To celebrate Homoground’s 15th anniversary, we’re throwing a party! Not just any party, we will be hosting a Queer Music Video Festival highlighting the musical and visual creations of local musicians and artists.
What started as an Internet radio show in 2011, evolved into an award winning podcast dedicated to supporting the creative and collaborative growth of independent LGBTQIA+ musicians. The podcast spotlighted queer music festivals and the artists involved from planning to performing. During the first days of COVID lockdown, Homoground rallied to put together a virtual panel of touring musicians whos tours were canceled to strategize how to navigate the pandemic.
The Queer Music Video Festival is the next evolution of this mission. It is a way to honor the legacy of Homoground by expanding beyond the audio, and into the visual component of the music video where visuals, sound, and storytelling bring queer perspectives to life in a way a song alone cannot. This festival will pull the music video out of the personal screen and into a shared, celebratory space, transforming it into a collective experience.
The festival will screen a selection of 10 music videos from local North Carolina bands who will also perform live at the event, highlighting the creativity and vision of our vibrant queer community.
Want to be a part of it? We will be posting a Call for Submissions in March 2026.
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Rest + Reset Retreats – MARCH 2024
Embrace the spirit of Spring renewal while meeting like-minded people in an intentional space for rest, reset, and a refocus on personal growth and wellness. This retreat is not just a getaway; it’s an opportunity to set meaningful intentions for the season ahead, surrounded by a supportive and affirming community.
Each group will retreat for 4 days and 3 nights in a shared living space in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. There will be group activities with plenty of free time to explore.
Activities may include: Facilitated Movement, Meditation / Reflection, Vernal Equinox / Spring Mindfulness Ritual & Workshops, Beach time, Sunrises / Sunsets, Crafts & Games, Communal Meals, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bike Rides, Kayak, Massage, Acupuncture, Tours
**All activities are optional. You’re welcome to participate in whatever capacity you’d like 🙂
Group 1 – March 17th-20th, 2024 (General Public)
The first group will retreat at the beginning of the week to honor the Vernal Equinox on the 18th and the start of spring: rebirth, renewing energy, planting the seeds.
Group 2 – March 21st-24th, 2024 (LGBTQIA+)
The second retreat group is for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ with an emphasis on grounding ourselves, resetting our intentions while enjoying activities at the beach and making new friends.There are 6 spots available!
Register by February 10th, 2024 to attend!
Curious? Have Questions? Want to meet the Facilitators?
We will be holding an interest meeting on Friday, February 9th at 7pm ET. Register here for the zoom link.Pricing:
Registration ranges from $720 – $1900 depending on the lodging options you choose on the registration form. Activities and meals included are listed on the registration form.Payment Options:
A). Make one payment in the full amount now to receive a 5% discount.
B). Pay a $500 deposit now to secure your spot. The remainder of the payment must be made by January 1st, otherwise your spot will be relinquished.
Deposit and payments are non-transferable and non-refundable, unless the event is canceled by organizers.
Interested in attending?
To secure your spot, please fill out this form. Once we receive your registration, we will email you the invoice to submit payment.
Questions? contact homoground@gmail.com
The Vernal Equinox Beach Retreat is organized by Samara Hubbard of Samara Holistic Massage and Lynn Casper of Homoground.
About Samara of Holistic Massage (She/Her)
Hey there! I’m a licensed holistic massage and bodywork therapist with a private practice in Wilmington, NC. I was raised in beautiful Chapel Hill, NC and have always loved Wilmington and the area beaches. Connecting with and exploring my environment have always been important to me, and being close to the ocean has been a lifelong necessity. Lucky for me, I was able to move to Wilmington permanently in 2012! After graduating massage school in 2019, I spent some time working in spas until I opened my private practice, Samara Holistic Massage, in early 2021. While I value the time I spent working in bigger spas, I found that I prefer the flexibility, and ability to build client relationships, that private practice provides. When I’m not working I love to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Kayaking, cycling, swimming, eating amazing food, and taking in all that the islands have to offer occupies most of my free time. A passion for service in my community drives me, and am always looking for more ways to get involved. I believe that massage and bodywork should be accessible to all, and work diligently to always find more ways to make it so. The amazing beauty and diversity in our world is part of what makes life interesting and fascinating, and I work hard to provide a space where everyone is welcome, safe, and affirmed in who they are. I look forward to meeting you!About Lynn Casper of Homoground (they/them)
Hi! I’m the creator of the queer focused project Homoground. Wilmington, North Carolina was my home for 25 years. It is where I grew up and discovered my identity as a queer, filipino kid existing in the South. During my time in Wilmington, I organized many events and projects that I saw in other cities that I wanted to see exist in my hometown. It’s where I started Homoground, a queer music podcast that uplifts independent LGBTQIA bands. Homoground serves as a platform to bring community together online and offline. It is my life mission to create spaces for LGBTQIA+ folks to thrive, exist as their most authentic selves and to feel empowered to create the things they want to see in their worlds.Questions? contact homoground@gmail.com
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Facilitation Workshop: Basics Are Not Basic
Friday, February 5th at 5:30pm EST
Join us for the first in a series of Facilitation workshops, hosted by one of our FocusTime moderators, Honey LeFleur!
Facilitation can be a true gift, but if you don’t prepare properly, it can be a complete disaster. Join master facilitator, Honey LeFleur for a chance to visit the basics of facilitation with fresh eyes and a new lens.
Honey will guide you through preparing materials, yourself, and a few scripts for those rare, but real moments that make us freeze. We’ll discuss the role of facilitator and help you find your most confident and vulnerable self when leading a group.
Honey is known for creating spaces that are supportive, allow for vulnerability, and are incredibly fun! Honey has over 11 years experience designing and facilitating learning content. She has begun to focus her work on offering queer folks a healing relationship with their bodies as a Movement Practitioners and Empowerment Coach. She’s moderator of two Homoground Focus/Time sessions and hosts workshops centering body stories and healing shame.
