Since 1995 Hempfest has been held on the 3rd weekend of August in Myrtle Edwards Park on the beautiful Seattle waterfront, just North of Pier 70 at the corner of Alaskan Way and Broad street. The event spans three Seattle waterfront parks: Centennial Park (North Entrance,) Myrtle Edwards Park (Central Entrance,) and Olympic Sculpture Park (South Entrance). Seattle is in Washington State, on the Northwest corner of the United States in North America. Interstate 5 runs North-South from Vancouver BC to San Diego, CA. From Interstate 5 North or South you can’t miss Seattle, and when you get to the city just take the Mercer street exit to Seattle Center. [Home of the Space Needle.] You will end up heading West on Broad street. When you hit the water [Puget Sound], you’re there!

To beat the crowds, use the north entrance by crossing the Amgen Pedestrian Bridge off of W Prospect Street at Elliott Ave. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=qhl=enq=Elliott+Ave+W+%26+W+Prospect+St,+S… It has an elevator and is wheelchair accessible, placing the avid attendee just north of Seattle Hempfest’s North entrance.

Our newest entrance, The Stephen Colbert Bridge To Somewhere, (a.k.a. the “West Thomas Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Overpass”)

http://maps.yahoo.com/#tt=&q=3rd+Ave+W+%26+W+Harrison+St%2C+Seattle%2C+W…

is accessible at 3rd Ave W & W Harrison Streets, just West of Seattle Center. This new entrance has great parking potential, being just 4 blocks West of Key Arena.  The bridge will take you right across the vehicle-filled Elliot & Western Avenues, and drop you right in Munchie Market!

There is very little parking at W Prospect Street, some can be found on Elliott and on lower Queen Anne Hill, near the Steven Colbert Bridge. So your best bet is to walk, bike, or take a metro bus to those locations. Take metro bus 18 to North entrance, and 15 to South entrance. Downtown Seattle has several parking garages. You can find much more direction, transportation and lodging info here; http://www.hempfest.org/festival/attendees/

There in no parking at Myrtle Edwards Park. There are pay parking lots nearby in downtown and Queen Anne. Street parking is free after 6 p.m. in most areas [ http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/paidparking_hours.htm ] and all day on Sundays. Access the North entrance from Elliott Avenue by crossing the DNA pedestrian bridge at Prospect Street. Limited unmetered parking can often be found along Elliott. We strongly suggest Carpooling, taking the Metro Bus, riding your bike, or walking to Hempfest!

Nope. None of our staff gets paid a cent to work on Hempfest- not the general staff, not the coordinators, not the directors. We are all volunteers, and this is a labor of love! We’ve been busting our butts for 22 years to end the drug war, and we can’t put on such a huge show without the help of over 1,000 general staff volunteers who work the week of the ‘Fest, so please sign up to volunteer and encourage your friends and family to join us! We also have a Core Group of over 140 people who meet each and every month of the year to plan Hempfest.

Besides a sense of self-worth, a gallon of good karma, many new friends, and our undying gratitude you will also receive loads of Special Event Production experience, a highly-prized and attractive Staff T-Shirt, and a fabulous meal and free caffeine (and as much water as you can drink!) for each shift you work.

The best way to sign up to work Hempfest is to fill out the Online Volunteer Staff Application, located at: https://signup.hempfest.org/volunteer

After submitting your Volunteer Application and selecting your shifts, you will receive an email for EACH shift you’ve signed up for. Please write down or print your selected shifts- This is your reminder of your volunteer commitment!

If you need to change, add or delete any shifts, you can do so any time by logging into the website and going here;                                         https://signup.hempfest.org/myschedule                 …

You can also request a printable application by emailing; volunteer@hempfest.org if you will be under 18 years of age during Hempfest 2013. Please be sure to mail it in by August 1st.

The staff orientation meetings, directions to the park, and other information are below.

1. Our busy Volunteers at Hempfest don’t have to type in your information when you do it yourself — this saves literally HUNDREDS of hours.

2. You get the shifts/crews you want, the earlier you sign up.

3. More time to ask and get your questions answered.

4. You don’t have to wait in the long line of “Walk-In Volunteers”, and your check-in goes super-fast when your application is already in the database. This saves the Staff Check-In crew many, many hours!

5. Some people are nervous about signing up online. The database we type you into on-site at Hempfest is the SAME database, protected by the same stringent security systems and firewalls. We don’t give or sell your info to ANYONE. Our database staff signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement. If you’re still nervous about signing up as a volunteer, then don’t bother — Just enjoy the ‘Fest!

If the Crew you want is listed as “Internal”, please contact your Crew Coordinator for your Crew’s password, or email Staff Services at: volunteer@hempfest.org and we’ll get you in touch with your Coordinator.

We need so many volunteers, we’re not in the habit of turning folks away! In the event that a particular shift is filled up, the Online Application will ask you to pick another shift. When you fill out the Volunteer Staff Application you are SCHEDULING YOURSELF for specific shifts that YOU choose. You are making a commitment to show up for those shifts, and we don’t have the person-power to call everyone and remind them of their shifts. Please write down your selected shifts in your calendar! This is your reminder of your volunteer commitment. After submitting your Volunteer Application and selecting your shifts, you will receive an email for EACH shift you’ve signed up for. If you need to change, add, or delete any shifts, you can do so any time by logging into the website and going here; http://signup.hempfest.org/myschedule

Please help us recruit more staff by bringing friends and family with you! Staff members are required to attend an Orientation meeting at Myrtle Edwards Park on one of the following dates: Saturday, August 10th, 5-7 pm. at Munchie Market – Myrtle Edwards Park is located on the Seattle Waterfront, just North of Pier 70 at the junction of Alaskan Way and Broad St. We will meet near the 3 Big Rocks Sculpture at the end of the Stephen Colbert Bridge to Somewhere. http://maps.yahoo.com/#tt=&q=3rd+Ave+W+%26+W+Harrison+St%2C+Seattle%2C+W… Chances are, the weather will be pretty nice for these meetings, but if it’s POURING, come to the next scheduled Orientation meeting.  If you can’t make it to the 1st Orientation,  A second meeting is also scheduled for right before the ‘Fest, meeting at Main Staff Check-In: Thursday, August 15th, 3-4 pm.

Please let us know at Staff Check-In and we will give you a hardcopy of the Staff Manual to read before you start!

The new Stephen Colbert Bridge to Somewhere – a.k.a. the “Thomas Street Pedestrian Overpass” http://maps.yahoo.com/#tt=&q=3rd+Ave+W+%26+W+Harrison+St%2C+Seattle%2C+W… starts at 3rd Ave. W. and W. Harrison st., on the South-West side of lower Queen Anne hill, and ends up right in Munchie Market at Myrtle Edwards Park. Main Staff Check-In is located about 1 block South of Munchie Market, East of the pumphouse.

When entering Myrtle Edwards Park from the South end (at the junction of Alaskan Way and Broad street, aka Olympic Sculpture Park), head North into the park and travel on the water-side path about 1/8 mile. Just after a small hill with several trees on it you will see a small building on your left, along the water [this is the Pumphouse] and a fenced-in area filled with tents on your right, on the East side of the park. That’s where you’re headed, to the tents. There will be a gate into the fenced area, with a large sign that reads; “Staff Check-In”.

When entering Myrtle Edwards Park form the North [Prospect St. Pedestrian Bridge,] walk South along the water-side path until you see a small building on your right, along the water [this is the Pumphouse,] and a fenced-in area filled with tents on your left, on the East side of the park. That’s where you’re headed, to the tents. There will be a gate into the fenced area, with a large sign that reads; “Staff Check-In”. Or ask anyone working in the park.

If your 1st shift starts during the event- please skip the attendee line, and go to the fountain at the South end, Alaskan Way and Broad St., where you will see a booth for Members/Staff/ADA. If someone tries to redirect you just tell them you are staff and you pre-registered online. If you are Pre-Registered using the Online Volunteer Application, and working in the North End [Centennial Park] you may use North Staff Check-In to check in for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday shifts.

Two reasons: First, we must make sure that volunteers under the age of 18 have permission to volunteer from their parent or legal guardian. Second, we need to have your legal name on your volunteer application for liability and insurance reasons. We are the largest Hempfest in the world and one of the largest special events in the State of Washington, and we must adhere strictly to the laws in order to retain our status as a Constitutionally-Protected Free-Speech event. In other words, there wouldn’t BE a Hempfest if we didn’t follow all the rules and jump through all the hoops! So, all paranoia aside, we’re only looking at your ID to check your name and age.

You will need to fill out a Hardcopy Volunteer application (request one from volunteer@hempfest.org ) and have your parent or legal guardian sign where indicated under the “Your Info” section. They will also be asked to list their contact phone # so the Staff Director can call them and verify their permission and answer any questions they may have about Hempfest or your volunteer work. You will need to mail your Hardcopy Application to us by August 1st – NO minors will be allowed to sign-up as Walk-In volunteers, as the Staff Director must contact your parents BEFORE Hempfest for confirmation.
Persons under the age of 18 years may volunteer for Seattle Hempfest only with parental permission AND with parental supervision. This means one of your parents must be onsite at Hempfest with you when you are volunteering for Hempfest, and you must be under their supervision. Supervision will be defined as age-appropriate. Minors will only work daylight shifts. Minors will not be scheduled for Safety crews.
You and your parent(s) are encouraged to sign up together to work on the same crew! Please email: volunteer@hempfest.org for the Minor’s Volunteer Application before August 1st.

Sure! As long as your chosen shifts don’t overlap or conflict with each other. Lots of people work on two or more different crews.

Sure! As long as you get enough breaks, sleep, showers, food and water you are welcome to fill as many shifts as you like.

Your Staff Manual has a list, but basically bring layers [it can be hot or cold on the Seattle Waterfront, and windy, and the weather can change rapidly,] snacks and water, flashlights for Night crews, hardhats, gloves, and safety shoes for Construction crews, your own coffee cup/water bottle/chopsticks, etc. to save disposable products. ALL Setup and Teardown Volunteers must wear CLOSED-TOE SHOES and a Hempfest Safety VEST while on site. This means ALL Volunteers onsite on Aug. 12-15 AND Aug. 19-21, 2013.

1. You’ll be working.

2. Pets are not allowed at Hempfest.

3. Volunteers have had pets lost at Hempfest.

4. It’s gonna be busy, hot, and crowded, with lots of big trucks and heavy equipment.

5. There will be no safe place to tie up or leave your pet.

6. Dogs, especially, have been problematic in the past, and our special events permit requires us to BAN dogs from Hempfest. Washington State Service Animal laws are observed at Seattle Hempfest. No pets are allowed in any of our staff compounds.

Alcohol is NOT allowed at Hempfest. We do not have a permit for alcohol consumption or sales. Please wait until after you shift and after you’ve left the park.

Marijuana is still illegal in the United States, despite legislation in the majority of states to change that! Myrtle Edwards Park is a City of Seattle Park, and all parks in Seattle are registered as DRUG FREE ZONES, meaning all penalties [jail time, fines] are DOUBLED. Anyone caught doing anything illegal while working for Hempfest [ie; on shift/wearing your staff shirt &/or pass] will be summarily dismissed from our staff.

We still cannot have volunteers partaking of [Federally] illegal substances while working for Hempfest [ie; on shift/wearing your staff shirt &/or pass]. It is also a misdemeanor for a Medical Marijuana patient to use Marijuana in “public view.”

Nope. Possession of 1 oz by adults had been decriminalized in the state, but not legalized. Smoking in public, buying, selling, or even sharing ["distributing"] pot is still illegal. Our special event permit and our internal policies require our staff to be legal and sober.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Initiative_502_%282011%29

Nope. Here are some of the many reasons it’s best to take care of your own needs:

1. Hempfest is crawling with authority figures- local, state and federal. Many not in uniform, some posing as stoners, vendors, or fellow volunteers. Remember that all penalties are doubled in a park!

2. There is no quality control with illegal sales. Is there mold? Cat hair? Pesticides? Poison? Hep C? Swine Flu? Ecoli? Unexpected other drugs? No one can tell, and you might be one of the unlucky ones!

3. Illegal drug sales hurt Hempfest. Do you want Hempfest shut down?

4. People who sneak illegal stuff into Hempfest are making money off an all-volunteer event and NOT KICKING DOWN. The paying vendors bring in almost half the $$ it costs to produce the event, please spend your money on legal vendors.

Nope. We wish! However, it’s illegal, and that’s a bummer! We ask that ALL staff not scheduled to work a Night Safety shift leave the park before dark. Here is a URL for info on local transportation, lodging and camping, and directions to Myrtle Edwards Park: http://www.hempfest.org/festival/attendees

Email Staff Services via: volunteer@hempfest.org