Description
Due to pre-burn drought conditions and a county wide burn ban during Ignite! 2026, we were not allowed to have any open flames at Ignite! besides cook stoves and small propane fire pits. This ban included burning our Lighthouse Effigy (designed by David Epps, build team led by Thom Dunn) and our Temple (design and build led by Kahlil Banning). We pivoted and made the best of the situation, still coming together as a community to celebrate, and pull off one of the best burns I have attended or helped plan.
Fortunately, the gracious stewards of Spirithaven expressed how much of a shame they thought it would be if it couldn't eventually burn our effigy, and we had to demolish or disassemble it. They insisted that we figure out a way to burn it in the future, and they had a proposal. After considering the amount of rain we/they received, they proposed that we burn the lighthouse during their annual Darbukastan Independence Day celebration (DID) on June 6, 2026, 2 weeks after it should have burned at Ignite!
Since then, some of us on the Ignite Planning Association (IPA) have picked the reins back up to figure out logistics to make that happen. We are coordinating with Scott and Kay Eutsler, the stewards of Spirithaven, the DID planning committee, the relevant local agencies, our own Fire Art and Safety Team (FAST), and local fire resources to ensure we can burn the Lighthouse safely, and according to local regulations.
The Darbukastan Independence Day celebration has been taking place at Spirithaven for the past 26 years. The name Darbukastan is a play on ‘darbuka’, the name of the traditional hand drum prevalent in music across the globe. Darbukastan as an idea was born out of the generous and creative spirits of Kay and Scott, loving caretakers and dwellers of Spirithaven Farm. Darbukastan was created as a place for its citizens to celebrate a community of love, joy, creativity, and togetherness that flourishes independent of the comings and goings of the wider world.
DID is an intimate gathering of friends celebrating music and dance, specifically from the Middle East. They have been gracious enough to open their gates for our community to burn our effigy. Please be aware this is not a burn or a burn takeover. We have been warmly invited into their fold to enjoy their global music, classes, and community potluck meals. Come ready to connect and slow down. Mini theme camps are welcome, but no sound camps allowed. Experience a whole new energy at Sprithaven and a lovely decomp event with new friends at our favorite home! Also, the theme of this years’ DID celebration is The Derby, so have a little creative fun with that. We can’t wait to see you there!
On Site camping will be available. Car camping will be available in Fuego and Pyrotopia. Additional tent camping will be available in Unicorn Pasture. You may also stay off site at a hotel or AirBNB. DID staff and attendees will have reserved camping cordoned off in some areas. Please observe and respect these areas. There should be enough space to accommodate everybody. Exodus: you must be packed down and headed offsite by 1pm on Sunday.
We will provide portos and fire safety for the effigy burn. Everything else, you bring with you and you take home with you. This includes food, water, camping needs, medicine, etc. The event has a pot luck style dinner on Friday and Saturday night that we are welcome to join (cook and bring something to share). They also have classes, music, and performances that we are welcome and encouraged to participate in.
For more general information on the event check out the DID Survival Guide.
The 2026 full event line up can be found here DID Event Line up.
Visit their FB Page Citizens of Darbukustan here.
And check here for fun DID Merch.
Date & Time
Jun 5, 2026 9:00 AM - Jun 7, 2026 1:00 PM
Venue Details
Spirithaven Farm
677 Spirithaven LaneStuart, Virginia 24171
