Be sure to come prepared so that you may enjoy Beyond Yonder’s Mountain Herb Festival and Drum Circle to the fullest. The Mountain Herb Festival is a participatory community gathering based on respect for each other and the land we live upon. We come together as a family to celebrate our diversity as well as our common bonds.

Respect, Tolerance, and Leave No Trace are main tenants of The Mountain Herb Festival and any violation of those tenants may be grounds for expulsion from the event. Now on to the fun stuff!

What is there to do? Lots, including, but not limited to:

* Workshops, drumming, dancing, Woodland Fantasy Costume Contest, Possum Puckin' Tournament, sweatlodges, discussions, ceremonies, firespinning, singing, laughing, healing, & skill shares.

* And did we mention the campfires? BIG bonfires that burn all night. Swimming is available if you want to walk or drive to the lake (appr. 2 miles).

* Lots of fun & community food.

* Event continues even if it rains, so come prepared!


The Mountain Herb Festival is held at Beyond Yonder in Southeastern Kentucky surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest & Buckhorn Lake. Once you leave Hal Rogers Parkway, the drive-in will be slow and breathtaking! Slow down, watch for 4-wheelers, and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Site Crew, Set Up and Take Down

Preparations for a festival this size take time and volunteers. We need volunteers to help set up common-use facilities such as the outside kitchen, workshop areas, composting toilets, camping areas and fire areas. Volunteers are also needed during the break-down stage of the festival, also. Mowing, weedeating, and general prep work is usually completed the week prior to the event, and anyone wishing to come and help out would be greatly appreciated!!

We utilize composting toilets at the festival. The instructions are printed inside the toilets themselves and are very simple. If you have questions, please ask. These toilets use sawdust and if you have a supply and would like to donate to our composting system, that would be wonderful! Five gallon buckets w/lids are also always needed.

You will be asked to sign a waiver before entering the festival grounds. This waiver can be printed from the webpage and brought with you to the festival.

Stuff to Bring:

* Tents and camping gear
* Enough water for the entire weekend. There is no drinking water available onsite. 2 gallons/person/day is recommended.
* Flashlights. Always keep your flashlight with you at night, and use them.
* Bring proper clothes: Warm, cold, and wet weather clothes. Long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes are recommended if you’re concerned about biting and crawling things, ticks, and poison ivy. Insect repellent is a good idea, too.
* Eating utensils: Cups, and dishes, forks and knives etc. You are responsible for washing your own dishes. Pots and pans are provided but also wash your own.
* Toilet paper and non-toxic soap.
* Any materials you need to run a workshop of your choice.
* Toys, instruments, and costumes. DRUMS PLEASE
* Tea lights for the labyrinth and medicine wheel.
* Swim suit, if you plan to swim, inner tubes, rafts, lifejackets, canoes/kayaks. The area is also wonderful for 4-wheelers.

Drum Circle every night. USUALLY LASTS ALL NIGHT. We entertain each other till the wee hours. Jan and Ken Kirsch are our drum circle organizers.

If you are interested in playing music or putting together any special artistic endeavors (entertain us please), contact us.

We cook communally so bring food to share. You can also fix your own food at your campsite if you prefer. Crepes will be made and sold at specific hours of the day: Breakfast 8:00 am to 10:00 am.------Supper 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
We are on Hillbilly time so times can be erratic.

Communal Food Preparation

In order to continue to promote sustainability we use an open fire to prepare the food. We also have big propane burners in the outside kitchen. Everyone is welcome to prepare, and eat food together as a community. If you plan to eat with the community, also plan to bring something to contribute to the community. A very special thank you to all of those who donated food last year! Please remember to bring enough food to share.

Food Wish list

* Fruit
* Tofu and Tempeh
* Cooking Oil
* Lentils & Beans
* Vegetables and salad fixin’s
* Meat for you carnivores
* Jam and Peanut Butter
* Maple Syrup and Honey
* Brown Rice & Other Grains
* Whole Wheat or Buckwheat Pancake mixes
* Oats & Breakfast cereals
* Soymilk
* Bread
* Coffee and Tea* Nuts and Seeds
(Linda made this list! Some of us still enjoy junk food and sugary stuff...so ya'll can bring some of that, too!!! We just won't tell Linda!)

Call Linda 606-672-6444 or e-mail us for more details. 

Call Kim 606-672-6203 or e-mail us for more details.