Sassafras Grove Beltane Rite and Festivities Honoring Aphrodite

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Festivities Begin at 1:00 pm; Ritual at 3:30 pm

East Rise Grove, South Park

 

Please join Sassafras Grove in celebrating Beltane with our annual Rite and Community Picnic to be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the East Rise Grove in South Park. We welcome all Pagans and Pagan-friendly people to join us for one of the Pittsburgh Pagan Community’s longest-running traditions. This will be an all-day event with feasting, festivity, and family fun!

Our rite honors Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, sex, beauty, seduction, and happiness. As we celebrate the true height of Spring in bloom, we ask for Aphrodite’s blessings to ignite the flames of passion within ourselves.

​ Come to dance the Maypole and celebrate!​

​Once again w​e will be doing a ticketed, a silent and a live auction so you have three ways to get some fantastic ​goodies!  Our auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year (our events cost money to run!) and always has awesome items, handcrafted and otherwise, for bid and raffle.

​After the auction, stay for the bonfire and drum circle and enjoy the fellowship!

Schedule for the day is basically as follows (start time of ritual is firm):

1:00 PM:  All arrive for the merriment!
1:00-2:30 – Flower Crown making, Auction trolling, Kids’ activities

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Short workshop on Aphrodite and our ritual theme
3:00 PM – Crowning of May King/Queen and ritual briefing
3:30 PM – Ritual & Maypole Dance
5:00 (ish) – Potluck picnic
5:30 (ish) – Raffle and Live Auction
After Raffle and Auction: Fire and drum circle!

 

​You May Want to ​Bring:​

*Flowers and ribbons to share for making flower crowns

*An offering for Aphrodite. Some appropriate offerings include (but are not limited to) apples and other fruits, flowers, incense, essential oils, wine, cider, sweets, stones and gems, music, dance, poetry, and beautiful works of art
*A potluck dish for all to share.

*Alcohol is ok for 21+ but please NO GLASS containers per park rules.
*Camp chairs and blankets
*Musical instruments and drums

​*Cash or check for the raffle, auction, and new Sassafras Grove Beltane shirts we’ll have for sale!​

Festive dress is encouraged but not required! For ideas on authentic Hellenic wear check out http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/things/romanlife/greekdress.htm.

Directions:

FROM THE NORTH
1.  Follow Rt. 51 South to Rt 88 – turn right onto Rt 88
2.  Follow Rt 88 for approx. 3.7 miles.
3.  Turn Left onto Broughton Road (There is a Walmart on your right and a consignment shop on your left, diagonally – 2nd light of this intersection)
4.  Follow Broughton Road approx. 1.3 miles to East Park Drive (this is the park entrance – on your right).
5.  Turn Right then BEAR LEFT IMMEDIATELY, following East Park Drive.
6.  East Rise grove sign will be on your right, immediately following will be the driveway that goes down the hill to the parking lot.

This is the easiest way to get to the site without winding through the park and getting lost

You may also follow Rt 51, turn Right onto Brownsville Road, Straight onto Baptist Road, Left onto Broughton Road, approx. .1/2 mile to East Park Drive.

FROM THE SOUTH
Rt. 51 North to turn left at Brownsville Road, go Straight onto Baptist Road, Left onto Broughton Road, approx. 1/2  mile to East Park Drive.

From Corrigan Drive in South Park (from Rt 88 if you don’t turn left onto Broughton Road), enter park on Corrigan, 100 Acre Drive will be on your left (across from large parking lot on your right).  Turn left on 100 Acre Drive.  Follow 100 Acre past 100 Acre Manor (the castle/haunted attraction there on your right).  Drive up the hill, bearing to your right.  Turn right onto East Park Drive.  East Rise grove is on your right, per above.

Park Map:  http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/maps/SouthPark1.pdf
East Rise is across from C on the map.

There is no cost to attend our rites and events, but we do rely on donations to help us cover the cost of space rental and supplies. If you can, please support your local Druids!

*Center for Victims is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and support services to families who have been impacted by all forms of violent crimes.  We are collecting supplies for the children’s therapy program which will directly benefit children who have been impacted by crime including homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, community violence, etc.

Most needed items:

**Journals must not contain metal (i.e. no spiral bindings).  Black and white “composition books” are especially useful.

**Craft masks you can decorate.  They’re plain white and you can paint on them.  (They help kids show their feeling faces).

Additional items:

Fancy and fun pens to use with the journals (like gel pens)

Glue sticks

Crayons

Markers

Construction paper

Watercolor paints/watercolor paint pads