Updated 06/09/26

IMPORTANT – Your favourite hoops

  • If they’re not REALLY distinctive please label your hoops.
  • Hooping Mad will have a very small number of hoops you can borrow if you haven’t got your own with you, plus there’ll be a load of hoops to buy from the vendors.
  • Each workshop description will have details on what hoops are ideal 🙂 Don’t worry if you don’t have a specific size/number. There’s always lots extra at SWhoop and people are friendly 🙂
  • COUNT YOUR HOOPS AT THE BEGINNING AND CHECK YOU TAKE HOME THE SAME AMOUNT 🙂

IMPORTANT – Water bottle

  • LABEL IT WITH YOUR NAME – there are free water bottle re-filling stations both upstairs and downstairs at the Trinity – stay hydrated 🙂

IMPORTANT – Layers

  • All indoor spaces and the Spinning@ marquee are heated and warm up quick when you’re hooping, but definitely bring lots of layers for when it’s not so energetic or for workshops / mealtime in The Den (the outside covered area).
  • Weather can be VERY variable in the UK. In 2023 and 2024 we had a 4 day mini Summer for SWhoop but it’s possible it will be rainy and cold outside for SWhoop 2026 – bring appropriate clothing!

Slippers / Indoor shoes

  • It’s always shoes off in the Spinning@ Crafts Tent and if it’s rainy we may say the same for the hoop spaces in the Trinity to avoid dirty floors, so you may want to bring outside shoes that are easy to take off and some slip-on shoes for indoors if you don’t like to be in just socks 🙂
  • There are a few over-shoes that will live at the door to the marquee and can be put over people’s outdoor shoes if it’s difficult for you to remove your shoes.

Phone (for the Camera)

  • For taking loads of pics and for workshop recaps.
  • Workshop recap videos are FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY and not for publication on YouTube. Thanks!
  • Make sure you CHARGE your phone and make SPACE for workshops.
  • For Nessi’s Edit Your Flow workshop: download the Instagram Edits app before the workshop and have a completely unedited hoop video on your phone, maximum 1 minute long.

Yoga mat (optional)

  • For stretching workshops and yoga, more comfortable than the hall floor! I have some to lend and Pink Kitten has its own for the yoga/meditation classes there.
  • Carla also suggests bringing a yoga mat for her morning SWhoop warm-ups if you have one, but it’s not essential.

Tennis Ball(s) (optional)

  • Might be used as a massage aid in some of the Stretch sessions. I have 11 to lend out!

Notebook and Pen (optional)

  • Please label your notebook so if it gets lost we can get it back to you.
  • You’ll want something to make notes with if you’re coming to Carla’s Marketing Foundations for Hoop Businesses workshop – either your phone or a notebook and pen.

Ukulele (optional)

  • If you have your own ukulele please bring it for the uke workshop and for general playing and singsongs throughout the weekend 🙂
  • Emma has quite a few extras. You may be able to persuade her to part with one at the end of SWhoop for cost price.

Non Hoop Props for Classes (optional)

If you have your own props please bring them, or you can sign up to borrow the ones we have available:

  • Spinning Fans
  • Silk Fans
  • Buugeng
  • Spinning Clubs
  • Silk’n Hoop (for Andeli’s Silk’n hoop jam)

Workshop-specific clothing (optional)

  • Jessica’s Coin Flip workshops: an open-neck top can make neck coin flips easier. If you have long hair, tie it up and off your neck.
  • Chris’s Hoop-llet: socks or dance shoes may be useful.
  • Sooz’s Figure-de-Hoop: bring something green if you’d like to perform the choreography at the Ceilidh.
  • Laura’s handbalancing workshops: stretchy clothing.
  • American Tribal Style belly dance: comfortable clothing and optionally a scarf or belt without bells.
  • Kay’s Burlesque: corset optional.
  • Xena’s Twerkshop: booty shorts optional.

Craft Workshop Bits (optional)

We have lots of craft materials available, but there are a few things you might want to bring from home for particular workshops:

  • Julie – Bellbottom Your Tights or Sleeves!: bring tights/trousers or a long-sleeved top you’d like to transform, plus any particular fabric you’d like to use.
  • Gigi – Hand Embroidery Flow: bring something you’d like to embroider if you have something particular in mind – clothes, bags, paper etc.
  • Nuria – Hair Styles with Braids: bring a hairbrush and optionally a mirror.
  • Sharna – Fibre Hair Art: you’re welcome to bring your own yarns, charms, ribbons or accessories if you’d like to personalise your creation.

Any random crafty materials for tailoring your craft area creations (optional)

  • Specifically for your kazoos and costume creations. We have lots of materials. It’s just if you have anything particular eg. shells, flowers, fake fur, sequin material etc.

IMPORTANT – Your Kazoo

  • If you have one from a previous event. If you don’t have one, worry not, you can pick one up in the Crafts tent – why not pimp your kazoo while you’re there and make it distinctive 🙂

LED hoops (optional)

  • For the evenings and the LED ball.
  • Remember your chargers! If you are coming from the US and have LED hoops with you it’s worth checking whether you need an extra voltage converter as well as the plug converter. This is a problem for much older hoops. You need this for the psi-hoops. Astral chargers are fine.
  • Remember to charge your hoops ready for the Saturday night post-show party!

Costume (optional)

  • There’s prizes for the best costumes on Saturday night so come dressed to impress 🙂
  • Random costumes for Emma to wear when she MC’s – weirder the better 🙂

Face Painting Supplies (optional)

  • We have loads available to you but if you have any random glitter or face paints you’re looking to get rid of then I’m sure people would love to share in the pre-Saturday show Glitter Up!

Cash (optional)

  • For new hoops, raffle tickets (epic prizes), craft materials or other vendor goodies!
  • Kay’s Make Your Own Boa workshop has a £5 materials cost.
  • Most vendors will also accept PayPal/bank transfer.
  • Nearest cash point is a short walk away. See the local information.

DO NOT LEAVE CASH OR VALUABLES LYING AROUND – we try to make sure no one randomly walks into the building but we are very near the city centre of Bristol and opportunistic theft can happen. Keep your money on you. Or just pay by PayPal!

Extra food/snacks (optional)

  • We’re pretty on it with the chocolate, tea, biscuits, fruit etc but if there’s something you can’t do without then bring it along.

A Towel (optional)

  • There’s a few high energy workshops at SWhoop 2026 and if you’re partaking in these you may be sweating a bit in some of the workshops. A towel is clearly useful to mop your brow and it’s nice to have the option of a refresh even if it’s just in the sink (no showers on site).
  • Plus everyone knows that a towel is about the most useful thing an interstellar hitch hiker can have 😛

Blanket / Other warm stuff / hot water bottle (optional)

  • We have a load of chill out area stuff and it’s not as cold in early October as in the old Nov SWhoop years but sometimes it’s nice to have your own stuff to curl up in for a break/nap 🙂
  • The quiet room has blankets, hot water bottles (please be careful if filling these), ear plugs and massage tools.

Book(s) (optional)

  • Bring a fave book to have some well deserved downtime in the SWhoop Quiet Area 🙂