Event Information October 2024

Event Skinny
October 5 & 6, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tent camping is available onsite on a first come, first served basis.

Special Operations Equipment
4631 Highway 70 E
Camden, TN 38320

Agenda is here…
Saturday: We kickoff around 9am Saturday and have sessions through about 5pm. After that, there is great food, campfire hang outs and who knows what else?
Sunday: We kickoff around 9am and have sessions through around 4pm.

Parking
Event parking for all workshops before and after SRF, as well as for SRF, is at the Big Daddy’s lot at the entrance to SOE. If that lot becomes full, we will direct you to another option.

Doors Open When?
For Self-Reliance Festival: Doors open at 8 am on Saturday, October 5th, and 8 am Sunday October 15th. Check in to get your pass at the registration table at the SOE entrance. Once you have your lanyard, you can just wave it at the people at the gate and they will let you pass. Campers may come after 3pm on Friday, Oct 4.

Check-in process: We will have your tickets and lanyard at the check in area at the SOE Entrance starting Saturday morning at 8 am. Once you have your pass you can come and go as you please.

Chairs: We do have some chairs on site, but if you can BYOC (bring your own chair), this really helps us out.

Schwag bags: No Schwag Bags this time! We have created a Schwag Treasure Hunt instead. Check in at the Information Booth for a map.

Camping Schedule

For Self Reliance Festival: You may camp Friday night, but arrive by 7 pm or you might not get in. We may lock the gate at night.

For the Workshops: You may camp onsite the night before your class, but you must be on the compound by 6 pm. Once the factory is locked, it is locked. If you are not attending SRF after the workshop, please have your tent packed up before class on Friday morning.

Camping Facilities: This is rustic camping – as in you get access to a relatively flat area with trees for tent and hammock camping. Please, no campfires outside the dedicated campfire area, which is monitored by a “fire marshal” who will put it out before he goes to bed.

Sites are not assigned. Just come and set up in the camping area. No cars will be permitted in the campsite area.

Anarchy Presentations MUST happen OFF the gravel area and in a way that does not interfere with scheduled programming. (These are things you decide, last-minute, to teach each other and we LOVE them!)

Onsite Food
We currently have TWO vendors who will sell food onsite.

The gas station, Big Daddy’s, at the entrance also sells hot food. There may be an additional food vendor or two attracted this week. Other than that you can buy food at area stores and restaurants. See the website FAQs for a partial list of food and supply sources..

Bathrooms
Use the port-a-johns only. No entry to the SOE bathrooms as they are on a septic system.

Digital Passes
As an attendee you are entitled to a 50% discount on the digital pass which will give you access to all recorded sessions approximately one month after the event.

To take advantage of this, get the code from Nicole after the digital tickets launch.

In looking over the attendee list, we are delighted to see so many of you coming back this fall, and we are excited to meet all the new faces who are coming for the first time. If you are a seasoned festival attendee, could you please do me a favor? Find someone you have not met and make them feel welcome.