Registration FAQs

Online registration for Festival 2012 is now open.

The following information will help to answer any questions that you might encounter in the registration process. If you have a question that is not covered here, please contact us.

What is the cost of registration?
The registration cost is $195. Student registration is $80. Registration for Calvin faculty and staff (and spouses) is $80. Organized groups (of six or more people) qualify for a group rate of $160 per person.

What is included in a Festival registration?
A Festival registration includes all concurrent sessions and all plenaries. The registration fee does not include meals, lodging, and tickets for the evening concerts and evening performances.

What is the registration deadline?
Registration for Festival 2012 closes on April 1, 2012.

What are my payment options?
We accept check, credit card, or PayPal.

If I pay by credit card, is my information secure?
Yes, you can be assured that your personal information and credit card information are protected. If you prefer not to provide your credit card information online, however, please select the pay-by-check option, which will allow you to submit your registration information online and follow up by mailing in a check to complete the registration process.

Can I pay by credit card if I do not have a PayPal account?
When you select the credit card option and click on "Pay Now," you will be taken to PayPal's site to process your payment. If you would like to pay by credit card but do not have a PayPal account, click on "Don't have a Paypal account?" Selecting that option will allow you to pay with your credit card.

How do I get a receipt?
If you choose to pay by credit card or Paypal, we will send payment confirmation by e-mail. (For those who pay via Paypal, you will receive a receipt from them as well.) The e-mail from the Festival will serve as your official receipt for the event.

If you choose to pay by check, a confirmation e-mail will be sent once we receive payment. That e-mail will serve as your official receipt.

How much is registration if I can attend Festival for only one day?
We are not able to provide reduced registrations for people who can attend Festival 2012 for only one day. Full registration is required to attend Festival sessions.

What is your cancellation policy?
If you are unable to attend the Festival and notify us by March 16, 2012, we will refund 85 percent of your registration fee. After that we will refund 50 percent. Note, however, that we are unable to issue any refunds after April 9, 2012. Cancellation requests must be received in writing (either by postal or electronic mail). Please include your full mailing address.

If I am not a Calvin student, do I still qualify for the student rate?
Yes. Undergraduate, graduate, and part-time students from any school qualify for the student registration rate. 

Do you offer any discounts on registration?
Scholarships are available for Calvin Honors Program students, Calvin Theological Seminary students, Calvin English majors and minors, and Calvin alumni.

We also offer discounts for teachers bringing student groups and for other organized groups (from libraries, schools, churches, book clubs, writing groups, etc.) with six or more members. Please visit our group discount page for more information.

What do I do if I have received a scholarship or am planning to apply for one?
Please submit your scholarship application form to the appropriate office first and wait for approval. If your application is approved, you will then be given a code that can be entered into the online registration form. Please do not register for the Festival until you have received approval – and a registration code – from the appropriate office.

My group would like to take advantage of one of your group discount programs. How do we register as a group?
If you would like to take advantage of a group discount, please e-mail the Festival office at ffw@calvin.edu with the name of your group and the names of the individuals in your group. We will then send you a unique registration code that your group can use to register at the discounted rate. The deadline for groups to register for the Festival is March 15.

Do I need to decide on my hotel accommodations prior to registering?
If you will be utilizing Festival’s free shuttle service to selected area hotels, you will need to indicate on the registration form which hotel you will be staying at. If you will not be using the shuttle service, however, you do not need to indicate your hotel choice.

What if I am unable to register online?
Please call the Festival office at 616.526.6770, and we will be more than happy to assist you with your registration.