Austin Witchfest 2024

Austin Witchfest Inc. is an Austin-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration, education and practice of witchcraft, in all it's forms. Held in the indoor spaces of the Palmer Events Center, near the heart of Austin and next to the beautiful spaces of Butler Park, we hope that you will join us for a day full of workshops, rituals, shopping, divination, entertainment and more! A portion of net proceeds will be donated to charity. Please read fully to understand what to expect and we hope to see you there!

Originally an airplane hangar purchased in 1940 by the City of Austin, the Palmer Events Center (PEC) was established in 1998 after a board voted for an entire renovation, culminating in a multi-purpose venue next to Butler Park with a gorgeous view of downtown Austin. Powered 100% by renewable energy from Austin Energy's Green Choice Program, PEC's massive spaces, including five conference rooms and balcony on the second floor, and close proximity to many hotels makes it a great venue for our festival.

Early Bird General Admission: $10, on sale 10/01/23-12/31/23

Presale General Admission: $15, on sale 01/01/24-04/27/24

General Admission: $20, on sale 04/28/24

Ticket purchases include admission to all rituals, workshops and entertainment unless otherwise specified (i.e. specialty workshops ). All sales final. Children 12 and under enter for free as long as they are accompanied by a paid ticket holder. The purchase of an admission ticket does not include parking.

Parking is available for a $10 fee next to the Palmer Events Center in their four-story, 1,200-space garage. It has two entrances, one on Riverside Dr. and another on Barton Springs Rd. Mobility-impaired parking is available on each level of the garage. Spaces with this distinction are close to the elevators. And vehicles with military specialty plates receive complimentary parking. No overnight parking is allowed. Pro Tip: If there is any traffic, enter on Riverside. For parking inquiries, email: [email protected] or call us at (512) 404-4260. Debit, credit cards, and cash accepted.

The One Texas Center Parking Garage, at the southeast corner of Barton Springs Rd. and S. 1st St., is used for extra parking during select major events and occasionally when the Palmer Events Center garage reaches capacity.

For more information about parking, visit https://www.palmereventscenter.com/directions-and-parking/

Ivo Dominguez, Jr. (He/Him) has been active in Wiccan and the Pagan community since 1978 and has been teaching since 1982. Ivo is a founding member and former High Priest of Keepers of the Holly Chalice, the first Assembly of the Sacred Wheel coven. He currently serves as one of the Elders of the 14 ASW covens. Ivo has been published in numerous periodicals and is the author of The Four Elements of the Wise; Keys to Perception: A Practical Guide to Psychic Development; Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans; Casting Sacred Space; and Spirit Speak, among other works. He is the anchor author for the new twelve book Witch’s Sun Sign Series. In his mundane life, he has been a computer programmer, the executive director of an AIDS/HIV service organization, a bookstore owner, and many other things. He is queer, poly, and lives in the woods of Southern Delaware with his family of choice.

Coby Michael (He/Him) is an occult herbalist and plant medicine practitioner, specializing in poisonous and psychoactive plants, particularly for their magical and spiritual properties. He is the owner of The Poisoner’s Apothecary (2017), a blog and online shop where he makes a wide array of formulas working with plants like deadly nightshade and fly agaric mushroom. Coby creates ritual formulas and talismanic jewelry, inspired by poisonous plants and their use in witchcraft and ceremony. Coby has a background in religious studies, traditional witchcraft, North American folk magic and phytochemistry. He also is the host and creator of Botanica Obscura Conference, an annual gathering of magical plant practitioners from around the world sharing their plant spirit knowledge. He writes prolifically and teaches workshops on the poison path, flying ointments, occult herbalism and psychedelic spirituality.

Thumper (Horkos) Marjorie Splitfoot Forge (He/Him) is a Gardnerian High Priest, an initiate of the Minoan Brotherhood, a Discordian Episkopos, a recovering alcoholic, and a notary public from Houston, Texas. His first book, Virgo Witch: Divining the Details was co-authored with Ivo Dominguez, Jr. and will be released by Llewellyn Publications in November 2023. By day, he manages a leather and fetishwear shop, and by night, he dabbles in chaos magic, offers geomantic and lithomantic readings, and blogs irreverently for Patheos Pagan. His essays have previously appeared in The Gorgon’s Guide to Magical Resistance (Revelore Press, 2022) and Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods: History, Insights & Magickal Practice (Llewellyn Publications, 2022).

Mortellus (They/Them) is a lineage 3° Gardnerian High Priestex, Mortician, Necromancer, Medium, and world-renowned thought leader in deathcare and the magic of death, presently busy at work on their fourth book, with their second, "The Bones Fall in a Spiral: A Necromantic Primer," published by Crossed Crow Books, arriving on shelves October 3rd, 2023. Mortellus is a Mortician, and in addition to their degrees in Mortuary Sciences, holds degrees in Design, Education and Fine Arts. Their areas of expertise include necromancy, necrobotany, mediumship, and the funerary rites of minority faith groups. Currently residing in Western North Carolina on three acres that doubles as the Covenstead for the Coven of Leaves with their spouse and twin children. Their adult child, who resides in Asheville North Carolina, is a student of Health Sciences at UNCA.

Alexis A. Arredondo (He/Him) grew up on the border of South Texas, where he was enamored with folklore as well as spiritual folk-practice at a very young age. He began learning folk magic and traditional brujería (Mexican witchcraft) from a local bruja (witch) in his hometown. Through the influence of famous healers such as Don Pedrito Jaramillo, he began his journey in the sacred healing art of Curanderismo (Mexican folk-healing), and was fortunate enough to have teachers in this practice as well as in el culto de Santisima Muerte (the cult of the Holy Death). He has also initiated into several necromantic systems such as tantric Aghor Yoga, Brazilian Kimbanda and he is a Tata Nganga in the Congo-Cuban practice of Palo Mayombe. He is the co-owner of City Alchemist Witch Shop in downtown East Austin and co-author of the book "Magia Magia: Invoking Mexican Magic as well as Blood of Brujeria. Alexis also is the occult expert and spiritual consultant of the Night Owl True Ghost Stories Podcast. Through his experiences, he enjoys teaching others through his online school the Mictlan Academy.

Eric Labrado (He/Him) was born and raised in west Texas, where he learned the fundamentals of Mexican witchcraft (brujeria) and folk-healing (curanderismo) from family and other practitioners in his community. He is the co-author of "Magia Magia :Invoking Mexican Magic" and "Blood of Brujeria". Eric holds initiation in the Afro-Cuban tradition of Santería as a priest of Oshún and is also a medium and diviner. When he is not co-running his shop City Alchemist, is he providing limpias (spiritual cleanings) for the community and mentorship programs for those interested in learning the spiritual folk-traditions of Mexico.

In this presentation we will explore the most infamous love spell of Mexico, the amarre. Contrary to belief this is not your average spell! In Mexico the amarre is feared because of its unique ability to "tie" the souls of two people together. In this lecture we will discuss the history, theory, and application of the amarre as well as how to break them.

Often regarded as a sabbat associated with life, Beltane is positioned opposite Hallows and for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, is celebrated on October 31st. Mortellus will journey with you through Beltane’s many associations with death, and rituals to celebrate that balance of growth and decay. Mortellus encourages active participation, so pull up a chair and don’t be afraid to share your thoughts!

The medieval witches’ flying ointment has become an important symbol of modern traditional witchcraft and entheogenic ritual practice. It has come to represent the witching herbs and the altered states of consciousness that they create, as well as their folkloric association to the Witches’ Sabbath. The plant’s mentioned in the recipes of medieval flying ointments are the very same plants that we seek to connect with on the Poison Path; deadly nightshade, wolfsbane, poppy and more. Each of these plants has their own unique spirit, and offers some very specialized characteristics of interest to the occult herbalist.

In this class we will explore the history of the medieval witches’ ointment, and the journey it has been on to arrive at where it is today. We will discuss the different world views that have influenced our definition of the flying ointment, as well as the plants that make them. We will look at some of the medieval recipes that have survived and discuss the ingredients, and the purpose they would have served. After looking at historical ointments, we will discuss modern ointment, their usage, applications and how to safely and effectively create and use your own entheogenic formulas.

Entheogens are plants and fungi that facilitate experiences of the spirit world, the divine, and change consciousness in various different ways which we can utilize in our practices. While the flying ointment in general is associated with spirit flight, other world travel and visionary workings, they also have their own unique magical correspondences. In this class we will discuss both employing these magical ointments for their visionary effects and also as formulas for spellwork.

As a spiritual practitioner, we often get called to deal with spirits and haunted locations. Join Alexis A. Arredondo, spiritual and occult expert of The Night Owl True Ghost Stories podcast as he guides you through the spiritual techniques of dealing with hauntings and spirits as well as the process of cleaning/clearing them out.

Most magickal traditions use some form of divine embodiment in their rituals in which a priestess or a priest becomes for a time the vehicle for the presence of one of the Great Ones. When it works, it is awe-inspiring, and can act as a great catalyst for change. When it fails, and is no more than role playing or ritual theater, it can encourage cynicism, disillusionment, and diminished expectations of what is possible in ritual. The strengths and the weaknesses of assumption of god forms, drawing down, aspecting, and divine possession will be compared to each other.

Fireside Radio brings an eclectic mix of music spanning multiple decades and genres.

The Bruja-jas of San Antonio are the official dancing witches of San Antonio! The group was started in August 2021 and has grown a good size following, even being featured on the local news! Their dances usually last 3-4 mins and will be performing throughout the day.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, United States