

TRANS QUESTIONS See Who Attends

TRANSPORTATION
For accessibility shuttles, see the Accessibility page; for plane and train info, see Mass Transit

TWITTER
Follow us: https://twitter.com/SSODV

VENDORS See Vendors page

VOLUNTEERS See Volunteers page

WHAT TO BRING See Main FAQ

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY See Main FAQ

HARRIET TUBMAN HOUSE
It is believed that the 1800’s-era house near the camp entrance was once a “safe house” stop on the Underground Railroad that assisted African-Americans escaping from slavery to get to the north. A tunnel (sealed off in the 1960s) led from the cellar of the house to an exit near the Mason-Dixon line, which was the boundary between slave states and freedom. Oh—and it might be haunted. See Haunted

WHO ATTENDS See Main FAQ

WORKSHIFTS
In the spirit of community, all women are asked to contribute 2 hours worth of work (your “workshift”) to SisterSpace Weekend. For more about workshifts and workshift refunds, see the Registraton page.

WORKSHOPS See Workshops

WRISTBANDS
Every registered attendee will receive a wristband and/or lanyard as proof of their admission, and it is required that you wear it the entire time you’re at the Festival. Wristbandless women will be asked to leave, as we will assume that you haven’t paid to attend.