The Summer Lights Manifesto

Summer Lights isn’t really an event. It’s an idea.

The running joke has always been:

“I thought this was your event.”

“No, it’s your event. What are you doing with it?”

That’s the heart of Summer Lights.

Get a bunch of good humans together in the woods, give them a date and a place, and say:

Bring what you can. Give what you can. Let’s see what we create together.

Someone brings lights. Someone brings sound. Someone DJs. Someone creates art. Someone cooks breakfast. Someone brings games, fire dancing, decorations, a ridiculous idea nobody else would have thought of, or simply sees somebody who needs help and lends a hand.

There are no talents too big or too small.

Summer Lights belongs to everyone willing to put a little piece of themselves into it.

Because when new people bring new talents, we create new ideas, new friendships, new connections and new experiences. Together we can create something none of us could have created alone.

Life already gives us enough schedules, stress, pressure, drama and expectations.

For a few days, Summer Lights is an invitation to do something different.

Give without expecting something back.

Give a gift.

Give positive words.

Give a helping hand.

Give a handshake, fist bump, or good hug.

Give someone your presence by actually listening and making them feel heard.

Those are the five simple principles behind Summer Lights: Gifts. Words. Service. Touch. Presence.

There is no audience and there is no spotlight.

Just a community of people bringing what they have, sharing what they love, and creating something beautiful together.

Come as you are.

Bring what you can.

Give what you can.

And when someone asks whose event is this? You already know the answer:

“It’s yours. What are you doing with it?”

Welcome to Summer Lights. ❤️