One month until DrachenFest V!
- Drachenfest US
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Hi DrachenFriends! Our fifth event is right around the corner and we are PUMPED. It seems like only yesterday that we were rehearsing the first opening ritual at Camp Sacajawea..
And in just a few weeks, the Dragon's Avatars will be summoned to the circle for the fifth time, and their battle for rulership of the world will begin anew. But they are not the main characters. DrachenFest is really a platform for the incredible passion and creativity of its players. Larpers are some of the most creative people in the world. Together, we create a fantastic space, with fantastic experiences, and we can't wait to share that energy with all of you again.
In this post, we wanted to share a few small back-end updates, as well as some advice for new campers.
The Game Map
Unless the the ground conditions surprise us, camps will remain in the same locations as last year. We're also moving the Great Ritual Circle down the hill to the lower showerhouse. The Magic guild will be nearby.
Policies
Media Policy
We'd like to give you more opportunities to capture photos and videos of the amazing things happening at DrachenFest! We are initiating a trial update to our media policy for 2026.
It can be a challenging balance to make sure everyone can get pictures of the awesome costumes, props, and environment while respecting the importance of immersion in a roleplaying environment such as ours. During the event this year, we will be allowing participants to capture their own media only within their own dragon’s camp (or within the Bazaar for Bazaar players).
We still have to ensure everyone is complying with the unique Pennsylvania two-party consent laws (you cannot photo/record someone without their consent), but our hope is this will help everyone capture a few photos and videos without allowing hundreds of cameras and cell phones everywhere. Please don't pull out your phones in the middle of roleplaying. Be subtle, respect immersion, and try not to spoil people's break from the modern world. We all want pictures, but none of us want cameras and cell phones in the background of all of our scenes. We believe that if attendees are respectful and mindful, this change could become permanent going forward. We'll be listening to your feedback after the event.
Morning Dashpass System
To aid with accessibility challenges, each camp will be provided with 2 car dashboard passes. They allow that car to be driven through the campsite early in the morning before war hours start (between 4am and 9am). This is meant to help camps address internal accessibility challenges like transporting ice, water, charging power banks, dropping people off at the bazaar, etc, but without filling the game roads with car traffic. Vehicles using the Dashpass must register with ops in advance (ie the evening beforehand). (policy text is here)
Guide to Camping at Cooper's Lake
Any Drach veteran will tell you: the endboss of DrachenFest is Summer weather. If you've never done a lengthy tent camping adventure, you probably have a lot of questions! And good weather prep can save your event. We created a guide with some basic information and advice about the week long DrachenFest campout:
Coins
We are proud to announce that the coins used in DrachenFest US this year will be made in the United States! Please be aware changing manufacturers means this year's coins may feel or weigh slightly different than previous years.
Field Support
Love watching the battles at DrachenFest-US? Ever wondered what it’s like to experience them from the referee team’s perspective? Starting this year, players can sign up for a Field Support shift and help the Battle Team maintain safety on the battlefield while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the action.
Field Support volunteers are out-of-character helpers who work alongside the Battle Referees during major engagements. While they do not have referee authority, they assist with important battlefield tasks like spotting and moving hazards, collecting spent arrows, helping manage crowd flow, and supporting the Battle Team on the frontlines during large-scale combats. Field Support will be easy to identify by their yellow baseball caps, and will receive guidance before their shift.
Shifts run in manageable 3–4 hour blocks, making it easy to sign up while still enjoying the event. You'll receive a discount code for online purchases with participating vendors, a silver piece in-game reward, and the opportunity to support the community while seeing DrachenFest battles from a unique perspective.
Complete this interest form ahead of the event and get a reminder about potential volunteer opportunities. Or inquire with the battle team on-site!
