PeerFest is an educational and celebratory event for Texans who have faced mental health challenges and are on a journey to wellness.

Modeled, in part, after the National Alternatives Conference, PeerFest was created in 2015 with the vision of a place in Texas where people with lived mental health experiences are supported to live their best life.

PeerFest is…

Independent—Completely designed, budgeted for, created, implemented, and carried out by Texans with lived mental health experience. See our planning committee here.

Innovative—A project of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, in which the foundation turns over the finances, additional fund raising, decision-making, and planning for the event completely to the planning committee.

Authentic—Having a mental health challenge, issue, or illness is not easy and most of us do not get to take a break from the hard work it takes to be and stay well. When we encourage our attendees to come and be themselves, we mean it fully. If you are hungry, eat. If you are tired, sleep. If you are lonely, visit the Comfort Den. If you want to play, go to the water park, the Creativity Space, or explore Grapevine. You do not have to pretend you are doing anything other than what you want to do and what is best for your wellness! Isn’t that freeing?

Self-Care—Different than a traditional conference focused only on education and networking, PeerFest is created with the attendees’ full experience in mind. Programming occurs between 7am and 10pm in order to best accommodate people’s varying body clocks and individual best times for wellness and connection. Due to the self-care and wellness focus, attendees are encouraged to enjoy the environment, take breaks, rest & relax, connect with others, play, experience, and learn, without pressure to conform to a standard conference agenda.

Creative—With multiple creative opportunities, attendees can explore their passions or try something brand new. Enjoy time in the Creativity Space where you can paint, build, draw, make a mess, add color, and more all in a beautiful setting. Take experiential classes indoors and out. Share a song, poem, dance or skit at Peers-Got-Talent.

Texas Hospitality—Held in a desirable Texas location where almost all needs are taken care of including comfortable lodging and healthy balanced meals. Attendees pay a nominal registration fee and must manage their own travel. Once they arrive, they are warmly welcomed, fed generously, and treated with the unconditional high regard they deserve and haven’t often experienced.

You may download a PeerFest Fact Sheet here.

With an approved budget from the PeerFest Planning Committee, registration costs are $325 for 4 days, 3 nights of lodging in double room occupancy (2 people @ $325 each). This registration fee includes water park access Mon-Thurs (April 15-18, 2024, open to close); Monday dinner; Tuesday breakfast, lunch, snack/dessert; Wednesday breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner; and Thursday breakfast and lunch; all supplies for Creativity Space, access to all workshops and other programming, Peers-Got-Talent, and more. Please note: Tuesday evening dinner is on-your-own.

Grapevine, Texas at Great Wolf Lodge.

1. Visit the waterpark!

2. Visit the Creativity Cave and explore some art opportunities.

3. Visit Exhibitor booths.

4. Visit the Comfort Den.

5. Watch the Magic Show.

6. Perform at Peers Got Talent!

7. Dance at the We Glow Together Dance!

8. Play in the arcade.

9. Play Top Golf.

10. Play MagicQuest.

11. Visit Grapevine, Texas.

12. Visit and tour the Gaylord Hotel (nearby).

You can see more information about the lodging accommodations here. Our double accommodations will be the Family Suites and our single room accommodations will be the Queen Sofa Suites. All rooms are suites and outdoor (Northwoods-inspired) themed.

Great Wolf Lodge is limited in the number of single rooms available. They have set aside some single rooms available on a first come, first served basis. The surcharge for a single room is $300 for the entire stay. So, if you would like a single room, you will pay $325 registration + $300 surcharge, a total of $625 for the 4 days, 3 nights.

Restaurants at Great Wolf Lodge can be found here: https://www.greatwolf.com/grapevine/dining-shopping/dining

Restaurants in the Grapevine area: https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/restaurants/downtown-restaurants/?bounds=false&view=list&sort=qualityScore

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings: https://alcoholicsanonymous.com/aa-meetings/texas/grapevine/

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings: https://www.narcotics.com/na-meetings/texas/grapevine/

Please visit: https://www.peerfest.org/nearby-amenities

Please visit: https://www.peerfest.org/nearby-amenities

Please visit: https://www.peerfest.org/travel

Please visit: https://www.peerfest.org/travel

Yes, according to Great Wolf Lodge, Emotional Support Animals are treated as Service Animals and are therefore allowed. Click here for more info.

Call for Proposals is now closed for PeerFest 2024.

The Call for Proposals for PeerFest 2024 is now closed.

Registration is live and closes March 2, 2024!

The PeerFest 2024 Planning Committee believes that every Texan with lived experience of mental health challenges has a right to live a productive and joyful life. PeerFest was created to offer time for peers to play, learn wellness tools, and enjoy the company of other peers. To that end, the committee members set the PeerFest registration fee as low as possible. The fee includes 3 nights of lodging, 8 meals, full access to the indoor waterpark, workshops, creativity room, and lots of entertaining activities.

Scholarships for support with registration or travel were limited to discounts at the time of registration. These have been exhausted at this time. Scholarship funds were dependent on PeerFest sponsorships.

We encourage you to seek support funds from sources that you know. Please visit this link for more suggestions: https://www.peerfest.org/scholarships-1

Yes! Your support will help our peers with limited resources be able to attend the event. Please reach out to us at PeerFest.Info@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as possible.

Please visit this link for more info: https://www.peerfest.org/sponsorsdonors

Yes! Please reach out to us at PeerFest.Info@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as possible.

Please visit this link for more info: https://www.peerfest.org/exhibitors-1