A few answers to things you were probably already curious about. 
When do tickets go on sale? 
May 14, 2026
What do tickets include? 
Everything! This is an all inclusive event. All of your meals, classes, music, materials, beverages, bedding and towels.
Can I transfer or resell my ticket? 
Yes, you may transfer your ticket through the portal you created at time of purchase.  Please let Golden Road staff know of the transfer or the person you transferred it to may not get in.
Refund / cancellation policy? 
There will be no refunds for any reason, but you may resell and transfer your ticket to someone else.
Where can I park? 
There is plenty of parking on campus!
Is The Next 300 accessible (ADA accommodations)? 
Yes, should you need an ADA room please email us immediately at support@goldenroadfestival.com
What airport is closest? 
You have choices. In order of proximity to Nichols College in Dudley, MA.:  Worcester, MA (ORH), Hartford, CT. (BDL), Providence, RI. (PVD) or Boston, MA. (BOS)
Is there Wi-Fi on campus?  
Most definitely.
Are rooms co-ed or single gender? 
Both, it is your choice.
Are bathrooms private or shared? 
Depending on the room you choose you will have a private bathroom, shared bathroom with your suite mates or single gender communal bathrooms.

The Next 300 is a four-day immersive retreat inspired by the music, culture, creativity, legacy and community surrounding the Grateful Dead.
Part college campus experience, part musical gathering, part creative retreat and total immersive learning. The Next 300 brings together musicians, artists, historians, scholars, authors, and curious minds for a weekend of classes, workshops, discussions, live music, shared meals, late night conversations, community and all things Grateful Dead!
Think summer camp meets liberal arts college meets a gathering built around music, curiosity, connection and your Grateful Dead community.
Come and join our Freshman Class!

The Next 300 takes place on the campus of Nichols College, 121 Center Rd Dudley, Massachusetts 01571. The campus is all ours for the weekend!
The college will become a fully immersive experience for all who attend, including dorm housing, classrooms, gathering spaces, music areas, and late-night hang zones.

The Next 300 Scholarship Program was created to help make this experience accessible to members of our community who may not otherwise be able to participate. Contributions of any amount directly support scholarship tickets and help keep this music, culture, and community thriving for The Next 300 Years. Individuals will have the opportunity to support these efforts after purchase as an add on to your ticket.
If you, a company/organization, sponsor or angel investor, or someone you know would like to support the program in a larger way, we would love to hear from you at support@goldenroadfestival.com.

Housing is traditional college-style dorm living, with a mix of singles, doubles, suites, and apartment-style setups.
Some rooms include private bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens, while others feature single sex communal bathrooms.
Every option puts you right in the middle of the experience.
Some people will create peaceful little recharge sanctuaries.
Some people will accidentally start a midnight philosophy seminar.
Both are correct.

Basic bedding will be provided, but attendees may like to bring a mattress topper, favorite blanket, extra pillow or other comfort items to make their dorm feel a little more like home.
This is still dorm living after all. A tiny bit of strategic coziness goes a long way.

Absolutely.
Tapestries, battery-powered lights, tiny camp flags, and temporary “this seemed like a good idea at the time” aesthetic decisions are highly encouraged.
Just please don’t damage the rooms or turn your suite into an unsanctioned indoor fog machine experiment.

Not at all.
While the event is rooted in the music and culture of the Grateful Dead, The Next 300 is really about creativity, curiosity, community, improvisation, storytelling, and connection.
If those things resonate with you, you’ll fit right in.

For your Freshman Year there will be classes, workshops, lectures, conversations, panel discussions, collaborative sessions, art experiences, music discussions, and unexpected moments will fill the campus throughout the day.
You will choose which classes to attend, immerse yourself in campus life, meet people and follow whatever sparks your curiosity.
From classrooms to common spaces, the entire weekend is designed to bring people together through learning, creativity, shared experience and real community.

Live music, maybe a movie, late-night hangs, spontaneous jams, conversations that somehow last until sunrise, and the beautiful organized chaos that tends to happen when a campus full of creative people stay awake together.

This is a 21 and over event.

This is college folks! All of your meals will be served in the dining hall.  With several different stations to choose from, including those that cater to all sorts of dietary restrictions. Menus rotate every meal and every day and it is all you can eat!
All meals are included in the cost of your enrollment fee. You will not have to come out of pocket for any of your meals or your drinks!

The Essentials
  • Show clothes
  • Layers for changing weather
  • Walking shoes
  • Phone charger
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Toiletries
  • Extra towels if you desire
  • Extra bedding if you desire
  • Clothing for sports activities
  • Dancing shoes
  • Cameras and video equipment if you desire
  • Journal and writing utensil
  • Medications
  • Earplugs if you’re a light sleeper and you have a roommate
  • Your student-of-the-strange attitude

Dorm life is always improved when you bring a little piece of home with you.  If you will jones for your favorite poster or pillow, bring them.  There are kitchens in every dorm, so if you are one to get the late night munchies bring those snacks!

  • Tapestries
  • Battery-powered string lights
  • Bluetooth speak
  • Backpack
  • Waterbottle
  • Pictures from home
  • Garlands, Flowers
  • Games
  • Instruments
  • Tiny objects with huge emotional significance

  • Bathing suit
  • Laptop & charger
  • Portable charger
  • Sunglasses
  • Rain jacket
  • Backpack or tote bag
  • Waterbottle
  • Camping chair or blanket for outdoor hangs
  • Refillable coffee mug
  • Hacky Sack, Frisbee, hulahoop

  • A suit and tie
  • Your freshman year fake ID
  • Alarm clocks
  • The need to know what day it is

A few important guidelines to help everything run smoothly once you arrive:
  • No firearms, weapons, fireworks, or hazardous materials.
  • No toasters or microwaves in your room.
  • No holes in the walls of your room
  • No smoking inside of any building, of any kind.
  • Please respect all campus buildings, dorms, and shared spaces.
  • Outside food and snacks are welcome.
  • Instruments are welcome.
  • Follow all posted campus and event guidelines throughout the weekend.
  • Clean up after yourself. Your future self will appreciate it.
  • If you leave food in common kitchen areas you do so at your own risk.
  • If you use common kitchen areas please clean up your mess.
  • Hydrate, rest when you need to, and remember this is a marathon, not a sprint.
  • Most importantly: participate, meet people, learn something new, create community and enjoy the experience.

Once you have enrolled in The Next 300 you will receive an electronic course book.  You will see all of the classes being offered and who is teaching them.  We are so lucky to have an incredibly esteemed group of professors. PLEASE NOTE: CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED. SIGN UP EARLY TO GET THE COURSES YOU’D LIKE. We will have waiting lists once a class has filled.  This is college after all.

For a preview of our professors and their courses, click here.

The student to teacher ratio will be 12 to 1. Classes are as small as 10 and as large as 20!

We sure would like you to!  At registration on August 6th you will be given your schedule, your room assignment and a passport you will need to have with you when you go to your classes.  After every class you finish you will get a stamp marking your completion. You must get 9 of the 12 possible stamps to matriculate to your Sophomore Year.

Say yes to conversations. Take a class you may not know you are interested in. Meet new people. Stay curious. Get to know your esteemed professors,musicians, artists, and fellow attendees.
This weekend is about participation, connection, creativity, and community.
Settle into campus life, make yourself at home, and enjoy the ride.
Let’s ensure that the music will not stop for the NEXT 300 YEARS!