Live Music and Storytelling with Bear Roots and Tami Schwerin of the Death Faire

RSVP HERE

Some evenings, the practice of embracing death looks like a room full of people, two voices in harmony, and a story told out loud.

We invite you into the Lighthouse for an evening of live music with Bear Roots and friends, along with storytelling and readings celebrating Tami Schwerin's new book, Welcome to Death Faire: Love, Loss and Healing in a Small Southern Town.

Through heartfelt musical performances and readings drawn from the book, the evening moves through love, loss, grief, healing, community, and the transformative spirit of Death Faire. It is a gathering made for reflection and connection, and a celebration of life, death, and the surprising beauty that can emerge when a small Southern town comes together around its grief.

Every day at Emberlight we practice ways to embrace death and support one another with loving presence. Music and story are two of the oldest ways human beings have done that. We would love to welcome you into this circle.

About the book

Welcome to Death Faire is a collection of stories, essays, poems, and rituals, woven together with images from more than thirty contributors. Tami curated it ten years after the death of her nineteen year old son, Zafer, and to mark ten years of Death Faire, the annual love and grief gathering in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Books will be available to purchase and sign on site. You are also welcome to purchase a copy ahead of time here and bring it with you to be signed.

If you join us online earlier that week to hear Tami talk about the book, this evening is your chance to meet her in person and have your copy signed. You can find that conversation, Stories at the Threshold: An Hour with Tami Schwerin and the Death Faire, on Wednesday, August 26 at noon.

About Bear Roots

Bear Roots is an acoustic Americana and sacred folk duo based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, featuring musicians Lolly Dunlap and Amy Durso. Known for their tight harmonies, acoustic warmth, and intimate, introspective songwriting, Bear Roots creates music that explores spiritual reclamation, empowerment, and finding the divine within. Dunlap's songwriting often draws from her personal journey of overcoming religious trauma and finding healing through the transformative power of nature, plant medicines, and inclusive spirituality. You can listen to Bear Roots here.

About Tami Schwerin

Tami Schwerin is a visionary, creator, community builder, and founder of Death Faire. She re-developed The Plant, transforming a Cold War industrial site into a vibrant hub for food, art, and experiences. She is the founder of Abundance NC and a key force behind Chatham Marketplace, the local co-op in Chatham County. She is mother of Zafer, Arlo, and belle-mere of Jessalyn and Kaitlin, and Granny to Margot, Aidan, and Zara. Tami is a sun dancer, sparkle mama, and backwoods queen. She sees pure potential in every challenge and builds the world she wants to live in with creativity, grit, and grace.

Where to meet

We gather in the Lighthouse at Emberlight, 83 Sanctuary Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778. Parking is limited on site, so please consider carpooling when you can.

Staying on after

A full moon labyrinth walk follows on campus that evening at 7:00 PM for anyone who would like to stay. It is a separate registration, and you can reserve your place here.

Suggested donation

Your contribution supports the mission and vision of Emberlight: Center for Conscious Living & Dying. This event is open to all, with a suggested donation of $35 so that cost is never the reason someone cannot join us. We encourage you to give what feels right and possible for you. Every contribution is a gift and helps sustain this work and the care at the heart of it.

Please note that all event tickets are non-refundable, except in the case that Emberlight cancels the event for any reason, a full refund will be issued.

Questions? Please contact the Events Team at events@emberlightway.org.