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Third annual Paganstock rolls into Bangor this weekend
Thursday, June 07, 2007
By John Liberty

When Ethan Pulka's house burned down in March, he seriously considered canceling the annual pagan-themed festival held on his 10-acre property in Bangor.

He told bands that had performed at past Paganstocks -- a three-day festival featuring music, clothing, jewelry and other events -- that he didn't think he could pull it off this year.

``They said, `No, we really look forward to this festival,''' Pulka said. ``It really upset them.''

According to Pulka, a previous performer at Paganstock said: ``This is the only place a pagan can be a pagan.'' The speaker was Roy Addams of Portland, Maine's metal band 13 Winters, one of this year's headliners.

Pulka decided to go ahead with Paganstock 2007, which runs from Friday through Sunday at 41261 County Road 681 in Bangor. Bands from around southwestern Michigan, the Midwest and the East Coast will converge on the secluded plot of land for the music festival. There also will be vendors with jewelry, clothing and food as well as tarot-card readings, massages, fire tricks and other entertainers.

Most of the music will be hard rock or metal. ``It seems a lot of pagan festivals in the past have had folk music, very mellow, a softer tone to it. ... There are a lot of artists out there that have a heavier or different sound I'd like to showcase,'' Pulka said.

Now that Pulka is committed to this year's festival, he's anticipating as many as 400 people showing up. That number would more than quadruple the number of people who participated in the festival's inaugural year, when about 75 attended. Last year the event drew 150 people.

Controversy surrounded last year's festival, but this year things seem to be going smoothly.

In February 2006, the Arlington Township Board proposed an ordinance saying that organized events lasting at least one day and where there are more than 50 people present for at least 14 hours get a special-use permit at least 60 days prior to the event. It came after a farmer complained about another pagan-related event on Pulka's property.

Members of the Bangor-based Caer na Donia y Llew pagan church, along with other residents who were concerned the ordinance would affect large family gatherings, protested the ordinance. The issue was brought up at several township hall meetings. Last June, after one trustee had resigned, the board voted 2-2 on the ordinance. A tie meant it was rejected.

The festival was held, and the ordinance issue has not been brought up since, Pulka said.

``I think they (Arlington Township board members) were intimidated by the word `pagan' and didn't know what it was,'' Pulka said.

Since the controversy, Pulka said, his life as a pagan in Bangor has improved because the board meetings allowed him and other pagans to say what they believe.

``We're not devil-worshipers, we're a religious group that is Earth-based,'' he said.

Pulka said he doesn't get strange looks anymore when he goes to the grocery story or other places in town as he did before the ordinance hearings. He also said the township board has been ``more than professional with us'' this year.

Township Board Supervisor William Colgren said there has not been any trouble with Paganstock organizers this year.

Pulka said he thinks the festival will be able to pick up steam. ``Since the event has made its footing, this is a big step for us,'' Pulka said of his attempts to draw an even bigger crowd.

Third annual Paganstock rolls into Bangor this weekend (http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/features-0/1181229729262000.xml&coll=7)

Not devil-worshippers??

This crosses into cultic activity.

A million ways to miss salvation, only one way to find it, through Jesus Christ.