SisterSpace Weekend is gearing up for its 36th year as a haven for fun, food and friends for LGBT women. SisterSpace, which will be held Sept. 6-8 in Darlington, Md., was founded in the 1970s and originally called the Lesbian Feminist Weekend. The event celebrates women’s space, community and empowerment, offering live music, workshops, sports activities and networking opportunities. The weekend usually brings together 300 participants from as far as Oregon and Canada and as close as Maryland, Washington, D.C., New York and Pennsylvania. The event staffs about 60 volunteers to ensure everything runs smoothly. Entertainment is a primary aspect of SisterSpace Weekend, with both day and night stages for performers. Although the night stage is usually reserved for more well-known acts, this year will mark the third year of the day stage. “We’ve been doing night stages with more well-known acts but wanted to support more local and amateur day acts,” said SisterSpace vice president Corinne Thornton. “It is nice to have more smaller acts come in.” The entertainment is also interactive, as guests can vote for their favorite day-stage act to serve as the opening act on the night stage. This year’s featured entertainers will include Cris Williamson, Mama’s Black Sheep, Crys Matthews, Kin4Life, Dawn Drake & ZapOte, Pandora Scooter and Rachel Tension. Thornton said the performers bridge generational gaps and represent a wide variety of genres. She added that the festival has traditionally focused on folk-style music but recently organizers have been looking to broaden the offerings to include areas such as hip-hop. Thornton, 36, has been attending SisterSpace since she was 28 and said the workshops are always a popular stop for guests. “The workshops are my favorite because they are put together and presented by festivalgoers. There is a diverse array of workshops—everything from AA and 12-step meetings, S&M and kinky workshops to how to change your oil and Raiki. It is neat to make people feel a part of the entertainment of the festival.” One workshop in particular, she noted, is expected to bring together a cross-sections of participants. “There is one workshop called ‘Old Dykes, Young Queers’ that is interesting because it is cross-generational,” Thornton said. “You get women who have been out longer than when we were around and telling stories and younger generations talking about their experience.” The weekend will also include a chance for individuals to shop, with over 20 vendors selling everything from jewelry to clothing, as well as services like hair cuts and massages. “You get exposed to people you wouldn’t necessarily get exposed to. It is a welcoming environment where you can introduce yourself and strike up a conversation. It is inclusive and you feel good after you leave.” Registration for the event is on a sliding scale depending on yearly income. Fees also depend on whether guests stay in tents or cabins. Thornton said SisterSpace is a chance to meet new people and experience new things. For more information, visit www.sisterspace.org.
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