Frequently Asked Questions

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How much does it cost to attend the Fair?

2024 Ticket Type	Early Bird Pricing Through May 1	Front Gate Pricing Starting May 2
Adult Weekend Pass	$35	$45
Senior (65+)/Student Weekend Pass	$16	$20
Youth (13-18) Weekend Pass	$16	$20

Adult 1-Day Pass	$15	$20
Senior (65+)/Student 1-Day Pass	$8	$10
Youth (13-18) 1-Day Pass	$8	$10

Kids 12 and under	Free	Free
MREA Members	Free	Free
Volunteers	Free	Free

Special Event Tickets	Member	Non-Member
Networking Dinner Adult Under 12	$TBD $TBD	$TBD $TBD
Community Dinner	$TBD	$TBD

Is there WIFI at the Fair?

At this time public wifi is not available.

Wifi will be available to presenters and exhibitors.

Please check back for any updates.

What should I bring to the Fair?

Most importantly, yourself, friends, and family!
Comfortable shoes for walking the fairgrounds
Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
Rain jacket and umbrella – we’ll be going strong in rain or shine!
Refillable water bottle
Bag for all of the goodies you’ll score at the Fair
Business cards for networking, pencil, and/or pen
Camera or mobile device- check our Media Kit to connect via social media!
Your dance moves for rocking out to the musical guests featured over the weekend.
If you’re an MREA Member, bring your membership receipt or simply tell your name to the Front Gate volunteers (we are no longer mailing membership cards).
As of now, masks are optional in buildings.

Can I use a credit card to make purchases at The Fair?

2023 Information:

Some areas of the Fair accept credit card payments including the Front Gate, Silent Auction & Info Tent.

An ATM is located in the entry of MREA’s main building to supply cash if needed. The following areas of The Energy Fair accept cash only:
– MREA Cafe
– Beer Tent
– Some exhibitors and food vendors

What are the Fair’s hours?

2024 Dates & Times
Friday, June 21: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, June 22: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, June 23: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Who gets free admission to the Fair?

Free Admission: MREA Members, kids 12 & under, and Hardcore Volunteers receive free admission! Volunteers giving two-hours time can get in free the day they volunteer and those working 12+ hours receive weekend admission.

Workshop Presenters, Exhibitors, and certain Sponsor levels also receive free weekend admission and may be eligible for additional benefits. Head to theenergyfair.org/sponsorship to learn more!

Where can I find the exhibitor information packet?

Exhibitors receive an email confirmation containing the exhibitor information packet, which can also be found on the Exhibitor Information page at www.TheEnergyFair.org/exhibit.

Are pets allowed?

Sorry, NO PETS are allowed unless your animal is training to be or is a certified service animal.

Do you sell attendee, workshop, sponsor, or exhibitor lists?

MREA does not and has never sold any list of the sort. In the past, MREA staff and some Fair participants have experienced spam emails with Energy Fair attendee lists for sale. Please know that these solicitations are scams, and the senders have not been authorized on behalf of MREA or The Energy Fair. We encourage you to mark these emails as spam and then delete them.

What are the exhibitor hours?

2024 Exhibitor Staffing Dates and Hours

Thursday, June 20 (Exhibitor check-in and setup)……………9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, June 21 (Vehicles permitted)……………………………….7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Friday, June 21 (Exhibits Open)………………………………………9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 22 (Vehicles permitted)……………………………7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Saturday, June 22 (Exhibits Open)…………………………………..9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 23 (Vehicles permitted)………………………………7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m
Sunday, June 23 (Exhibits Open)……………………………………..9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 23 (Exhibitor take-down)……………………………4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Do you mail tickets?

Your email order confirmation will be your entry ticket. Please have it ready to expedite your entry.

Ticket/membership purchase confirmations can be presented by paper or by phone. If you don’t have either of these items, we’ll have a roster of everyone who has purchased a ticket and/or membership.

Note: If you purchased camping, you will receive a unique confirmation indicating your site number.

Are there other volunteer opportunities at the MREA?

Yes! Head to midwestrenew.org/volunteer to keep up to date on all available volunteer opportunities with the MREA!

MREA will alert its audiences of additional volunteer opportunities as they develop. If you’re interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact us at volunteer@midwestrenew.org to be added to our volunteer solicitations.

Where do I find my member card?

Our staff emails all current members their digital member card within two weeks of their membership purchase. You can print your card and present it at The Energy Fair Front Gate or save the email to your smartphone for speedy entry to the Fair. If you don’t have your card, no worries; we’ll also have a list of current members!

For any other membership questions, please check midwestrenew.org/membership

What volunteer jobs are available at The Energy Fair?

Below are the volunteer jobs you can sign up for:

Pre-Fair Volunteer
- Help prep before the Fair; as early as Monday the week of the Fair! Heavy & light work available
Front Gate, Membership, & Will Call Volunteer
- Greet, answer questions, sell tickets and/or memberships, and assist with Will Call badge pick up and sign-in
Gate Greeter
- Monitor vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the Front Gate, assist Front Gate Volunteers & support Security Staff
Traffic Crew
- Direct traffic on Deer Road and parking lots
Grounds Crew
- Empty garbage, recycling, and compost bins, other facilities tasks
Food & Café Volunteer
- Prepare and/or serve food, clean up the Café and/or dining event areas; make and serve coffee
Beverage & Special Event Volunteer
- Work under the Lead Bartender and serve beer (must be 18 or over and work sober). Help set up special events during the Fair, prepare food, and takedown event
Campground Volunteer
- Maintain campgrounds and manage shower trailer, assist in delivering supplies to The Coffee Bean
Rainbow’s End
- Help with workshops and monitor the free kids’ play area
Take Down Crew
- Tear down and help clean up – Take Down starts Sunday and goes until Tuesday, June 25th
Post Fair Volunteer
- On-site assistance; cleaning, inventory. Begins Monday, July 8th

Stay after the Fair on Sunday for our Volunteer Appreciation Party!
There are so many ways to make an impact at The Energy Fair! It would not be possible without the 300+ volunteers who help make the Fair a success. Without their help, the Fair just wouldn’t happen. We hope you will join us as we pave the way to a more sustainable future!

How are volunteers scheduled?

You may sign up to be an Energy Fair volunteer here.

Volunteer schedules will be sent out shortly before the Fair! Our Volunteer Coordinator will try to match your availability, interests, passions, and abilities to the best of their ability.

Please note that some areas of The Energy Fair have their own high priority times or specific times when they operate.

The Volunteer Coordinator will try their best to schedule you in your chosen area(s), but sometimes positions fill faster for some areas or other areas may require more volunteers to effectively operate.

After you receive your schedule, please confirm that your volunteer schedule works for you. If it does not, then the Volunteer Coordinator (volunteer@midwestrenew.org) can work with you to reschedule your shift(s).

Are all The Energy Fair workshops free?

No, but almost all of them are!*

Workshop Type	Cost*	Length	How To Get Tickets

General Workshops	$0	50 min	No Tickets Necessary
Extended Workshops	$Varies	Up to 3 hrs	Energy Fair Tickets Page
Energy Professional CE Series	$0	1 to 2 hrs	No Tickets Necessary

*Attendees must purchase admission or an MREA membership to enter The Energy Fair, but volunteers can can get free entry depending on their commitment.

Where should I park at The Energy Fair?

Parking is available on the MREA grounds. View the Fairgrounds Map to see parking entrances and parking spaces. We recommend keeping an eye out for public transportation and bike route options to cut down on our collective carbon footprint! Find information on free and discounted bus shuttles on our Travel and Accommodations page.

What are volunteer passes good for?

Volunteers that donate 2+ hours of their time receive a Day Pass (in the form of a color-coded wristband) to The Energy Fair. Volunteers that donate 12+ hours of their time receive a Weekend Pass (in the form of a badge) to The Energy Fair. These passes are located at the Volunteer Tent. Pick them up before your shift when you sign in at the Volunteer Tent!

Aside from the Fair, are there other sponsorship opportunities available through the MREA?

If you would like to support the MREA’s work as a whole, head to midwestrenew.org/donate/ or email Engagement Director, Celia Sweet, at celia@midwestrenew.org.

MREA has launched a public education call to action – “Rise Up Midwest!”

The energy efficiency and distributed energy industries have the capacity to rapidly expand services resulting in increased local investment, business growth, energy resiliency as well as employment opportunities in urban and rural communities across the region. Let’s put people to work. Let’s make home and business investments that reduce expenses for the long-term. Let’s build a strong and resilient electric grid that weathers future crises. Let’s invest our energy dollars locally. Let’s build an energy economy that best serves people and the places we live and love. Now is the time. To do this, state, local, and utility leadership across the Midwest must expand programs and advance policies that provide business opportunity and create market stability. To learn more, visit riseupmidwest.org.

Will there still be a Thursday night Networking Dinner?

Yes, we will be hosting the Networking Dinner on Thursday 6/20/24! You can purchase your tickets at theenergyfair.org/tickets.

What are the differences between the campsite types?

There are three types of campsites at The Back 40 Campground:

RV
- RV sites are located in an open field.
- You will receive a campsite number in your camping confirmation (sent by email).
Tent with Car
- Available spaces for purchase include 1-tent with car/ 2-tents with car/ and 3-tents with car.
- You will receive a campsite number in your camping confirmation (sent by email).
Walk-in
- There is no driving in the walk-in tent area.
- You will receive a campsite number in your email confirmation, but this is only to guide you to the correct area.
- You get to pick your campsite once you arrive to the correct walk-in area – signage is on site to help guide you.
- Cars must be parked in the parking lot at the campground.
- Limited parking may be available along the road near the walk-in camping area; however it is first come, first serve.

Is ice available for purchase at the campground?

At this time, ice is not on site at the campground; however you can purchase ice at the MREA Cafe located on the fairgrounds.

Can I have a campfire?

Unfortunately campfires are strictly prohibited. Fire danger is extremely high at this campground.

Are there showers and restrooms available at the campground?

The Back 40 Campground has one shower trailer available throughout the weekend. Port-a-potties are also strategically located throughout the campground.

Can RVs dump grey water?

There is no dumping of grey water permitted under any circumstances.

When are quiet hours enforced?

Quiet hours at The Back 40 are from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am daily (please shut off all generators and music and keep voices low).

When can I purchase a campsite at The Back 40 Campground?

Sales for The Back 40 Campground begin April 1st on the tickets page.

More information on the Campground can be found on our Travel & Accommodations page!

Campground Site Costs:

1 Tent, Walk-in= $20
1 Tent, Car= $25
2 Tents, Car= $50
3 Tents, Car= $75
RV= $25

Does the Back 40 Campground have electricity?

All campsites at The Back 40 do not have access to electricity.

Where Can I Stay?

There are many options for camping and lodging near The Energy Fair. You can even camp AT The Energy Fair! Sites will sell out, so don’t delay in purchasing your campsite at The Back 40 Campground. Sales begin April 1st.

For more information on purchasing a campsite at The Back 40, camping near The Energy Fair, local hotels, etc. head to theenergyfair.org/accommodations.

How much is parking?

Parking at The Energy Fair is free!

How do I charge my electric vehicle at The Energy Fair?

If possible, please register for vehicle charging before you get to the Fair. Once you arrive, please go to the Front Gate to pay for or receive your admission wristband.

More information can be found on the Clean Transportation Show and EV Charging Page.

I’m a member, how do I receive free admission to The Energy Fair?

All current members will be listed on our roster at The Energy Fair Front Gate and receive a membership wristband, which includes entry for the entire weekend.

In order to expedite Front Gate entry, please present your membership payment receipt as proof of membership (this can be done by printout or phone).