Online enrollment begins Saturday, June 5th at 9 a.m. (CDT). Classes begin Friday morning, October 22nd and end on Sunday afternoon, October 24th. The retreat officially begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday night, October 21st with a Texas BBQ dinner followed by a special Kick Off Concert. A Farewell Concert ends the event on Sunday evening.
The retreat will be held at Hoblitzelle Camp and Conference Center, 8060 Singleton Rd., Midlothian, Texas 76065. For a map and directions, go to our MAP & DIRECTIONS page. For more information about the camp, go to HOBLITZELLE. For a site map, go to SITE. Please visit the CAMP to see pictures of the retreat site.
The retreat is designed primarily for adult students wishing to learn to play traditional Irish music. However, a small number of non-adult students, ages 12-17, may be invited to the retreat if they meet specific qualifications that include demonstrating a high level of maturity and musical ability. Parental supervision of these students is required at all times during the retreat. To apply for youth exceptions, please see AGE EXCEPTIONS.
If this is your first time at the retreat, WELCOME! We hope your time with us is memorable and beneficial. We have prepared a page of information that will help you. Please go to our NEWCOMERS page.
You can arrive after 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 21st. We suggest you go immediately to the Retreat Office in the Chapel (see site MAP) to pick up your room keys (if you reserved a room on campus) and packets and pay your balances. If you arrive on Friday, we suggest checking in at least an hour before classes begin so you will have time to get familiar with the facilities and services available. See below for the Retreat Office hours.
Yes to the dinner but no to the ceili. Because of the pandemic, we have decided to drop all dancing this year. Instead, we will have a Kick-Off Concert. We will first gather at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 21st to enjoy a Texas BBQ dinner (meal optional and available to those who paid). The event will be held at the Texas Pavilion (if weather is good) or the Dining Hall (if weather is inclement). This is a good time to meet our instructors, reconnect with folks you haven’t seen since the last retreat, and make new friends. A dessert contest with prizes for the winners will also be held. At 8:30 p.m., we will have the Kick-Off Concert in the Chapel. Of course, sessions will be held in designated places! Please refer to the CLASS SCHEDULE for those locations.
Flyer will be posted when done.
The Retreat Office, the Camp Store and vendor booths will be open during the times and days below. If you need assistance outside of those times, seek out our operations staff who will be traveling around the grounds on carts or call them on our Retreat Cell at (469) 215-1840. Here are the hours for the office and all of the booths located in the Chapel:
Thursday — Retreat Office: 4-9 p.m.
Friday — Retreat Office: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Camp Store & Booths: 9-10:30 a.m.; 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.; 2:15-2:30 p.m.; 3:30-3:45 p.m.; 5-7 p.m.; and during breaks and after evening concerts.
Saturday — Retreat Office: 8-10 a.m. Camp Store & Booths: 9-10:30 a.m.; 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.; 2:15-2:30 p.m.; 3:30-3:45 p.m.; 5-7 p.m.; and during breaks and after evening concerts.
Sunday — Retreat Office: Closed Camp Store & Booths: 9-10:30 a.m.; 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.; 2:15-2:30 p.m.; 3:30-3:45 p.m.; 5-7 p.m.; and during breaks and after evening concerts.
Monday — Retreat Office: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Yes. See SHUTTLE SERVICES for all of the details. We operate two shuttle services. The airport shuttle service is only between DFW Airport and Camp Hoblitzelle or between DFW Airport and the Courtyard by Marriott There is also a bus service between the hotel and Camp Hoblitzelle. We ask donations for the use of either service.
Unfortunately, no. Our classes are designed for students who have some proficiency on their instruments. Please visit CLASSES for more information.
Yes. You can change your classes by logging onto your account and making the changes online any time before online registration ends on Saturday, October 16th but ONLY if the classes for which you want to enroll are NOT closed. You may change classes at the retreat by first getting permission from the Retreat Office or Retreat Director. If the office is closed, call our Retreat Cell at (469) 215-1840. You may also have to seek permission from the instructor whose class you want to join.
Yes. The scholarship program is set up to award scholarships based on financial need only. Most of our scholarships are funded through the generous support of the Southwest Celtic Music Association and other sponsors. Visit SCHOLARSHIPS for more information.
Yes. We encourage players to get together whenever time allows. Some sessions are organized by the retreat while others happen spontaneously. We offer sessions for different levels of play at different locations. Please session in the areas that we provide and refrain from playing near areas where classes are being held and where people are sleeping.
Yes. Here are some conditions:
- You MUST register online as “non-student” if the following applies —
- You are accompanying a student to the retreat and will be on campus for any extended time.
- You want meals and/or on-campus lodging at the retreat.
- There is no charge for non-student enrollments, but you must check in when you arrive on campus and receive a badge that must be worn at all times when at the camp. This is a security requirement by Camp Hoblitzelle.
- You can reserve on-campus room lodging if you will be housed with an enrolled student. Otherwise, you must obtain lodging off-campus. The exceptions are dorm and tent camping which are open to students and non-students alike.
- Admission to all concerts is included with student registration. Non-student guests can purchase a pass good for all concerts for $20.00 per person. These admission passes can be purchased online or at the Retreat Booth.
- Non-students are welcomed to participate in sessions.
- Non-students must comply with all of the rules and policies set for our students. See our NEWCOMERS for more info.
There are many restaurants in Midlothian and in nearby Waxahachie. The better deal for the money is the food offered at the camp. And you wouldn’t want to miss the wonderful meal-time concerts and camaraderie. PLEASE NOTE: The Hoblitzelle kitchen is NOT an “official” gluten-free and vegan kitchen. Here is our MENU.
It could be cold or absolutely beautiful. All of the rooms are heated and air-conditioned. If it is nice out, some classes may elect to move outdoors. Before you come, please check WEATHER.COM for weather forecasts and prepare accordingly.
A digital recorder to record lessons (very important), rain gear or umbrella if rain is forecasted, a flashlight, a portable camp chair for outside sessions and classes if weather is nice, a digital recorder to record lessons (did we mention that already?), your instrument(s), extra strings in case you break one or more, a notepad to take notes, a great attitude for learning, and in case you missed it, a digital recorder to record lessons. Maximize the value of your tuition – record your classes! The camp is a great place to bike, so bring them if you can find a way to carry your instruments safely on them.
Pets, alcohol or illegal drugs, firearms, contagious illnesses and electric instruments (except for electric pianos).
Yes, we operate a Camp Store each day at the retreat with many items for sale. It is located in the Chapel. During the evening concerts, it will be open selling instructor merchandise. There will also be a number of other vendor booths. See times above and here is our VENDOR BOOTH page.
Yes, you can buy additional tickets for friends and family members. Non-student guests can purchase a pass good for all concerts for $20.00 per person. These admission passes can be purchased online or at the Camp Store.
There are no payphones. You are welcome to bring your cell phones. During classes, however, please turn them off or set them on vibrate. Of course, you are welcome to use your phone as a recording device. Please be advised that some cell services don’t work well inside the camp although most work at the entry gate. AT&T and T-Mobile are known to work on campus.
If you need phone numbers to give someone in the event of an emergency, give them the retreat office number at Hoblitzelle at (469) 215-1840. This is the number forwarded to our Operations Manager and it will be answered throughout the day and night. The number for the main office at Camp Hoblitzelle is (972) 723-2387.
Yes, at the Retreat Office. We will hold items for 30 days after the retreat ends. If you get home and you’re missing something, email or call us.
Before or After the Event Ken Fleming, Director, at director@oflahertyretreat.org, (469) 215-1840 (his cell is (214) 770-5036).
About Online Registration and On-Campus Lodging Rick Roberts, Asst. Director and Registrar, at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org
About Off-Campus Lodging and Camp Meals Louvain Guiomard, Asst. Director, at lguiomard@gmail.com
During the Event Managers will carry phones during the day and can be reached by calling (469) 215-1840.