2024 Weekend Schedule
DnD Fest 2024
Weekend Schedule and Location
The DnD Fest is held at the Brooklyn Exchange Cabin located at 2400 State Road, Hinckley, OH.
Keep your eye out for the “Brooklyn Exchange Cabin” sign which is on the west side of the road. If driving South on State Road, the cabin will be on your right approximately 0.5 miles south from Whipps Ledges. If driving North on State Road, it will be on your left and it will sneak up on you on the hilly road. If you see a horse trail sign, it’s immediately after it!
Thursday, September 5th – Early Arrivals and Pre-Festival Festival!
Check-in: 3:00 PM: Please do not arrive any earlier than around 3:00 PM unless you make prior arrangements with Dan.
8:30 PM - 10:30 PM: Welcome Party! Just as the sun is setting on the first evening of the Festival, join us around the campfire with some of the Living NPCs and get to know your fellow comrades before the DnD Fest officially begins! We will have great live music being played by Brian Bigley and the Cleveland Celtic Ensemble, a corn roast, and the spirits may be flowing, but be responsible!
Friday, September 6th – Festival Begins!
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Welcome and Registration! During this time, we ask that you check in first and then set up your campsite. After you set up your tent and get settled, come back up to registration to get a copy of your character sheet and other information for the DnD Fest.
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Orientation! We ask ALL attendees and staff to gather at the ‘Forest Inn and Tavern’ for a very brief orientation. We will answer any last-minute questions and provide guidance for the weekend right before you head off on your first session of “The Raven’s Labyrinth.”
1:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Gaming Session 1: Embark on your journey with the first gaming session immediately following Orientation. As adventurers, you return to the Forest Inn, a haven amidst chaos, after enduring six grueling months of war. The Raven Queen's relentless forces have left scars across the New Kingdoms, Old Kingdoms, Feywild, and even the Shadow Realm. You've faced countless battles, forged alliances with fellow warriors, and now, as you gather with your DMs and teammates, the air is thick with anticipation and resolve. Together, you prepare to stand united in the forthcoming battles, strategizing and strengthening your resolve to confront the Raven Queen's formidable onslaught. This session is where your story begins anew, amidst the echoes of past struggles and the fierce determination for victory that burns within each adventurer's heart. Important: After your party's initial engagement, select a representative to report your outcomes to the command tent in the Encampment area.
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Dinner: A hearty Dinner will be served after the first gaming session. Check the menu at the end of the book for details.
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Mission Briefing and Strategy Session: Within this time, the appointed envoy from your party, along with their counterparts from your team, will gather at the Command Tent. Your team representatives will report to the tent and await to be called before entering. Here they will report the triumphs or trials faced by your party to the leader overseeing the campaign against the Shadow Realm. It is here that each envoy will be tasked with choosing the next endeavor for their respective parties. This should only take a few minutes, so you can come at any point during this time. The entire party is not to attend, just your party’s envoy (whom you choose after each session). Envoys: Your job is to choose your next adventure and inform your party!
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM: An Evening at the Forest Inn: Step inside the inviting ambience of the Forest Inn for a night of enchantment and camaraderie. We're thrilled to present a live musical performance by the Grammy Award-winning talent known for his captivating contributions to The Witcher series, Brian Kaye. His bardic melodies will serenade us through tales of the Raven Queen's war, providing a mesmerizing soundtrack to our gathering. The evening is not just about music; it's a playground for the adventurous at heart. Engage in a variety of games, where you can gamble with Festival Coins and emerge victorious with unique prizes. Our Living NPCs will be there, mingling among us, offering challenges and enriching the night's lore with their interactions. Let the inn's ale, wine, and assortment of drinks warm you as you immerse yourself in this tavern setting, a perfect blend of fantasy and fellowship. We encourage all adventurers to delve into their wardrobes and arrive in their finest costume attire.
10:30 PM: Costume Contest! Friday night will also feature our annual costume contest, a highlight for many, with details to follow. Join us for an unforgettable evening, where music, games, and storytelling intertwine under the roof of the Forest Inn. Get your costume together for a fun promenade and show off your costume!
Saturday, September 7th – Adventures Continue!
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast! Come into the Tavern and get yourself a warm breakfast provided by the award-winning “Gridirne Cookery.”
9:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Gaming Session 2: (Lunch Break around 11:30-12:00) Dive back into the fray as your adventure progresses with the mission handpicked by your party's envoy. This session kicks off with a crucial briefing where the chosen representative will unveil the next quest to the group (if they haven’t done so already!), setting the stage for the unfolding saga. With the mission laid out, your party will embark on this new journey, venturing deeper into the heart of conflict and camaraderie. This chapter of your adventure is not just a continuation of your quest but a fresh endeavor shaped by collective decision-making and strategic foresight. Prepare to face new challenges, uncover hidden truths, and forge further into the unknown, all while contributing to the larger narrative of resistance against formidable foes. The path ahead is yours to explore, with each decision and action weaving into the intricate tapestry of this epic campaign.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Mission Briefing and Strategy Session: Within this time, the appointed envoy from your party, along with their counterparts from your team, will gather at the Command Tent. Your team representatives will report to the tent and await to be called before entering. Here they will report the triumphs or trials faced by your party to the leader overseeing the campaign against the Shadow Realm. It is here that each envoy will be tasked with choosing the next endeavor for their respective parties. This should only take a few minutes, so you can come at any point during this time. The entire party is not to attend, just your party’s envoy (whom you choose after each session). Envoys: Your job is to choose your next adventure and inform your party!
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Break Time! Spend time to interact with NPCs, update character sheets, take a hike, take a nap! Plenty to do!
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Feast and Fellowship at the Tavern: As the day’s adventures draw to a close, join us in the tavern for a grand feast featuring a sumptuous pig roast, complete with all the traditional fixings, and a delightful array of vegetarian options for those who have indicated their preference. This is a prime time to relax and mingle with your fellow adventurers, recounting the day's quests and the challenges overcome.
6:00 PM - 10:30 PM: Gaming Session 3: As dusk falls over our gathering, prepare to dive back into the heart of adventure under the cloak of night. This evening session ushers in a change of mission and possibly a new Dungeon Master, assigned to lead your party through the next chapter of our weekend-long saga. Embrace the mysteries and opportunities that await as you continue to navigate the unfolding narrative, illuminated by the soft glow of lights and lanterns.
10:30 PM - 11:30 PM: The Great Debate – What is this?? Come join us in the encampment area to see!
Sunday, September 8th – Adventures Continue and Conclusion!
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast! Another warm breakfast to give you energy for your final day!
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Mission Briefing and Strategy Session: Within this time, the appointed envoy from your party, along with their counterparts from your team, will gather at the Command Tent. Your team representatives will report to the tent and await to be called before entering. Here they will report the triumphs or trials faced by your party to the leader overseeing the campaign against the Shadow Realm. It is here that each envoy will be tasked with choosing the next endeavor for their respective parties. This should only take a few minutes, so you can come at any point during this time. The entire party is not to attend, just your party’s envoy (whom you choose after each session). Envoys: Your job is to choose your next adventure and inform your party!
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Group Photo: Join us on the Forest Inn balcony for a group photo, capturing the camaraderie of our gathering. This is a chance to immortalize the adventure and fellowship of the weekend, set against the picturesque backdrop of the inn. Bring your smiles and costumes for this memorable snapshot.
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM: Final Gaming Session: Embark on the Culmination of Our Epic Saga. As dawn breaks on the final day, you and your fellow adventurers are poised at the threshold of destiny. Selected by a party envoy, your next quest plunges you into the heart of the conflict against the Raven Queen, marking the grand finale of both our weekend together and the sprawling four-year campaign that has captivated us all – The Raven’s Labyrinth. This pivotal session is where fates intertwine and the outcome of the war hangs in the balance. The resolution of our shared story – how the war concludes and what futures we forge – rests squarely in your hands. The uncertainty is real; not even the DMs or NPCs can predict the ending that awaits us. Amidst the intensity of our final adventures, a brief interlude at noon will provide a moment to gather your thoughts and refuel with a 'quick lunch break,' the duration of which your DMs will announce. This climactic session is where every decision, every action, and every alliance comes to bear on the world we've collectively brought to life. The endgame of The Raven’s Labyrinth beckons – are you ready to shape the destiny of our tale? (Lunch break is within this time …about 12:00 noon, and will be handled like Saturday. Gaming will continue after lunch with the same gaming session and same DM.)
3:00 PM (approximately): Campaign Finale and Closing: As the final moments of The Raven’s Labyrinth unfold, we also draw the curtain on our epic saga, “The Chronicles of the Undying.” This marks not just the end of a session but the culmination of our grand adventure together. Should your party's journey conclude ahead of others, we kindly ask that you honor the immersion and excitement of the concluding moments by quietly stepping away from the gaming area. This gesture ensures that every adventurer can fully experience the climactic end to their story in an atmosphere of shared respect and anticipation.
3:30 PM: Break Camp and Leave for home. Start planning for next year!!! Event next year is September 4th thru 7th, 2025!!
All times are approximate, but we will try to keep on schedule as much as possible!