Yes! Everyone is welcome here!! Heartland Hangout is for people wanting to learn more about the handpan, who wish to grow & gather in community. Even if you have never played a handpan before in your entire life, you can join us! You will have the opportunity to learn directly from other handpan players, level up your skills, play numerous unique handpans & listen to amazing musicians. Workshops indicate if they are suited for beginning or intermediate players.

Choose your own adventure!! While it’s recommended to bring your personal handpan to a gathering, let’s be real, travel options don’t always support it!

It’s ideal for people attending Heartland Hangout to bring a handpan (or two, if convenient), BUT there will totally be extra handpans available to use, and some available to buy. There are going to be so many handpans you won’t be able to pick which one you want to play. A Clusterf*ck of Handpans.

We respectfully share and care for each other and our instruments.

Yes, partners are welcome to join. Individual tickets are required. To honor the energy of organizing, we have a strict no refund policy in place.

One intention of Heartland Hangout is to gift oneself time and space for personal growth and relaxation. Children are the seeds of our future, and we cherish them. We also encourage you to take this time for yourself to receive everything this event has to offer. Children (18 years or younger) are welcome to join daytime activities. However, children will not be able to stay overnight in the castle.

We hope to have day passes available in August, and will know more then. Parents are welcome to buy a day pass for children and join for a day, buy a camping pass and camp on the grounds, or buy a camping pass and stay in a nearby hotel.

Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed at Stronghold castle. Service dogs who are trained to support an individual with a disability are allowed, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need reasonable accommodations for you and your service animal, please contact us.

SMOKING is not allowed indoors or within 20 feet of any building. Smoking outdoors and away from buildings is permitted. Use your discretion, be kind, and please practice “Leave No Trace” principles.

ALCOHOL: Yes, you may bring alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) for responsible consumption.

Please practice “Leave no Trace” principles!!!

AKA: Don’t make someone else clean up yo’ stuff ;-)

In 1929, Walter Strong, the owner/publisher of the Chicago Daily News built Stronghold Castle in a Tudor Style. We think it’s a pretty cool castle.

Tickets include attendance for all workshops, performances and jams on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, select accommodations, meals (Friday breakfast through Sunday lunch), access to purchase raffle tickets. TICKET SALES END: Sept 2nd… No Exception!!!

info coming soon

more info coming soon!

We will have coffee, tea, water, and a rotating spread of tasty snacks available in the Stronghold Castle kitchen throughout the event.

Meals are included in the ticket price. Breakfasts and lunches are served at the Stronghold Cafeteria, a 5 minute walk through the woods from the Castle. Dinners are served in the castle. Meal-times are:

• 8am – Breakfast

• 12:30pm – Lunch

• 6:00 pm - Dinner

There is no food service on Thursday. Please make your own arrangements for dinner on Thursday, Sept 17th.

STRONGHOLD KITCHEN: There is a kitchen in Stronghold Castle with a microwave, refrigerator, stove and range, and limited pots, pans, and dishes. You are welcome to bring your own food and make your own meals. And do your own dishes. Unwashed dishes are given to the trolls.

FOOD ALLERGIES & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

Please share any dietary needs when you register. If you have a specific requirement, contact us and we will discuss with the caterer. We can accommodate most needs including:

• Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Diabetic, etc

• Food Allergies: Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Soy, Wheat (but please be aware that these foods are used in the kitchen at Stronghold)

The alternate meal form needs to be filled out 2-weeks prior to gathering for any special dietary needs.

Yes! We will have strong cellular access throughout the event and all of the buildings are equipped with WiFi, excluding the Isthmus Center. There is no wifi in the moat. The trolls block it.

There is no moat.

There are no trolls.

• Campers and visitors must check in at the Brubaker Center prior to entering the campground.

• Check in time is to be discussed prior to arrival.

• Check out time is 4pm.

• Quiet time is 11pm-7am. Disorderly conduct and unreasonable noise is not allowed.

• Electrical outlets at the shower house are not to be used for cooking with electrical appliances. No exceptions.

• Trash is to be placed in the dumpster at the end of every day. Dumpster is located opposite the shower house. There is no site trash pick-up.

• Fires are to be in the fire rings at your site.

• Some firewood is provided as you arrive if more is needed firewood must be purchased On-site. You may purchase firewood in advance when you make your reservation and it will be waiting at your site. The cost is $10.00 per bundle of 14 pieces

• Please leave trolls at home

• Smoking is not allowed in the shower house, on the trails, or in the woods

• Possession of firearms, fireworks, and hunting or trapping are prohibited

• No off-road vehicles, horses, etc. are permitted on Stronghold property. You must have a valid driver's license to drive on Stronghold property.

• Please observe the 10mph speed limit in the campground and the 15mph on the remainder of the property.

• Any camper who violates these rules may be asked to leave without a refund

There are hotels in the nearby communities of Byron, Oregon, Rochelle, Dixon and Rockford, Illinois. Hotels are 20 to 40 minute drive from Stronghold Center. If you wish to stay in a hotel and attend Heartland Hangout, you must purchase a No Lodging Pass (which doubles as our General Admission weekend pass).

• While we all hope for an stretch of Indian Summer temps, dress accordingly! Bring warm clothes and supplies for the weather!

• Bring you, your handpan(s), a notebook and pen to keep track of all you have learned.

• Please bring a reusable vessel for beverages. We are trying to minimize garbage, so no disposable cups or single-use beverages will be provided.

• The Rock River is near Stronghold. Weather permitting the Stronghold Pool will be open for swimming! Bring your bathing suit if you want a swim…or a cold plunge!! The river and pool are not monitored, so be mindful of your own safety!!

• A flashlight or head lamp.

• CASH for raffle tickets

If you buy a camping pass, you will need to bring everything you need to sleep comfortably outdoors. There is a shower and toilets available at the campsite and in Stronghold castle. The campsites are a 10-minute walk from the castle.

If you buy a Bunk Room or Semi-Private room pass, you will receive a pillow, blanket, two sheets, a towel and a washcloth. You are welcome to bring more bedding or towels for your warmth and comfort. The Stronghold Castle stays toasty warm throughout the year.

Transportation is not provided.

Please join the Heartland HangOut Facebook event page to connect and coordinate travels with other Heartlanders.

The Stronghold Center address is

1922 IL-2 N, Oregon, IL 61061

→ view Google Map

Here are the nearest airports (by proximity):

• Chicago Rockford International Airport (IL) ~ 30m

• Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field(Madison, WI) ~ 1hr 30m

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IL) ~ 1hr 30m

• Chicago Midway (IL) ~ 1hr 45m

There is no shuttle service to the event! Please follow our FB event page, or join our WhatsApp rideshare group, as these are the best place to connect and coordinate travels with other humans in attendance.

#1 Recommendation:

Ray’s Bucktown Bed & Breakfast
2144 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60647

Phone: (773) 384-3245
Call them direct and mention Heartland Handpan Hangout!

If you have to stay over before/after the gathering, we recommend Ray’s! We don’t get anything for recommending them, the’re just a legit Bed & Breakfast and their brekky is off the hook!

Ray's unique Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Chicago's Bucktown/Wicker Park/Logan Square neighborhood welcomes everyone. Modeled after small European hotels and hostels, the Bed and Breakfast has 11 rooms, all with their own private bathrooms.

• They serve delicious cooked-to-order breakfasts

• Kid friendly

• Dog friendly

• Enjoy the dry & wet Saunas for free

Please note that Stronghold Castle is not ADA Compliant. The castle has entryway barriers, manual doors, and stairs. Stairs up to the 3rd and 4th floors can be challenging for individuals with limited mobility. Bathrooms have showers with 2 inch entry edges, and lack grab bars or roll-under sinks.

We are sorry for any inconvenience, and thank you for understanding.

The average September temperature can vary between 80°F and 40°F.

The best we can say is that it’s a humid environment, may be a perfect fall weekend, may be chilly or precipitate.

Stay up to date with NOAA weather info here.

It takes a village to create events and we value your support. There will be volunteer opportunities available for this year’s Heartland Hangout. Sign up to volunteer when you register for the event. We will also send out email blasts and post to Facebook with more information as it develops.

Some important volunteer roles include:

• Handpan wrangler to tidy pans, cases and equipment strewn all over the castle.

• Firekeeper that ignites, maintains and extinguishes the fire in the main hall.

• Snack station refreshed with snacks, hot water, coffee, and tea.

• Tech setup for Friday and Saturday night concerts.

• Videographer and/or Photographer.

• Schlepper to help people get settled into their Stronghold accommodations and checking out.

We believe that everyone that contributes to the event deserves to be paid, and gifted gratitude for their work. We have created the Volunteer Gratitude Fund to pay everyone who adds something to the event. As more information develops we’ll make sure to share it!

There are 3x ways to contribute:

• Buy a ticket! Everyone who attends pays into the fund.

• Buy raffle tickets! The revenue from the raffle goes directly into the Volunteer Gratitude Fund.

• Sponsor the event! See details below.

• Give directly! When you buy your ticket, you have the option to contribute additional money directly to the Volunteer Gratitude Fund.

Heartland Hangout is welcoming sponsors for our event. Sponsors are our partners who help financially support the event, promote the event, and, in return, gain access to a highly engaged audience of talented handpan musicians.

Sponsors have the opportunity to provide funds and/or donate items for the raffle. In exchange, we will place your logo on our website for a year cycle, sponsor contribution signs, and recognize your contribution before our concert performance. We may also write lovely music about you…

Please reach out to us directly at ConnectWithTheHeartland @ gmail.com

Yes! By sponsoring HeHo 26’ we will provide a space in our Vendor village where you can sell handpans, accessories, and handpan-related goods, in a focal point of the weekends activities. You will need to manage your own transactions with attendees - we will not have cash available to make change nor a credit card machine to swipe for purchases.

If interested in learning more, please reach out to us directly at ConnectWithTheHeartland @ gmail.com

Otherwise patrons are able to buy, sell, and trade as they wish with other attendees.

The health and safety of all Heartlanders is a priority for any of our events. To ensure everyone is safe and healthy we will follow the guidelines provided by Illinois State and Ogle County, and encourage participants to navigate their comforts as needed. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways with a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness. For more information on Covid-19 view CDC info.

If you have experienced any symptoms or feel you may have been exposed to the virus, STAY HOME, STAY SAFE, CONSULT A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, and take care of yourself.

We will make every effort to maintain the health and safety of all Heartlanders attending, by having extra masks on hand, lots of hand sanitizers around the site, and will do our best to disinfect high touch surfaces (handpans) regularly.

Please be aware and respect other people’s comfort about personal distance.

Day Passes will be available two to three weeks before the event.

Oh no!!! I forgot something?! How do I get my things back?

Please reach out to us directly at ConnectWithTheHeartland @ gmail.com

Items will be returned at the owner’s expense, at the nearest convenience of the shipper.

Registration is fully transferable, however there are no refunds. Thank you for understanding.

Please let us know if you are unable to join us and have sold or gift you ticket to another so that we can confirm their attendance and update our registration list.