Blk Out Fest 2024

Blk Out Fest is a bouldering festival produced by First Outdoor Company in partnership with Lookout Mountain Conservancy & WeClimb Chattanooga, focused on celebrating and cultivating Black excellence in climbing. Held on the ancestral and stolen lands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) Indigenous Tribes in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this festival features a networking welcome party & mixer, games and activities, outdoor, wellness & bouldering workshops and a fellowship dinner celebrating Black creatives, athletes and entrepreneurs.

Festival Ticket includes:

• Lodging
• Access to festival activities & events
• Free Workshops
• Gift Bag (includes 1 raffle ticket)
• Dinner on Saturday
• Breakfast on Saturday & Sunday
• *Lunch/Snacks on Sunday
• Additional perks for Pro Blk Collective members

Important Note: You will be required to sign a video/image release & event waiver upon entering the festival grounds. Must be 18+ to attend. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

Attendees can expect a safe and educational space for new climbers who are inspired by experienced Black climbers. There will be intentional community discussions, wellness workshops, Black-owned business vendors, films & guest speakers centering the Black climber experience.

SCHEDULE

Please visit the SCHEDULE page of the website to view the festival schedule. More details will be added and all registered participants will receive a digital program via email. Check in begins Friday, November 1st at 3pm and check-out is Monday, November 4 at 8am.

LODGING DETAILS

To protect the privacy of the festival guests, the exact address to the lodging will be sent via email. We offer bunk, car camping and offsite lodging ticket options. Bunkhouse lodging is mixed-gender and shared with 8 beds per lodge. Guest MUST bring their own sheets/sleeping bag and pillow. There are accessible bunkhouses with an attached toilet room. Please indicate during registration if you require an accessible or gender-specific bunkhouse. Car camping guarantees a private parking space near the Assemblyhall. Space is for standard cars or camper vans but not large camping trailers. No hookups provided. For questions regarding lodging, please CONTACT US. Lodging facility is private ad gated, the access code and address details will be sent via email to all registered participants.

MEALS

As part of our commitment to climate action, all meals provided by the Blk Out Fest will be plant-based.  Attendees are allowed to bring their own food, snacks & beverages to store inside of a designated area of our walk-in refrigerator. Access to grill, kitchen appliances and dishes/utensils are provided. We ask that those using the kitchen please clean up their dishes. There will be non-plant-based food vendors on-site selling food. Only those who volunteer for our crag conservation day on Sunday will be provided lunch.

GETTING THERE

If traveling by air, the most affordable option is to fly into the Atlanta airport and take the Move Blk shuttle bus, presented by Movement Gyms. The shuttle will arrive at the Atlanta airport at 2pm eastern time so please plan flights accordingly. The Chattanooga airport is located 12-15 minutes from the festival venue and easily accessible via car rental and/or rideshare apps. Please CONTACT US if transportation is needed to/from the Chattanooga airport.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your flight is delayed, missed or canceled, please contact us immediately so we can assist with alternative transportation. Visit our TRANSPORTATION page to learn more.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

There is free parking on-site for tickeholders but we strongly encourage using our Move Blk shuttle transportation option. Please view our shuttle schedule in detail before purchasing transportation. Please use our community Discord server for carpooling options. 

FESTIVAL TEE

A limited-edition festival tee will be available for pre-sale. We are aiming to be a low-waste festival and will only stock a limited amount of shirts for sale at the festival. Purchasing a festival tee supports an independent Black creative. Size availability is subject to change but available sizes range from XS to 4XL. 

ANIMALS

Due to the shared nature of the lodging facilities, we ask that you do not bring your pets. Services animals are welcome but please indicate in the registration notes.

ACCESSIBILITY

Please review our ACCESSIBILITY page for all information. Special requests and complete information is available on our website.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

If you need full or partial financial support to attend the fest, please complete our financial assistance request form. Unfortunately, we may not be able to provide full financial support. If you would like to help send someone to the fest, donate directly to our PayPal link HERE. We also offer payment plan options via Affirm at checkout. 

REFUND POLICY

There are no refunds! If you are no longer able to attend, you can transfer your ticket to another individual or sell it in our Blk Out Fest group or on Discord.

RAINOUT

This event is rain or shine. All registered attendees may climb for free at High Point Climbing in Downtown Chattanooga.  *schedule subject to change to accommodate rainouts. 

First Outdoor Company is a Black and woman-owned outdoor adventure, education & creative business designed to create safe, educational and sustainable climbing experiences.