Shield & Bow
September 11-14, 2025

No it is not. The entire space will be for our event.

The festival is completely run by volunteers. All staff, workshop hosts, security etc. are volunteers associated with the S and B community.

The festival has a tiered pricing system. You can find the information under Pricing here on the website in May 2025.

Please send us an email to shieldandbow@gmail.com and someone within 72hrs will get back to you.

Yes. This event is welcome to all 16+ who identify with womanhood and is not based on your spirituality.

Yes, OMG yes! The new location has many indoor locations. Many will be included in your festival fee and some will be available to rent ( such as cottages with bathrooms, electricity and heat). Details regarding indoor space can be found on our accommodations page and here in the FAQ under accommodations.

No. We encourage an environment where we do not build ourselves up by tearing others down. This type of behaviour will be kindly discouraged.

Each year, we get a range of attendees from 16-60+.

No, nothing for the event is mandatory. This is your festival experience, you may participate in as little or as much as you like.

Here is a list to get you started: An extra sleeping pad/mattress/foam etc. that can fit on top of a twin in case you don't like the mattress. WARM sleeping blankets. It can get surprisingly cold at night in September. Clean sleepwear Clothes for rain or shine. Layers are key depending on the year. Cotton soaks up water so keep that in mind when packing. Boots and/or closed toe shoes. Bathing suit Musical Instruments Towels Food Something to cook food on Toiletries. Small first aid kit that includes band-aids. Any medication you take. Flashlight Chair Bug spray A bag/cart to transport your belongings between event/workshop locations.

Yes! Smoking is allowed on-site BUT it will be limited to smoking sections. This will apply to smoking of any kind and vaping. But don't worry, it's smokers setting up the locations and they will be numerous.

Festival fees (excluding day pass holders) cover a bed in a bunkie, shower facilities and access to everything listed on the program. Some workshops have a small fee attached to help the hosts with costs (such as a felting workshop). This is rare and will be clearly defined in the program.

During Shield and Bow, no personal fires are allowed. We have communal sacred fires. Please do not throw anything into our fires without the express permission of our dedicated fire keepers.

The festival will be held September 11-14th, 2025.

Starting in 2025, we will have exclusive use of the space and it is extremely unlikely (but not impossible) that male identifying folks will be on-site.

Sisters helping Sisters is a program that helps with entry fees. The program was born in 2018 when another attendee donated two free entries. Since then, we have offered free entrances through this fund. Applications open June 20th and close July 1st at 11:00am. To apply, please send an email to shieldandbow@gmail.com with your name. No explanation for your need is necessary and the fund runs on the honour system. You will receive a reply email with a number. When the application time period closes, we run a live video with a random online generator on our socials and send an email to everyone who has applied. For 2025, the fund is open June 20- July 1st at 11:00am.

There is no ATM on site. Please bring cash.

There are no hydro sites at CLC for trailers. We will have charging stations, bunks and cottages with electricity.

Preregistration opens June 20th @ 11am EDT.

Absolutely. No matter where you are in your transition, you are welcome. If the statement that trans women are welcome bothers you, this event is not for you.

On our Facebook account in mid June, we start a ride share thread within the current year's event page. If you get a ride, please be on time and negotiate gas $.

The festival is held at Christie Lake Kids Campground just outside of Perth. Their address is 1264 Althorpe Road, Westport ON, K0G 1X0

Shield and Bow is a 16+ event. Children bring a lot of magic and joy into spaces, but this event is for us as individuals to relax and connect with other adults. Children or non attendees cannot be on-site for Shield and Bow 2025.

Pets are not allowed on-site. The only exception is licensed guide and therapy animals. You must contact us if you will bringing a service animal to S and B because of the sleeping accommodations. Service animals that are aggressive, unsafe or disruptive (lunging, snapping, excessive barking etc.) and their owners will be asked to leave without refund. Any damages caused by service animals will be charged directly to their owners. Service animals cannot be left unattended for any reason at any time while on site. Service animals that are left unattended and their owners will be asked to leave without refund.

No, there is no food sold on site.

We are not doing weekend rates this year because a bed will be reserved for you and that space will be yours whether you arrive Thursday or Friday.

Private cottages will be rented on a first come, first served basis. Cottage rentals open June 20th at 11:00am EST. Please send an email to shieldandbow@gmail.com to secure a space.

Festival fees (excluding day pass holders) cover a bed in a bunkie, shower facilities and access to everything listed on the program. Some workshops have a small fee attached to help the hosts with costs (such as a felting workshop). This is rare and will be clearly defined in the program.

Yes! Workshop hosts are guaranteed a bed space and tickets have been put aside for these sisters. Thank you for volunteering your time, energy and knowledge.

Day pass holders can be on-site from 9am-9pm. Please check in with reg once it opens.

Yes they are! The site can accommodate slightly over 200 indoors but that is if every bunk is filled top and bottom and if every cottage is rented. S and B will not be placing attendees on the top bunks but groups can request to have up to 7 in each bunkie and they can fill the top bunks in the cottages. Because we don't know how many may choose those options or how many private rentals will happen, we have a range for ticket sales. We also will not be filling the camp to capacity. We need time to learn the site and we want to preserve the atmosphere that is Shield and Bow. Therefore, we will be capping tickets somewhere in the range of 90-120. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis and go on sale June 20th at 11:00am EST.

Tickets range in price. Please see our Festival Fees 2025 page.

Yes! One bed space (standard size twin) will be reserved for you in one of the 20 bunkies on site as part of your festival pass. For more information, please visit our accommodations page and/or the accommodations FAQ.

During registration, you will be asked a series of questions to help find you the right bunkmates. The questions will be designed to pair you with folks who may have the same needs as you (such as a location closer to the washroom or a dedicated scent free cabin). Alternatively, there will be a section in the registration where you can indicate who you would like to bunk with. Bunkies can accommodate 7 but we recommend and will only be booking the bottom bunks unless requested.

For 2025, we have made the decision to not have tents or trailers on-site with the exception of one workshop host. Christie Lake Camp does not have trailer hook-ups. We do feel that there could be space for trailers and tents in the future but given that this is our first year on-site, we are concerned about selling those spaces and not being able to deliver what our sisters paid for. We hope that you understand and will still join us.

We will be grouping scent sensitive folks together and promoting a scent free/ no food environment within all the bunkies. With that said, we can not guarantee other attendees behaviour and we recommend having anti-histamines and your epi-pen with you. If you have serious, life threatening allergies please contact us.

Please don't do that. There is absolutely no smoking/vaping/eating or saining allowed in the bunkies or around them. We will have dedicated places to smoke (don't worry, it's smokers setting this up and we got you). For eating, folks are welcome to bring their dinners to the feast hall and use the tables/chairs there to eat.

Christie Lake Camp has 20 cabins (bunkies) made from concrete blocks on-site. The bunkies are clean, have a door, proper steel roofs, windows with screens and 3 bunkbeds and one bed in each. Each bunkie sleeps up to 7 (although we recommend 4 to accommodate for gear and will only be putting 7 into a cabin if requested). They do not have electricity.

Yes! One standard size twin bed in a bunkie will be reserved for you.

We got you. We are reserving bedspace aside for this very purpose. If you must change, we will switch you to that cabin. Please though do try to speak with your bunkmates and resolve the issue on your own before moving Please note that S and B staff will not get involved in any interpersonal conflict that arises.

The bunkies are grouped together with approximately half off the main road and half off of a foot path. Some bunkies are close to the washroom, some are closer to the main feast hall and some are along the lake (with some stunning views).

Yes! There are a limited amount of private cottages to rent on-site. Cottages will be rented first come, first served and will be processed by time and date on the emails sent. Some cottages have kitchens, bathrooms, electricity and private rooms. Some have private room but no electricity. Please see our accommodations page for more details.

Each bunkie sleeps up to 7 on three bunkbeds and one bed. We will not be assigning anyone the top bunks and will only do so if a group requests it because they want to be together.

Good news! We have a CPAP cabin booked just for you! Space in this cabin costs an extra $25 for the weekend and will give you access to one outlet. The CPAP cabin is close to the main feast hall and washrooms located in that building.

There are bunkies along the main road that can be driven directly to and have minimal barriers. Most bunkies have an approx. 1 inch step up into the space. There is no parking at the bunkies except during loading and unloading of your gear. No vehicles will be permitted to drive the site Friday and Saturday.

Yes! Starting this year, we will have a dedicated golf cart acting as a shuttle. The shuttle will run during the day and run from the parking lot to the Cpap cabin and then down to the lake. Please note that while we will do our best to help with shuttles, it is not a guaranteed service.

We're very sorry but given the location at a camp, there will be barriers present such as steps, hills, rocks and small lips into buildings.

Yes there is! Please advise registration when you arrive and they will put you in touch with the right folks.

Christie Lake Kids has a diverse landscape. There are sections with hills, rock outcroppings and mobility barriers. We are keeping accessibility in mind and workshop spaces and fires are in fully accessible locations. We will also have golf carts available to help with shuttles.

Yes and they are free. There are 12 showers divided into two sections. The shower building is beside the main washroom building but separate.

There is no public wifi available at the camp and cell phone reception is intermittent throughout the camp. The best cell reception is up by the road. We invite everyone to be in the moment for the weekend.

Yes there are. There are washrooms in the Feast Hall, multiple cottages (private rentals) and a main building off the main road. There are 20 stalls divided into two sections in this building.

We dance! But indoors, dry and warm. Christie Lake Camp has a main feast hall that we have rented which can accommodate up to 200 with break out space in the basement. We have also rented the Craft Hut which is a large indoor space with tables, chairs and electricity. The bunkies are also absolutely water tight and are not a concern.

Food service has not been a part of Shield and Bow to date. We encourage attendees to bring their kitchen set up and cook outdoors (there is space). Alternatively, we know some attendees who only bring precooked food for the weekend.

No it won't be but the beautiful city of Perth is 15 minutes down the road.

No, we will not be doing a food plan for this year but we are looking into options for 2026.

Yes it is. The main refill station will be in the feast hall. We have been advised by Christie Lake Camp that the water does contain a higher saline level (still potable though and tested regularly). Those with hypertension etc should bring drinking water. We will also be setting up some water stations.

No there are not.

Insurance must cover your goods/services and any people who are selling for you.

Please send us an email to shieldandbow@gmail.com and someone within 72hrs will get back to you.

Everyone who is assisting you or working in your booth.

Sorry, no.

For 2025, vending is free but you must be a paying attendee under the full festival rate. You cannot vend under a day pass.

Yes you do. Your insurance carrier and policy number must be provided during pre registration or at the time of your set up.

Yes, you need to pre register to vend. Pre registration is June 20th-August 1st.

No you cannot.

We will not be providing hydro or having hydro for vendors this year.

Vendors will be set up near the feast hall but we reserve the right to change that location based on the needs of the festival and vendors. The location will be finalized the week of the festival.