In Creatures of Castlefest we want to put the wondrous creatures, that are part of the world of Castlefest, in the spotlight. From visitor to entertainer, from exhibitor to volunteer. What moves them and which role does Castlefest play in their lives? This week: Linet, a longtime volunteer.
I have been going to Castlefest ever since the second edition, you could say that we have become a package deal together. To me, the atmosphere is what is most important about Castlefest and by now it feels like the people here around me have become my family. The atmosphere here is one where everyone can be him or herself and it is an atmosphere in which nothing is looked down upon (within reason of course). Currently, I am the coordinator of the Children Kingdom, it’s a volunteer team which I kind of got in to by chance.
A couple of years back I was helping one of the volunteers carrying some boxes to his car, after which he said something along the lines of 'wow you guys are great, have you registered for Castlefest to be a volunteer yet?' After that I became a volunteer and have never left. But outside of the volunteering work, I think my most special moment at Castlefest must have been the wicker burning of last year. That was the first time I ever offered something in the wicker as well as it being my first year of looking at it in a pagan way. I noticed that this one was particularly emotional for the people attending and it hit me quite hard as well. It was a beautiful thing to witness, to which I look back with fondness.
This article has previously been published on the Creatures of Castlefest Facebook page on August 16, 2016.
Article by: Maarten de Ruiter
Photo by: Coen Halmans
