The Scoop:
A three-day, multiple-stage alternative music festival to benefit and raise awareness for Harvest of Hope, a non-profit organization that provides financial, educational, and service oriented aid to migrant farm workers all over the country. The event emphasizes the focus on being family friendly as well as environmentally friendly. The festival will showcase not only a large group of musicians who are donating their time and performances to the cause but also a variety of art shows and films from progressive artists from around the country, non-profits, local businesses and progressive organizations. Most importantly, the festival will be focused on raising funds and awareness for the Harvest of Hope Foundation.

The Foundation Serves to:
• Support migrant farmworkers and their families with emergency aid.
• Issue small grants to programs that assist migrant families.
• Provide college financial aid to migrant students via the Paths to Scholarships Fund.
• Heighten awareness of the plight of migrant farmworkers in the country.
• Coordinate with agencies assisting migrant families and their children with education, medical and immunization needs, and social services.

Our Mission:
The Harvest of Hope Foundation's Mission is to provide emergency and educational aid to migrant farmworkers and their families is extremely limited and often not available. Thus, it is the goal of the Harvest of Hope Foundation to fill in the gaps in service to this most hard-working yet needy group of seasonal migrant workers and families by distributing funds to pay for gas, tires, car repairs, rent, utilities, medical services, food, clothing, funeral expenses and educational scholarships. Eighty (80) cents of every dollar donated goes to provide direct financial aid. The foundation uses 10-12 percent for administrative expenses. A relatively small (8) percent reimburses the foundation presi- dent, Phil Kellerman for his work on the foundation. All information on educational services, current expenditures, and financial funds is available at www.harvestofhope.net

Tickets go on sale January 3rd, 2009!
Regular Sales: after Feb 1st: :
$19.50 - single day pass
$39.50 - three day pass

Weekend of event:
$29.50/DAY PASS
$49.50 -3- DAY PASS

Camping:
Add primitive camping spot - $29.50 for all three days (1,000 campsites available)

How the Harvest of Hope Fest came about:
The Harvest of Hope Fest was created in conjunction with the fine folks from No Idea Records, who are responsible for another successful multiple day, yearly music festival called THE FEST. Ryan Murphy, a longtime No Idea employee, had been working closely with Harvest of Hope through his graduate program at the University of Florida. Ryan is good friends with several independent and socially active bands such as Against Me!, Fake Problems, Gaslight Anthem, Holopaw, Young Livers, Cobra Skulls, World Inferno Friendship Society, & Sage Francis. Several benefit shows had previously been arranged throughout the country, often brought up and organized by the bands themselves. Ryan Murphy discussed a benefit for Harvest of Hope with St. Augustine promoter Ryan Dettra, who handles booking duties for the local amphitheater as well as the St. Johns Fairgrounds. Ryan Murphy then brought the idea to FEST organizer and No Idea co-worker Tony Weinbender. The two worked on a grant proposal, and presented the idea to St. Johns County with fingers crossed. After months of waiting, the county came back with a favorable and generous grant of $50,000 to go towards the event, the most money the county has ever donated to an organization. That money quickly was eaten up with production, sound, and safety requirements, but with time and performance donations from several national, regional and local bands, as well as services and funding donated from several sponsors, the event has the funding to start sowing the seeds for a unique spin on a European-style outside music festival. It's an amazing cause that directly benefits the hard-working people struggling to provide for their families, while providing ours with food that they have harvested for our dinner tables.

About the Foundation:
The Harvest of Hope foundation was established in 1997 to raise funds exclusively for migrant farm worker individuals and families. The foundation has distributed over $685,000 to migrant farm workers and families around the country for repairs to vehicles, housing, utilities, medical services and bills, food, clothing, funeral expenses and tuition for migrant students attending college. In addition, the Foundation has issued small grants to migrant-related support service organizations. Federal, state and other public aid to migrant farm workers has become increasingly restrictive, and, in many cases, not available at all. The Harvest of Hope foundation has been called upon to fill in the gaps in service to this most hard working and deserving, yet needy group of laborers.

Selling Points:
- The people behind Harvest of Hope Fest are the same people behind THE FEST in Gainesville, FL. No Idea Records has successfully organized and promoted a multiple day music festival for 7 years! This past year had 270 bands and over 6,000 attendees from all over the world! - First ever event of it's size to raise money and awareness for Migrant Farmworkers!
- The cost of admittance is extremely cheap compared to other larger music festivals, making it more affordable for people to take a chance to travel to attend.
- The beautiful outside environment, warm Florida sun, camping and close proximity to the beach will be an added incentive for college students to consider for their spring break.
- Massive promotional campaign to regional and national press and college radio outlets handled by Southern Lovin' PR
- National articles and generous donated advertising already committed by Alternative Press, Spin, AMP, CMJ, Punknews.org, Razorcake, Beyond Race, Dudes Magazine, BlankTV.com, WhatWe- Hate.com, DryInkMag.com, Lucky13Zine.com, SilentUproar.com, ThePunkSite.com, DeafSparrow. com and LateNightWallflower.com.
- Regional South East press and advertising commitments from Orlando Weekly, Follio Weekly, Creative Loafing, Reax, and the Satellite.
- Early sponsorship commitment from No Idea Records, Hot Topic, I Heart U Printing, and the Skatepark of Tampa will help spread the word of the event in it's early promotion stages.
- *Against Me! in the past year have played benefit shows for HOH and raised over $18,000 in donations in the following cities such as Chicago, Athens, and Gainesville.

The St. Johns County Fairgrounds:

- 38 acre fenced property with 1,000 primitive camping facilities and several RV facilities.
- Located a short biking distance from historic St. Augustine and it's beach.
- 3 major cities (Daytona, Jacksonville & Gainesville) within short driving distance.
- Multiple local and regional food vendors on site with vegetarian and vegan options available.
- Alcohol will be sold on premises.
- Large vending areas selling a variety of items: music, clothing, art, and literature.
- Surrounded by beautiful tree lines and mostly all covered with grassy pastures.

For more info and an overview map click here

*Soon-to-be-launched website will feature a more detailed map and pictures of the fairgrounds!*