Festival F.A.Q.

    General Festival Questions

    The O+ festival takes place in beautiful Kingston, NY,  the ancestral lands of the Munsee Lenape People every October during Indigenous People’s Weekend (the first weekend in October). The festival spans multiple venues across both Midtown and Uptown Kingston. You can check out the 2023 Program/Map here.

    We are following all state and local guidelines regarding Covid-19. At this time there are no vaccine, testing, or mask mandates for events of this nature in Ulster County, but we will continue to monitor any changes in guidance based on local transmission levels. Many O+ events take place outside, but please be aware that some indoor venues, the Artists’ Clinic, or ExplO+re Wellness programs may require attendees to wear masks.  

    We politely suggest self-testing ahead of the festival and ask that all participants and attendees use good judgment; if you are experiencing symptoms associated with Covid-19 oror have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 within 14 days of the start of the event, please stay home in order to protect others in our community. Illness-related refund requests received in advance will be honored.

    We also encourage everyone to respect each other’s boundaries with regard to distancing and masks.

    Kingston offers many great options for dining, nightlife, lodging, and other activities. Here are a few websites with more resources to help you plan your visit:

    Many events at O+ are family-friendly (including pets); however, not all venues allow pets and not all events may be appropriate for children, and alcohol may be present at some venues or locations. Dogs should be on a leash and under your control at all times, and children under 14 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Certified service animals and ESA animals are allowed throughout the festival. The ADA requires the animal to be under the control of the handler at all times.

    • All of O+ Festival’s primary venues – including myriad outdoor venues as well as The Old Dutch Church, Keegan Ales, Rough Draft, YWCA, and Good Work Institute  –  are ADA-accessible. Volunteers are available on-site to offer support and direction as well as indicate the nearest accessible restrooms. 
    • Please be aware that Kingston sidewalks can be hit or miss in terms of easy maneuvering. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from anyone in an O+ shirt/name tag on festival weekend.
    • There will be amplified music at each venue; though we will attempt to have ear plugs on hand but please consider bringing your own. 
    • Some venues may have light projections or visual displays  – please see the Festival schedule for more information to help plan accordingly.

    Tickets

    You can buy a wristband (which gives you access to all events and shows during the festival) in a couple of ways:

    • Purchase in advance via opositivefestival.org/wristbands and pick up wristbands during the festival at Will Call/HO+me Base, located at 52 Main Street
    • Buy your wristband in person during the festival at any one of these locations:
      • HO+me Base,, 52 Main Street 
      • InfO+ tent at the corner of Wall & Front Street
      • Keegan Ales, 20 St. James Street
    • Wristbands are available for $75 for access to the full weekend of programming. Single Day tickets are between $30-$50 per day.  We will also have wristbands available on a sliding scale during the festival. Visit any of our ticketing location for more information.
    • Students with valid ID can purchase a three-day wristband at a 50% discount. To buy a student wristband online, email us at info@opositivefestival.org for more details. To buy a student wristband in person, make your way over to O+ Headquarters (52 Main Street in Kingston) and show us your ID.
    • If you would like to attend but are deterred by financial resources, you can register for a Community Wristband by reaching out to O+ directly at info@opositivefestival.org.

    Students access the festival at half price for the weekend. ALL students must show valid student ID  to acquire their discounted wristband.

    Hell yes! We believe that everyone should have access to the healing power of art and music. Reach out to us at info@opositivefestival.org for more information.

    If you would like to attend but are deterred by financial resources, you can register for a free 3-day wristband by reaching out to O+ directly. We believe that everyone should have access to the healing power of art and music and will provide you with a promo code. To access the festival at no cost, add a Community Partner wristband to your cart and enter the promo code we provide at checkout. Community tickets will also be made available through local community partners like YMCA, YWCA, Good Work Institute, Radio Kingston, and more. Email us at info@opositivefestival.org for more details.

    Revenue from ticket sales goes directly back into the festival and helps fund a variety of programs and projects. A few examples of things that ticket sales supports include:

    • Medical and Dental Supplies
    • Music and Art Production Costs 
    • ExplO+re Wellness programming for the public
    • Permits and registration fees
    • Equipment rentals
    • Event insurance
    • Materials and supplies

    Since wristband sales are a suggested donation to O Positive Festivals, Inc., a 501 © (3) non-profit organization,  we typically do not provide refunds for wristband sales. If there are duplicate purchases, unintended quantities purchased, or an illness that prevents you from attending O+ Festival we will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis. 

    We encourage you to consider donating unwanted wristbands to our Community Wristband Fund to ensure access to the festival weekend for community members who are unable to meet the suggested donation price. To inquire please email us at info@opositivefestival.org. 

    About O+

    During the submission process each year we ask festival participants to let us know what types of health and wellness services they might need or be interested in, and then we try our best to find the right providers and specialists to staff the Artist’s Clinic. The O+ Artists’ Clinic provides no-cost services from 90-150 providers from all health and wellness modalities. During festival weekend, all participants and volunteers are able to access the Artist’s Clinic, where a nurse helps them navigate the various services, set up appointments for off-site services (like dental work), and fill out the appropriate paperwork.

    We offer a variety of wellness classes and services to attendees and members of the public through our ExplO+re Wellness program. The O+ Artist’s Clinic is a separate program available to O+ Festival participants and volunteers only.

    To learn more and sign up to volunteer with O+ visit opositivefestival.org/volunteer

    Volunteers who work two 4-hour shifts during, or in preparation for, the O+ Festival Weekend receive one service in the Artists’ Clinic, as well as access to meals and beverages in the complimentary Green Room throughout the weekend, and a volunteer t-shirt.

    There are many ways to support O+! For more information on donations, volunteering, or partnering with us, click here.

    Artist/Performer Questions

    Submissions for the 2024 festival will open in spring – stay tuned to our website and socials or sign up for our newsletter for more information and updates.  If you have questions about the submission process or how to apply for the 2024 festival, drop us a line at info@opositivefestival.org.

    • Art submissions include (but are not limited to) 2D or 3D visual art, large-scale murals, sculpture, temporal work, installation, film, animation, projections, theater, dance, and performance in public spaces to transform the city into a shared art experience.
    • Music at O+ Festival is a cross-genre experience and any/all styles of musical performance are encouraged to apply. All sounds and musicians are welcome!

    Submitting your work to O+ Festival is free. Please do not let any barriers – personal, perceived, or technical – get in the way. If you need support of any kind to apply, reach out to us for assistance at info@opositivefestival.org or call (845) 399-5343.

    Artists, musicians, and writers are compensated primarily through the exchange of their craft for health care (3 services per person, ranging from dental and optometry to complementary care such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and much more.) A travel stipend may be offered to selected participants to compensate for expenses and/or accommodations may be offered or subsidized. All artists, musicians, writers, comedians, and volunteers have access to greenroom hospitality (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages), throughout the weekend as well as complimentary wristbands so that they can enjoy the full spectrum of programming.

    Festival alumni seeking more information or resources can get in touch with our team by filling out this form or emailing us at info@opositivefestival.org.

    Healthcare services look a bit different each year depending on the needs of our participants, but some types of services include:

    • Primary care
    • HPV/Cervical cancer screening
    • Dental care
    • Reiki
    • Massage
    • Acupuncture
    • Herbal medicine
    • Mental health services
    • Chiropractic care
    • Dermatology
    • Physical Therapy
    • Naturopathy 

    No, but we do prioritize Hudson Valley-based participants and at least 50% of our musical acts are from the region.