Naked City Burning Man / Burningman

Naked City At Burningman

(Guest Blog Norma Of South Florida Free Beaches Who We Love Tremendously!)

Naked City

Burnning Man Naked City

Naked City – Ever fantasize about what it would be like to experience a clothing-optional society?  Where the fashion standards of our culture are set aside and being naked in public is deemed acceptable?  Being a naturist for some 25 years or so, I certainly have.

My husband and I discovered such a place in 2004. It was at the Burning Man art festival held at Black Rock City, Nevada.  This temporary non-commerce community of about 50,000 people comes together for a week each year. They are there to celebrate radical self-expression.

One of the principles of Burning Man is participation.  Their website states: “Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that trans-formative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.”

With this principle in mind, for the last few years, I’ve organized a Theme Camp called Naked City. Our naked city participates in a “regional burn” held twice a year in central Florida.  Our camp, which is sponsored by TNS’s NOVA program, as well as, South Florida Free Beaches, serves this community. It creates a space where people can learn about naturism and experience the special feeling of enjoying our recreation while naked.

We’ve offered body painting, yoga, massage, tai-chi, sun showers, a naked slip & slide and a wine & cheese party.  We pass out N Magazines, postcards from Haulover Beach and printed naturist etiquette standards (among other things).  We’ve even built an art gallery.  But the most important thing we offer is ourselves and our willingness not just to talk
the talk, but walk the walk of naturism.

Although there are a few other nudies in the crowd, we are definitely in the minority.  It’s kind of like having a clothed person in a nudist park – we stick out.  However, we’ve always been treated with respect, tolerance and kindness with lots of eye contact and lots of questions.

These regional “burns” are held worldwide but the principles remain constant.  Check out www.regionals.burningman.com to find the one nearest you.  It’s not only a chance to experience a unique community, but also an opportunity to share naturism with people who are open to new ideas.

I suggest that before creating your own camp that you attend one of these burns as a participant to really get the flavor of the event.  Prepare to be self-reliant in regard to your food, water and shelter.  Nothing is for sale and no vendors or commercial advertisements are allowed.

Naked City will be recreated at PreHeat during the weekend of April 13^th. If you’re interested in becoming a citizen, you’ll need to get a ticket and this festival sells out.  Keep up to date on www.floridapreheat.com for ticket information.

As of this writing the dates haven’t been posted. South Florida Free Beaches has posted the pictures from our After-burn in November.  We had several art projects this year and had a great time.

If you really want to do something about legitimizing naturism, and are “brave” enough to mainstream it, this is a great way to put some action behind those words.

All you have to do is give the gift of yourself.

Naked City At Burningman

Young Naturists & Nudists America YNA

Category: Nudist Guest Blogs