2016 Nude Festivals
The New Year brings another wave of annual events promoting nudism, naturalism, and a couple of things in between. Here is a worldwide guide to some sans-clothing festivals and events, ranging from the Festival Européen de la Photo de Nu to Burning Man. Ooh la la.
Pilwarren Maslin Beach Nude Games
January 17, 2016 - Adelaide, Australia
This one's kind of a naked Olympics. Usually held in mid-January, the Pilwarren Nude Games are set on Maslin Beach - established in 1974 as Australia's first nude beach. Pilwarren itself is a 75-acre nudist resort located on the Murray River in southern Australia.
The Pilwarren Maslin Beach Nude Games features events like the Water Balloon Throwing Competition, the Adult's Frisbee Throwing Competition, and Ms. Maslin Beach. These are also family-friendly games, offering events like the Children's Sack Race and Children's Treasure Hunt.
Hadaka Matsuri
February 20, 2016 - Okayama, Japan
Though not a truly nudist event, this festival still kind of counts. Translated simply as "Naked Festival" at Saidaiji Temple, the annual Hadaka Matsuri is held on the third Saturday of February in Okayama, Japan.
This religious event features roughly 10,000 male participants sporting a fundoshi (those little Japanese loincloths) battling it out for some lucky talismans dropped into the bare crowd by priests.
Festival Européen de la Photo de Nu
May 17, 2016 - Arles, France
Translated as the "European Festival of Nude Photography," this annual event takes place in Arles - a city in southern France. The FEPN features nude photography from all over Europe, and is sure to include artwork from a local Arles photographer.
Established in 2001, the festival hosts over 15,000 attendees at venues like the L'espace Van Gogh and the Palais de l'Archevêché à la chapelle Sainte Anne (Archbishop's Palace to the chapel Sainte Anne).
Bare to Breakers
May 15, 2016 - San Francisco, California, USA
The annual Bay to Breakers footrace began in 1906, and we'll bet it took a few decades for the accompanying clothing-optional race, Bare to Breakers, to show itself.
On the third Sunday of May, the BARE-2-B'ers take on the 7.5-mile race, connecting the Central Embarcadero Piers Historic District to the Great Highway on the Pacific coast of San Francisco. Check out baretobreakers.com for participation details.
Running of the Nudes
May 15, 2016 - Pamplona, Spain
We saw the Running of the Nudes start in 2002 in Pamplona, Spain when animal rights activities protested the world-famous Running of the Bulls.
Today, the Running of the Nudes is a thing, and invites participants to go "Out With The Old, In With the Nude!" Still in Pamplona, this nude race runs to increase awareness of animal cruelty - especially bullfighting.
World Body painting Festival
July 1 - 3, 2016 - Lake Wörthersee, Poertschach, Austria
You can get naked here, but it doesn't stop there. "Step Into The Surreal" along Lake Wörthersee for the "Fusion Of Bodies & Beats 2016" - known across Earth as the World Body painting Festival.
Set in southern Austria, this summer event attracts more than 30,000 attendees from over 40 countries. Created in 1998, WBF is said to have ignited the body painting movement.
In addition to stunning artwork-on-skin, WBF features live music and DJs across five stages, fashion shows, kids activities, award ceremonies, and more. You'll find the Electronic Pier, art installations, beaches, markets, and side events like Body Circus, Zombie Crawl, and WBF Shopping Day.
Burning Man
August 28 - September 5, 2016 - Black Rock, Nevada, USA
This festival may need no introduction, but here goes. Established in 1986, Burning Man is an annual gathering of the overly-creative in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada in the southwestern United States.
With an attendee count nearing 70,000 free-loving people, you can safely bet to find some fellow nudists and naturalists. Burning Man is in fact a clothing-optional event, and also features events like the Critical Tits Bike Ride.
World Naked Bike Ride
Year Round - Worldwide
Don't think you'll make it to southern Austria or the Nevada desert this year? That's OK, because there's sure to be an incredibly fun naked bike ride near you at some point in 2016.
WNBR is a clothing-optional - or "bare as you dare" - ride with hundreds to thousands of participants (some skating or even hoofing it along with the crowd).
According to worldnakedbikeride.org, "Most World Naked Bike Rides in the southern hemisphere take place in mid-March. Most northern hemisphere rides have traditionally taken place around the second Saturday in June."
Get the chain oil and sunscreen, and add the World Naked Bike Ride to your resolutions list.
