We’re 5 years old! Celebrate with us at our annual Sleepy Fest

Saturday October, 26th in Saxapahaw, NC

in partnership with The Haw River Ballroom

HEADLINES:

• Tickets go live to Newslitter subscribers the first week of May, and live to the public 1-2 weeks later.

• Volunteer Signup and Vendor Applications open this Summer. Date TBA

• We’re still taking sponsorships. Reach out to Steph at steph@sleepycatrec.com to inquire

About

Sleepy Cat Records is proud to be entering our fifth year as an independent, label. To celebrate this milestone, we are joining The Haw River Ballroom in presenting our 3rd annual Sleepy Fest in the beloved community of Saxapahaw, NC on October 26th, 2024! Sleepy Fest provides a platform for emerging North Carolina-based artists, creates opportunities for our community to connect, and helps raise the funds we rely on to stay in operation. Furthermore, as in the past two years, we intend to use Sleepy Fest to elevate the social justice work that is already happening around us, as well as the kind of thoughtful work we hope to encourage moving forward - including but not limited to racial and environmental justice, anti-colonial/imperialist organizing and discourse, and queer representation/platforming.

Sleepy Fest has become an integral piece to the puzzle of what we do. We’re tremendously grateful for the success of our first two years in Hillsborough with our family-farm host, Down Yonder, and are ready to bring our festival to a new town. We’ve been in community with The Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw for nearly a decade now and the timing couldn’t be better for us to come together to make something special happen.

The day will kick off at 11am with a free-to-the-public arts market and performance at the Haywagon Stage in the spirit of the long-running Saturdays in Saxapahaw series. From 2pm to midnight, ticket holders will have access to the main festival grounds at the e Ballroom, enjoying feature performances between the Ballroom Main Stage and the Amphitheater, DJ sets, and other special programming. Saxapahaw’s main attractions like the Haw river trails, restaurants, and local businesses will be accessible to the public per usual. Local businesses will be in on the fun, offering special goods and services. Locals interested in more information: please reach out to Jess at sleepyfest@gmail.com

This year’s festival will feature a blend of performances from our Sleepy Cat Artists as well as non-label artists and friends. As in Sleepy Fest’s past, you can expect one-time collaborations and improvisations between artists. We’re planning visual installations and other non-music arts elements like last year’s immersive poetry room and ephemeral art installation, as well as an expanded vendor and artisan market, kids zone, and more! We believe that this event will once again bring a day of joy to attendees, and will continue to foster appreciation for the wealth of culture and community in our area.

For now, save the date and follow our new fest IG @sleepyfest to stay in the loop.

LINEUP

To celebrate our 5th anniversary as a label this year’s festival will feature a blend of performances from our Sleepy Cat Artists as well as non-label artists and friends. As in Sleepy Fest’s past, you can expect one-time collaborations and improvisations between artists.

Full lineup coming soon.

ARTS AND MAKERS MARKET

This year’s market will be located at Saxapahaw’s Haywagon Stage, home of the long running and family-friendly Saturdays in Saxapahaw. In keeping with that spirit, we will kick off Sleepy Fest with a free show and market from 11am-2pm. Our ticketed experience will then run from 2pm-12am at the main festival grounds between the Ballroom and Amphitheater.

Market signup coming soon.

FOOD & BEV

There will be food and beverage vendors to enjoy all day, including coffee, alcoholic and NA beverages, and vegan food options.

Full food & bev vendor list coming soon.

*You’re welcome to bring your own food items if you have specific dietary preferences, though we encourage you to purchase food onsite from our great vendors and local businesses.

SCHEDULE

• 11-2p Free-to-the-public Arts Market & Performances at Haywagon Stage

• 2p-12p Ticketed access to festival grounds. Feature performances between the indoor Ballroom and outdoor Amphitheater, as well DJ sets and other special programming. Detailed schedule TBA.

Join our Newslitter and follow us on IG @sleepyfest to stay in the loop as we roll things out.

TICKET INFO

Tickets go live to Newslitter subscribers the first week of May, and live to the public 1-2 weeks later.

General Admission

General Admission Adult - $49.50

General Admission Kids 6-12 - $22

General Admission Kids 0-5 - FREE

General Admission tickets provide access to the festival grounds for all programming from 2pm-12am, where you’ll enjoy feature performances between the Ballroom and Amphitheater, DJ sets, and other special programming.

AristoCat Tickets

AristoCat - $150

AristoKitty (Kids 6-12) - $115

Become an AristoCat at this year's Sleepy Fest to gain exclusive access and sweet perks, and to support the Sleepy Cat artists and community.

Your extra donation will go towards:

• Our sliding scale program, subsidizing affordable tickets, and helping make Sleepy Fest more accessible

• Paying event staff and performers bonuses above base pay

• Funding our label projects for 2025, should we have surplus beyond the above mentioned priorities

Tickets include everything a General Admission Ticket does, as well as:

• Early entry to festival grounds

• Premium viewing areas

• Aristocat-edition Sleepy Fest T-shirt and poster

• Entry into our Saxapahaw Local Business Giveaway for a chance to win exclusive goods and services from participating local businesses

• Early access to future Sleepy Fest tickets

• More info and perks to be announced!More info and perks to be announced!

Extra Donations

Feeling extra giving? Make stand-alone or add-on donations in $5 increments from our ticket provider. Your donation supports our sliding scale program, helps us pay higher wages, and funds 2025 label projects.

Thanks so much!

OUR TEAM

Gabe Anderson - Co-founder, Executive Director - sleepycatrec@gmail.com

Saman Khoujinian - Co-founder, Programming - sleepyfest@gmail.com

Steph Stewart - Sponsorship Director -  steph@sleepycatrec.com

Cam Laws - Market and Vending Director - sleepyfest@gmail.com

Jess Pusch - Local Outreach Coordinator, Volunteer Director - sleepyfest@gmail.com

Get in touch!