Gaia Gathering 2026

The Gaia Gathering is a beloved annual event that connects women* from around Central Virginia and beyond. We circle for healing, wisdom sharing, creative expression, and celebration. We gather to build community, deepen relationships, and nourish our collective power, resilience, and joy.

This outdoor weekend event includes camping, workshops, group ceremony, plant walks, sharing circles, swimming in the river, singing around the fire, and plenty of time to play, rest, and reconnect.

Now in its 15th year, the Gaia Gathering continues to evolve and change! We're leaning into making Gaia ever more community-driven and collectively-created, financially accessible for participants, and energetically sustainable for the volunteer organizers.

*Gaia is created by and for women, including anyone for whom "woman" is a meaningful identifier or lived experience. Boys age 5 and under are welcome, as well.

Please register all participants, including children and teens, as well as anyone participating by day and staying offsite.

Most participants bring tents for camping, though there are some (very basic) cabins with bunk beds available on a first-come, first-serve basis (dormitory-style, with plenty of beds for everyone who wants one!) . Group bathrooms and showers are available for all participants.

Participants are responsible for providing their own meals for the weekend. In the spirit of “sharing the load”, we’re encouraging participants to consider being part of a “Meal Sharing Pod”.

• A pod might be a group of 4-8 people who coordinate in advance to share responsibility for feeding the pod for the weekend. One or two people take on a meal: planning the menu, bringing the food, and heating/serving it. The rest of the pod gets to relax and enjoy being fed for that meal, knowing that each person will be serving the pod at another meal during the weekend. Meal Pods will have scheduled access to the Lodge Kitchen, including refrigerator/freezer space and stove/oven/microwave use.
• Meal Pods are completely optional, and can either be self-organized by a group of friends, or you can sign up to participate in a “dietarily-similar” pod during registration. You’ll be connected with others who have indicated interest, and each pod will coordinate in advance of the weekend.
• A group of friends may also choose to form their own meal pod and sign up to be included in the kitchen schedule.

People choosing not to participate in a Meal Pod will be responsible for their own food needs, and won’t have access to the Lodge Kitchen.

If you want to be connected with a Meal Pod, please register by Monday, April 13 to allow time for pods to coordinate meal plans in advance of the event.

***NEW IN 2026: We're planning a full event potluck for Friday dinner! Details to come...

Sharing our wisdom, skills, and inspiration is a vital part of the Gaia Gathering. Participants will have the opportunity to propose a workshop, once their registration is complete (look in your registration Confirmation Email for the link to the workshop proposal form!).

Workshop topics often include herbalism and plant walks, dance/yoga, art, and women's health. Other possibilities welcome!

Anyone attending the event is welcome to set up a table in the Gaia marketplace. We'd love to have you and your handmade wares! When you register, be sure to check the box that indicates you're interested in vending, and we'll send out an email with the details in early April!

In lieu of a vending fee, vendors will be asked to donate an item to our fundraising raffle.

Children and teens are an important part of the Gaia community, and are welcome with the supervision of a responsible adult. While no childcare is provided, there will be an area designated as a children’s playspace - all participants are invited to bring costumes, toys, musical instruments, and art supplies to share with the kids.

Please note that the camping and event area includes access to a river and the woods.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Camp Albemarle, 4-H Way, Charlottesville, VA, USA, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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