Yes, you do need tickets for this conference. If you follow the link at the bottom of the post you will see a long list of topics. At the bottom of the list are two links, one to teh mail-in registration form, and the last one an online registration site. If you open the mail-in registration form you can see the registration cost, the pre-conference workshop prices, lodging and meal packages. Since the conference is at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA it would be most convenient and ecomomical to stay in the air conditioned dorm rooms, only $51 per night for a single room.