Dances, Workshops, Sports, Headliners!
15th Anniversary CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST Registration Begins Feb. 20!
With nationally known headliners, workshops, dances and sports events, Rehoboth Beach is getting set for one of the largest women’s FESTivals in the mid-Atlantic region.
Registration begins Feb. 20 for Women’s FEST 2015, April 9-12 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. FEST Passes and individual event tickets are available at camprehoboth.com. The FEST Pass is the exclusive gateway to FESTival workshops and other pass-holder benefits—there are a finite number sold, so don’t wait!
Presenting sponsors Olivia Travel and The Atlantic Sands Hotel and Conference Center join CAMP Rehoboth in welcoming over 2,300 women from the mid-Atlantic region to downtown Rehoboth Beach for four days of sensational entertainment, dances, sports events, informative workshops, and much more.
On the heels of last year’s record-breaking event, this year’s Women’s FEST is headlined by the Queer Queens of Qomedy featuring Poppy Champlin, Jessica Kirson and Mimi Gonzalez on Friday, April 10. Legendary performance poetry artist C.C. Carter holds down the Saturday spotlight. Joining Carter will be well-known singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist Nedra Johnson.
Signature FEST events include a kick-off welcome party on Thursday, April 9 with Viki Dee and DJ Nan, featuring the launch celebration for Tagg Rehoboth magazine, who also sponsors the dance, and Sue Fortier Photography is providing a free photo booth for capturing the special fun of the evening.
Dances
Not to be outdone, the famous Ladies 2000 dance party will be back on Saturday, April 11. Voted as one of the ten best parties in the United States for women by Planet Out, the Ladies 2000 dance rocks! Additional Women’s FEST entertainment will include live performances by women’s vocal ensemble SheWho, veteran folk/pop singer-songwriter Julie Clark, and Christine Havrilla.
Workshops
At the heart of the FEST are diverse, interactive workshops, including women in politics (with DE State Senator Karen Peterson), weight control strategies, author readings, plus LesBe Real Radio Talk presenting a session on understanding relationship building strategies, and much more!
This year’s FEST EXPO will take on a whole new look, and will be bigger than ever. Held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center from 9-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, the EXPO features dozens of artisans displaying and selling original creations, award-winning authors signing books, live entertainment, and frequent drawings for free gifts. Admission to the EXPO is free and the entire community is encouraged to join the fun!
Sports
Sporting events are always popular at Women’s FEST. Corn Hole and Pickleball tournaments are scheduled, as well as a Golf Outing, Indoor Tennis, and a casual guided bike ride that will take participants on the newly expanded Cape Henlopen State Park trail. This year’s sporting event sponsors include Diane Scobey (Pickleball tournament), and Barbara Thompson, Lana Warfield, Realtor, and The Keating Group at Morgan Stanley (golf outing).
Headliners
The Queer Queens of Qomedy, sponsored by Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley, take the stage on Friday, April 10 at 8 p.m. Producer and internationally known comedian, Poppy Champlin artfully selects the “best of the best” lesbian comics from across the country to join her at each venue. For Women’s FEST, we welcome The Queer Queens of Qomedy featuring Poppy Champlin, Jessica Kirson, and Mimi Gonzalez.
Poppy Champlin is one of the quickest witted comedians working either coast today and a crackerjack at the craft of Improv. She is a powerful performer who can glide between practiced patter and off the cuff insightful improvisations.
Jessica Kirson’s unique style and charismatic stage presence captures the attention of audiences everywhere she performs. Her wide variety of characters brings a diverse energy to her routine. She was awarded “Best Female Comic” by the MAC association in New York City, and she recently accepted the Nightlife Award for “Best Stand-up Comedian” in New York City.
Mimi Gonzalez is an Ohio-born, Michigan-raised, Cuban-Italian American with a professional comedic career spanning almost two decades. There’s nowhere she won’t go to make you laugh, including Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan to entertain the US military. Mimi is a road-tested, high-octane comedian who takes the audience on a wild ride from the profound to the profane.
Tickets for The Queer Queens of Qomedy show will be available at camprehoboth.com beginning Feb. 20, and the entire community is invited to enjoy these hilarious comics. ASL interpretation will be provided by Susan Morissette.
Legendary performance poetry artist C.C. Carter will take the stage on Saturday, April 11. C.C. has created and maintained several traditions in the poetry community, including national and local poetry slams for people of color, and the women of color night at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse.
Singer/songwriter Nedra Johnson will join Carter for the Saturday evening performance. Honest in integrity to the music as well as the lyrical content, each of Nedra’s songs is a testimony of her experience as a black, openly lesbian woman in love, spirituality, community and/or politics. The evening’s entertainment is sponsored by LesBe Real Radio Talk, with ASL interpretation provided by Susan Morissette. This performance is also open to the entire community.
CAMP Rehoboth is pleased to welcome back Olivia Travel as a Women’s FEST 2015 presenting sponsor. Olivia is generously donating a premier destination vacation that will be auctioned before The Queer Queens of Qomedy show on Friday, April 10. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.
CAMP Rehoboth welcomes the Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center as a Women’s FEST 2015 presenting sponsor, and has declared it the “Host Hotel of Women’s FEST 2015.”
The Atlantic Sands Hotel and Conference Center is offering all Women’s FEST attendees a 20% discount off of standard overnight room rates for the period April 8-12, with no minimum stay requirements. To reserve a room, women planning to attend the FEST must call 800-422-0600 and mention Women’s FEST to receive the discount. Web reservations, or calls to any other Atlantic Sands Hotel telephone numbers do not qualify for the Women’s FEST discount.
Women’s FEST would not be complete without the 4th annual Broadwalk on the Boardwalk, a fundraising event benefitting the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition that is hosted by CAMP Rehoboth. The Broadwalk commemorates those who have lost their battle with cancer, celebrates those who are surviving cancer, and educates others.
Broadwalk on the Boardwalk participants will convene at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 12 in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, 37 Baltimore Ave., for complimentary coffee, music, and conviviality. The Broadwalk will commence in front of CAMP Rehoboth promptly at 10 a.m., and end on the beach with a brief but poignant ceremony. Come pretty in pink, or lovely in lavender! Everyone is invited—including polite dogs!
The four day FESTival winds down on Sunday afternoon with a special brunch at the Cellar Door Restaurant, sponsored by the Atlantic Sands Hotel and Conference Center, followed by a Women’s FEST closing party at the Rehoboth Ale House. For more information on the Women’s FEST Sunday Jazz Brunch email Cellar Door Restaurant.
Whether it’s the entertainment, the Ladies 2000 T-dance, the sporting events, or the workshops, there is something for everyone at the 2015 CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST.
CAMP Rehoboth’s Women’s FEST is making history as the premier spring destination for women wanting to come together in spirit and community, seeking fun, education, entertainment, and enriching life experiences. To see the comprehensive Women’s FEST schedule and to register beginning Feb. 20, visit CAMP Rehoboth’s website at camprehoboth.com.
Women’s FEST is a program and annual fundraiser benefitting the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community service organization dedicated to creating a more positive environment in Rehoboth Beach and its related communities. CAMP Rehoboth has served the Rehoboth area LGBT community for 25 years. (Donations to CAMP Rehoboth are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.)