It’s a mid-summer Saturday afternoon, halfway through Bodyfest—a weekend naturist gathering full of workshops and creative expression. I collapse onto the vast front lawn at Bare Oaks Naturist Park as performer Ron Pine kicks off his solo rock-and-roll set (though he somehow sounds like a full band!). I’m already exhausted from two days of hauling gear and coordinating details. It’s my yearly Bodyfest ritual—and I live for it.
The day before, it all began at my downtown Toronto photo and video studio. Kevin B. and I loaded up a rental truck with everything needed for the weekend—gear, props, and materials of all kinds: shade structures, tables, signs, camping equipment, chairs, and dozens of containers filled with party lights, a fog machine, glow paint, art materials, body paint, electrical gear, and liquid clay in various shades. Then we hit the road, heading north out of Toronto in the slow lane. Less than an hour later, we turned into the Bare Oaks entrance. It was Friday, mid-afternoon, and the park was still quiet. Our first priority was to set up our welcome area to check in the approximately 150 participants we were expecting.
By 5 PM, people began arriving, sorting out parking and checking in at the Bare Oaks office. Newcomers wandered around, unsure: “I guess we’re supposed to take off our clothes now...?” Meanwhile, a line began to form for Bodyfest check-in. Most participants had already purchased tickets, but they still needed wristbands and to complete our release forms. The majority declared themselves “photo-ok,” while others chose yellow wristbands and did their best to stay out of frame when cameras were around.
Yes — we create a thorough visual record of the event. My background is in film, video, and photography, and part of my ongoing mission is to create a vibrant, positive visual representation of naturism. The more we hide, the more outsiders are left to speculate: “What really goes on with those nudists?” The truth is simple — we’re happy, normal people who just happen to agree on something special: life is better naked. Especially outdoors, close to nature, under warm sunlight.
First up is the “meet and greet,” which I lead with the initial group of attendees. Groups of six to eight people link hands in a specific pattern, then face the challenge of untangling themselves without letting go. It’s just the right level of awkward, and it definitely breaks the ice.
Then suddenly, Derek fires up his foam-party machine, and the mood shifts instantly to pure levity as the sun begins to set.
As evening settles in, there’s a buzz of anticipation for the night’s main event: Sharamine’s iconic “Spirit Symphony.” Grab a drum, tambourine, or maracas and follow her lead as rhythm builds, bodies move, and the fire grows. The energy is wild, joyful, electric. What a beginning. And it’s still only Friday.
Saturday morning comes quickly — and there’s already a line of cars at the front gate. By 8:30, we’re ready for a new wave of arrivals. Sean, Sharon, and Kevin are running our makeshift office — seasoned pros at this point. The first session of the day is a gentle Hatha Yoga class. I’m always surprised how many people are already up and involved, considering how full the day ahead will be. Yoga clears the mind, centers the breath, and sets the tone for a full day of mind-body exploration.
The rest of the day flows with a steady rhythm.
Every hour, on the hour, we offer a new 45-minute session—each one an invitation to explore something fresh: Laughter Therapy, Zumba, Naked Soul Circle, Meditation with Movement, Bodypaint Contest, Kundalini Yoga, Energize Your Aura, Magical Ritual, Body Language... and more. The tone shifts from session to session — sometimes it’s silly fun, sometimes expressive, creative, or deeply transformative. Attend as much or as little as you like. Off to the side, you can book a massage, practice juggling, blow giant bubbles, or just relax at the Bare Bistro.
Be sure to catch the Group Photo — it’s one of the few moments everyone comes together, preceded by brief intros and reflections from the main stage.
Bodyfest is a weekend of renewal — a chance to step outside the noise of daily life and reconnect with what’s real. For a few days, you leave the mundane behind. You move, breathe, create, and connect in a space where there’s nothing to hide. In the absence of judgment — from others or yourself — something shifts. The mind clears. Body insecurities melt away. You remember what it feels like to just be. And in that quiet clarity, you begin to see the world — and yourself — with fresh eyes.
The beginning of Bodyfest
In 2010, I gathered a group of friends on a beach just south of Half Moon Bay, California, for what I decided to call Bodyfest. I’d made a list of fun contests and activities. It was chilly and overcast most of the day, but people still genuinely had a great time. Something clicked! The energy and connection sparked that day gave me hope.
After a few successful beach gatherings, I began looking inland. In 2011, I organized two weekend retreats in the Santa Cruz Mountains — Bare Your Soul and Bodyfest. The indoor facilities allowed for deeper engagement, and the experience took on a new level of meaning.
It was around that time I met Rich Pasco, longtime Bay Area naturist organizer and leader of the Bay Area Naturists. He introduced me to Lori Kay Stout, owner of Lupin Lodge — a historic landed naturist resort near Los Gatos. The weather at Lupin was reliably warm and sunny, perfect for naturist gatherings. In 2013, Bodyfest found its new home there, becoming an annual event through 2017. Around that time, I began to slow down my trips to California.
In 2017, I made my first attempt to bring Bodyfest closer to home at Bare Oaks. I didn’t yet have a large community to draw from in Canada, so the event was small. We held modest versions in 2018 and 2019—and then came 2020. COVID hit. Like everything else that summer, Bodyfest paused.
But in 2021, I threw myself into reviving it — curating a full weekend, inviting participants and leaders, and rebuilding the momentum. It worked. Every year since, the event has grown. More people. More workshops. More magic. I owe deep thanks to Stéphane Deschênes of Bare Oaks for over a decade of encouragement and support.
Bodyfest isn’t just a weekend. It’s a space we create—together. A space where we move, breathe, express, and reconnect with what matters. Whether you’ve been coming for years or are thinking of joining for the first time, you’re welcome here.
I hope to see you this summer. 🪐
Bodyfest is July 25-27, 2025 at Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park.
Want to attend? Learn more at bodyfest.org.
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I would love to go to this. I've been wanting to go to Bare Oaks for several years, Stephane seems like a wonderful ambassador for naturism. Unfortunately, with the current situation I'm afraid if I leave the US I will be severely harassed on my way back in, if I'm even let it. And I'm a US citizen by birth. So ridiculous.
It is my intent to attend just have to get time off work.