By: Alison Mercedes Manno

With all the hype and hoopla of bigger festivals, it can get physically and mentally tiresome. So if you’re looking for a weekend of relaxation, healing, art, and don’t forget the music, I’ve got the getaway for you: Unifier.

Set in Lebanon, CT, Camp Laurel is spreads over 380 acres of woodlands and hills, and features a gorgeous lake. Unifier will take over Camp Laurel from June 5^th-8^th, transforming the green rolling hills, and its attendees, together.

Unifier says it best, “We’re unplugging in the day and amping up at night.” And from the looks of it, they are doing just that. A festival that focuses on transformational healing and expressive arts can indeed get down. Ott, Phutureprimitive, and Kaminanda are bringing their music to Camp Laurel along with many other DJs and live artists.

Not only is the music lineup stellar, but the list of activities is something to marvel over, too. Unifier brings together the artists who are not only good at what they do, but burn with passion they want to share with others. From live painting, canoeing, and organic food to ceremonies with monkey chants, fires until dawn, and circus performers, Unifier is guaranteed to transform you and heal you in all the right ways.

Music

Nowadays you hear ‘festival’ and you automatically think music. Unifier Festival’s combination of DJs, producers, and live performers is sure to fulfill your musical craving. With over 30 musical artists performing multidimensional tracks that range from electronic to reggae to spiritual live instrumentals, Unifier is not one to miss. The Human Experience, Janover & reSUNator, Niyaz feat. Azam Ali, Charles Neville & Youssoupha Sidibe, Brenda McMorrow and John de Kadt, Sorne, and the SOIL & the SUN are among the musical artists gracing Unifier and its attendees.

Art

What festival is complete without visual artists displaying their wares? Unifier Festival brings together artists of all sorts from around the globe. Artists will be sharing their talents throughout the grounds all weekend long!

Preview the lineup of visual artists here: http://unifierfestival.com/2013/11/334/.

Yoga

Yoga, known for its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, is making its way into festivals left and right. So it’s no surprise Unifier has a lineup of yogis ready to spread the good word to all that enter Camp Laurel. With over 10 yoga workshops planned for the weekend, there will be plenty of yoga to go around. Look for Leslie Salmon Jones’ Afro Flow Yoga, Brian Lam’s Kula-Celebrating Community with Acroyoga, and Coeli Marsh’s Slow Flow & Deep Release workshops.

For more detailed information about each workshop offered click here http://unifierfestival.com/category/yoga/.

Activities

For those making their way to Camp Laurel, there will be plenty to keep you transforming and expressing yourself all weekend long. For starters, Unifier dancers like April Rose, Deb Rubin, and Sera Solstice are bringing their talents through workshops for attendees.

Musical artists, visual artists, yogis, and dancers are surely not the only the only ones who can teach us something about seeing the world in a new light. Unifier teachers are specially selected to teach workshops on anything and everything healing. Many of the artists, dancers, and yogis intertwine these teachings into their workshops. Chris Berry is a Grammy award winning singer and songwriter, who will not only be performing live music, but also teaching his values learned from his journeys around the world. If you’re not inspired to better yourself yet, then here’s something more for you.

We’ve all heard the saying “Keep the Earth Clean” or age-old “Save the Planet.” There’s something more to it then just saying you’ll protect the Earth, you have to act on your contribution to this planet. Starhawk, Nate Hogen (Nature Dreamweaver), Bill Pfeiffer, Angela Roell, Reed Burnam, and Ilana Sobo will teach attendees their passion for the Earth and sustainable ways to live in harmony.

Magical weekends require magic right? Well, even if that isn’t the case, Unifier does have it all. Starhawk is making another appearance on the list of miscellaneous magic happening at Unifier. Grady Cousins, who runs a workshop inspired by the interlocking vocal rhythms of Baliense Kecak (Monkey Chant), Sound Healing Sanctuary which focuses on sound healing, and Lina Melín, a tarot reader,are all among the magic featured at Unifier. Unifier Circus Folk will enhance the magical experience through various visuals, exercises, and workshops. http://unifierfestival.com/category/talent/circus-folk/ will give you a list of the talent to see.

To enhance the magic of the weekend, Forestdance and its creator, Jason Cohen, are bringing the passion to Unifier. The All Night Sacred Fire Circle Ceremony is an all night healing and expressive arts fire circle ceremony that goes from midnight until dawn. Dance out your energy, dance out your troubles, dance through your bliss, whatever it is, this ceremony—among others—is sure to break you open and put you back together renewed and full of life.

Children are definitely welcome at Camp Laurel and there are activities to teach, inspire, and occupy the younger ones. Shiva Shakti Hoop Dance will teach various classes on hula hooping. Whether it’s games, tricks, or techniques, the flow will create endless possibilities for children (adults are welcome too!). Andres Doxer, Dr. Joe Breton, The Whirlygigs, and Kayla “Maple” Steen: Buddhaplasm Designs are some of the additional workshops available for children to release their creative talents.

A daily schedule of all things happening at Unifier has been posted http://unifierfestival.com/activities-by-day/.

Remember that some of these require tickets to attend. These workshops are a few extra pennies but are so worth it! To make sure you can attend your favorite workshop, check out the ticketing page (listed below).

Tickets & Camping

Unifier’s 3rd Tier Full Event Pass (with camping) are going for $205, but get yours soon as this is only available until May 30th! Itching to get your weekend started? Thursday Early Arrival Passes cost $40. For those who can’t stay all weekend, but still want to experience the healing, Day Passes (no camping included) are for sale with each day going for $60 per ticket. Walk In Full Event Passes will go for $225 and Walk In (Single) Day Passes will be raised to $75.

If camping isn’t your thing, Platform Tents are running around $100 and Cabin Passes are available for $800.

Kids of all ages are welcome for the weekend. Children’s Tickets (12-16 years old) cost $50 and those under 12 get in for free, but you must register for a ticket on their website!

Be sure to check out Unifier’s ticketing page for tickets to special offerings such as Starhawk: Permaculture Intensive, a workshop focused on ecological and permaculture design and the connection to spirituality.

All tickets are available for purchase at http://unifierfestival.com/music-festival-tickets.