By Harriet Wood
Festivals have long been a wonderful way to go outside and make the most of our surroundings, often presenting amazing opportunities to camp out and reconnect with nature, while getting a culture fix at the same time. It’s a sad paradox, then, and no secret, that many festivals cause environmental damage of nightmarish proportions — anyone who’s stayed behind a few hours past the end of an outdoor event knows the frightening impact a few hundred partygoers can have on the landscape.
Enter Quelonios, whose organizers took all these concerns in their stride when creating their unique environmental festival in the Dominican Republic. It’s not hard to see why the environment was top of their agenda: the pristine, wild beach at El Valle, in the Samana region, showcases the country’s vast biodiversity across a huge stretch of sand against the lush, emerald forest the area is famous for, while freshwater streams emerging from caves on the beach offer a refreshing contrast to the clear blue sea.
Photo: @ryanbowenphoto
This incredible setting will be the stage for what’s shaping up to be the environmental gathering of the year: already on its third incarnation, Quelonios will take place from January 26th-27th, 2019, uniting culture and the arts in support of the conservation of marine turtles and the world’s oceans. Artists and artisans, diverse musical offerings, gastronomy, discussions, workshops, and environmental screenings are just some of the items on the thoughtfully put-together agenda for those attending the two-day event, which holds a lot of promise for anyone wanting to keep exploring new music, art, and ideas, while engaging their mind and generating a positive impact.
Photo: @ryanbowenphoto
If previous years are anything to go by, the festival will be a lively forum for open discussion, with biology experts, activists, and all attendees invited to analyze contextual themes such as the risks faced by turtles at the very same beach, which every year sees hundreds of leatherback, hawksbill, and green turtles arriving to lay their nests. Quelonios (which even takes its name from the root of the ancient Greek word for turtle) is a space for both reflection and action in favor of the conservation of the environment, focusing on ocean contamination, and its effects on marine species in danger of extinction. The festival’s environmental activities and discussions will go hand-in-hand with local and international live music, and cultural expressions ranging from artisanal crafts to gastronomy and performance art, making up a rich program that really has something for everyone.
Photo: @andresanibal11
Families and children will be well catered for, too, with educational workshops, kids’ film screenings, and market stalls. For those looking for a party atmosphere, high hopes are justified — the international team behind Quelonios will be bringing together their shared experience planning incredible festivals all over the world, and you can bet that the night will be one to remember.
Photo: @andrea.boullosa
In keeping with its green credentials, the festival is aiming to be zero-impact, operating a leave-no-trace philosophy, and promoting the use of reusable and biodegradable glassware and packaging, as well as advocating for collective transport, including a carpool system for festival-goers sharing rides to this beautiful spot, at once connected with nature and disconnected from urban development.
Photo: @clickonthebeach
Details: Quelonios is easily reachable via public transport from Santo Domingo or Samana -see their social media for details of ride shares. Tickets are available for a contribution of $200 Dominican Pesos (that’s about $4 USD!), with deals available on transport, campsite access, and tickets until December 31st.
You can find more information about the festival on Facebook and Instagram.
Cover photo: @ryanbowenphoto
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