Practical - Grimmoire Productions

When & Where

October 2-5th, 2025

Birchcliff Resort

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Tickets for this immersive 4-day event are $975 and include:

Accommodation in a cozy, rustic cabin at Birchcliff, a charming resort nestled in the woods of the Wisconsin Dells, from Thursday to Sunday
Over two full days and nights of thrilling gameplay
Fully developed characters, rich connections, and personalized plots
Escape Room-style puzzles and mysteries to solve
Intriguing monsters, elaborate set décor, and special effects
Outdoor fun like hiking, frisbee, tennis, and more
Professional photography by Matt Norris Photography
A Saturday night 80s dance party with classic tunes and vibrant lighting
Support for scholarship tickets to ensure the larp remains accessible
Dedicated NPCs and staff to enhance scenes, drama, and excitement

It does not include:

Costumes: Dive into the era of neon and leg warmers! You’re in charge of sourcing your own 1980s inspired attire for three days of immersive play.
Food: Instead of increasing ticket prices by $200+, we’re trying to save you money and keep things flexible. We are offering an optional catered meal plan for players who want it. Please note that the only dietary preference the meal plan can accommodate is vegetarian due to limited staff & catering options, so we won’t be able to manage allergies or other restrictions. Players are encouraged to bring their own food—most cabins have full fridges and kitchenettes for easy prep and storage. There are also plenty of delivery options and restaurants just 5 minutes away in Wisconsin Dells. Feel free to make a McDonald’s run in character!
Hawkins will provide a continental breakfast and snacks, with some gluten-free and vegetarian choices available.

Birchcliff Resort

Birchcliff is the perfect backdrop for your adventure in Hawkins. This rustic and casual lakeside retreat offers cozy, no-frills cabins that blend seamlessly with the small-town charm of your roleplay. Birchcliff is not luxury accomodation, but is more comfortable than camping. Real beds, private indoor plumbing, heat & AC, and electric. Here, you can immerse yourself in the eerie mysteries of Hawkins while enjoying a modest, laid-back escape into nature. With its serene waterfront and wooded surroundings, Birchcliff sets the stage for both thrilling encounters and relaxed downtime, making it the ideal venue for your unforgettable weekend.

Birchcliff provides all the bedding & linens for your stay. There is no Wi-Fi on site though there is ample cell phone service for most providers. Please plan accordingly.

Birchcliff Resort

Venue Accessibility

Please be aware that Birchcliff’s rustic charm includes some challenges for those with accessibility needs. The location gets very dark at times, with uneven ground and the natural presence of bugs typical of a wooded area. The retreat’s rustic setting means there are limited paved paths or smooth surfaces. While we strive to create a memorable experience, this environment may not be ideal for individuals with mobility issues or those who require more accessible accommodations. If you have concerns about accessiblity and are interested in this larp, please reach out to us at safety@grimmoire.productions and we’ll discuss with you the layout of the site and game.

Amenities

Birchcliff provides:

Outdoor Amenities: Each cabin includes a park-style charcoal grill and picnic table outside. Enjoy the lakeside or explore nearby hiking trails.
Indoor Comfort: Inside, you’ll find a 55″ Samsung flat screen TV with a DVD player in every cabin. Complimentary DVDs are available for checkout at the front office. All cabins are equipped with heating and air conditioning.
Kitchen Facilities: Cabins with kitchens feature a refrigerator/freezer, stove top for light cooking, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, dish soap, and dish towels. Cabins with kitchenettes have similar amenities but with a mini refrigerator instead of a full-sized one.
Provided Essentials: The resort supplies sheets, blankets, pillows, soap, toilet paper, bath towels, washcloths, and dish soap.
Entertainment and Activities: Relax in the game room with ping pong and air hockey, or enjoy bonfire nights with storytelling and s’mores. Take advantage of the volleyball and basketball courts, and savor the scenic views of the resort’s natural surroundings.
Connectivity: Please note there is no Wi-Fi in the cabins. Free Wi-Fi is available in the office building; ask for the password at the front desk.

Scho-larp-ship

We’re pleased to offer a limited number of scholarship tickets to help make the adventure accessible to more players. If you’re interested, fill out this survey to request one. Applications are due by January 1st! We’ll review requests and get back to you before tickets go on sale officially. We’ll do our best to accommodate as many requests as possible.

Weather

Weather in early October in Wisconsin is usually mildly chilly and breezy, though there are occasional warm spells. While it is difficult to say what the weather will be, please come prepared for a variety of temperatures, rain, or mud. Much of this larp will be spent outside or traveling between buildings, and you’ll want to be comfortable.

Getting Here

Located in Wisconsin Dells, WI Birchcliff is driving distance (1-5 miles) to a number of local businesses, restaurants, hotels and pharmacies as needed. There is ample parking.

Nearest airports to Wisconsin Dells include Dane Co. Regional Airport in Madison, WI (55 miles), General Mitchell International in Milwaukee, WI (116 miles) and O’Hare International in Chicago, IL (188 miles). Each airport can connect you with rental cars to get you on the road to the Dells.

Both Greyhound and Amtrak services are available to Wisconsin Dells.

Play Schedule Outline

This schedule is a rough outline and subject to change as we finalize the game design. We’ll provide updated check-in times and a detailed schedule as the event approaches.

Please note: This is a late-night game, and if you need to head to bed by 8pm, you’ll miss out on nearly four hours of exciting gameplay each evening. To fully experience the adventure, we encourage taking naps and staying up to immerse yourself in the action!

Example Schedule

Thursday

12pm – Arrival: Step into Hawkins and check-in to your cozy cabin.
5pm – Welcome Dinner: Gather for a casual dinner, meet your fellow adventurers, and kick off the weekend.
7pm – Orientation & Workshops: Get the lowdown on the game and dive into character workshops.
10pm – Game Begins: Immerse yourself in the adventure as the first gameplay session starts.

Friday

10am – Breakfast: Start your day with a hearty breakfast fit for a small-town hero.
11am – Workshops: Dive deeper into your character’s story and calibrate gameplay.
12pm – Game On: Continue the adventure as you explore Hawkins and uncover its secrets.
2pm – Lunch: Take a well-deserved break with a tasty midday meal.
3pm – Game On: Continue the adventure as you explore Hawkins and uncover its secrets.
6pm – Dinner & Announcements: Refuel and catch up on the latest updates.
7pm – Gameplay Resumes: Immerse yourself back into the ongoing story.
2am – Staff Goes to Sleep: Wind down after a thrilling day of gameplay.

Saturday

10am – Breakfast: Fuel up with a delicious breakfast to power your day of adventure.
11am – Morning Activities: Enjoy outdoor fun or themed mini-games, and soak in the charm of Hawkins.
2pm – Lunch: Grab a bite and recharge for the afternoon.
4pm – Gameplay Continues: Dive back into the action with new scenarios and mysteries.
6pm – Dinner & Announcements: Gather for a meal and get the scoop on the day’s events.
8pm – Evening Activities: Engage in themed events or special game moments.
11pm – 80s Dance Party: Dance the night away or enjoy other exciting Saturday night activities.
1 am – Game Off: Conclude the evening’s gameplay and relax.
2am onward – Afterparty: Unwind with informal gatherings; staff goes to sleep.

Sunday

10am – Brunch: Enjoy a final meal together and reminisce about the weekend.
12pm – Derolling & Farewells: Reflect on your adventure and say your goodbyes.
2pm – Check-Out: Depart with great memories of your time in Hawkins.

Where does your ticket price go?

Your ticket covers more than just a bed at Birchcliff—it’s a vital part of bringing Hawkins to life! It helps fund scholarships for fellow larpers, the rental of our space and tent, and the skills of our craftspeople. We use it to pay our fantastic staff and NPCs, to pay for the thousands of hours of labor that go into writing and creating a project like this, capture every epic moment with professional photos, and create all those cool special effects and monsters you’ll encounter.

We’re going all out with more staff time, special effects, and monsters to make Hawkins immersive and magical. Hawkins is also a full day longer than our last project, Lies & Liability. We’ve been chasing grants to support the arts, but larp companies in the US often miss out.

So, we’re counting on our amazing community to invest in our hobby and make sure our artists and staff are given some compensation, for Hawkins and for future larps and immersive theater experiences to come. Nobody is making money on this or trying to get rich quick; we estimate our team gets less than $5 per hour at the end of the day.

We’re all about keeping things transparent and fun. Your support makes a huge difference in bringing the magic of Hawkins to life. Got questions? Just give us a shout!

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