Creative Retreat 2026

WHERE WILL I STAY?

Lodging for this event will be in Bethany Village. Participants will have the option to stay in a Bethany Lodge room or a dorm style cabin. All lodging options include nightly refreshments and nine meals throughout the weekend starting with Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch.

Cost Dependent on Lodging:

• Lodge Room & Meals for One, 3 Nights: $450
• Lodge Room & Meals for Two, 3 Nights: $600
• Cabin Bed & Meals for One, 3 Nights: $170

WHAT WILL I DO?

Please feel free to make this time your own. Everything on the schedule (other than arrival and departure) is optional. We will have tea, coffee, and snacks available in the lodges throughout the day. A table of creative resources will be available. You are welcome to hike, canoe, or explore Camp McDowell's campus during your stay. Previous participants have brought creative projects ranging from woodworking, quilting, cookbook and novel writing, painting, and nothing at all but a plan to rest. Epiphany Art Studio will be open for added work space. You can reserve a pottery wheel or sewing machine for an added usage fee of $100.00.

All are welcome.

All electronic Alabama Folk School payments are processed through PayPal. You may use a credit card to pay this way without making a Paypal account. If you would like to pay by check please fill out the registration information then email Jordan Hughes at afsregistrar@campmcdowell.org so that we can manually complete your registration. 

Please note our refund policy: Cancellations received prior to 60 days before the event will receive a full refund on lodging, meals, and tuition. Cancellations received less than 60 days prior to the start of the event will receive refunded lodging, meals, and tuition but a $100 cancellation fee will be retained. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the start of the event will receive refunded lodging and meals, but no tuition will be refunded and a $100 cancellation fee will be retained. No tuition, lodging, or meals will be refunded after the event begins. Cancellation fees apply, regardless of the reason for canceling.