What is LinuxFest Northwest?

LinuxFest Northwest is an annual OpenSource event held the last weekend in April, in Bellingham, WA USA. The Fest features presentations and Exhibits on various F/OSS topics, as well as Linux distributions and applications. LinuxFest Northwest has something for everyone from the novice to the professional. The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days.

How Much Does it Cost?

Free! Really. Thanks to our amazing sponsors, commercial exhibitors, and Bellingham Technical College, there is no cost to you to attend. There is no free lunch however. Our goal is to have a world class event focused on building community. Any money left over from any year's Fest is carried forward into subsequent years, and also used for Fest improvements. Some money is donated to various F/OSS groups that serve the Open Source community. The Fest is also marketed internationally.

How big is the Fest?

While registration is not required, we've hovered over 1500 attendees for the past few years based on badges passed out. This makes LFNW one of the largest open source events in the country.

Why do I need to create a profile on this site?

You are not required to create a profile. However, the profile has everything that you care to share about yourself related to LinuxFest Northwest. Presenter, exhibitor and volunteer name badges are based on personal profiles. Profiles make it easier to meet like-minded people. Registration is needed to indicate interest in sessions.

Why should I pick sessions?

People's interests are used to help plan the Fest schedule and make room assignments. Pick the sessions that you are interested in. People pick the sessions that seriously interest them. Based largely on that information, the master schedule is created to match space and time constraints. No longer are there too many people for a room or big rooms with only a few people. The master schedule will be available a few weeks before the Fest, so you will be able to create your own schedule. Some sessions may be dropped; you may have conflicts. Based on updated results, we may move sessions to different rooms. There may also be changes made on the fly during the Fest.

Can I create a profile for more than one person at once?

No, each person's profile holds their own information.

Will I receive any materials in the mail?

No, everything is handled online. We'll send you a few emails leading up to the conference, but that's it.

Can I pay with a purchase order/check/cash?

Admission is free for the event. Exhibitors and sponsors can pay online. We are only accepting PayPal at this time. PayPal does not require you to sign up before paying; all major credit cards are accepted. If you CANNOT pay with PayPal, please send an email to a Fest organizer via our contact form.

Is LinuxFest Northwest good for people who don't know much about Linux?

Yes! We usually have a track for beginners. In addition, the Tutorium gives you the opportunity to ask questions, try out applications, even try Linux on your own computer. In the beginner track, you'll find an introduction to Linux, F/OSS business ideas, new software ideas, and advocacy. All presentations are tagged, so you know which ones are tailored to any particular experience level. Here is a list of presentations tagged for 'beginners'.

Can I become a sponsor of LinuxFest Northwest?

Yes! Check out the different packages or contact us.

How can I get my hands on the code for this site?

This site and its source code are covered by the GPL. You can find out more by looking at the Conference Organizing Distribution. The LinuxFestNorthwest.org site developers are also maintainers of COD, and submit back most site changes. COD does not include LinuxFest Northwest graphics; it does have a sub-theme ready for your own graphics and modifications. Click on the Contact tab to request more information from the Fest Organizers.