Here comes the sun
What a weekend! Previous Nudefest events have badly affected by dreadful weather - although that hasn’t stopped them being any less than thoroughly enjoyable – but this year the weather played ball and, other than a cold wind from time to time, all events and activities arranged went ahead, and outside where appropriate. Around 200 guests - BN members, some of whom had recently joined to take advantage of the members’ ticket price, and non-members - had a great time over the three days, meeting old friends and making new ones, and dipping in and out of the packed activity timetable. Nudity is permitted anywhere, anytime at Nudefest and many of us didn’t dress the whole time we were there.
History
For anyone new to BN, this was our third annual Nudefest event. In 2007, we helped gift experience company Red Letter Days organise “The Garden of Eden”, a naturist night at Cornwall’s Eden Project, and decided to put on an event/accommodation nearby the same weekend to encourage a good turnout. We found the textile Newperran Holiday Park near Newquay, owned and operated by Keith and Christine Brewer, turned it into a naturist resort for the weekend and had a blast. “The Garden of Eden” turned out to be a one-off, but Nudefest has continued and is now one of the “must-do” events in the naturist calendar. Keith and Christine have become our good friends and great ambassadors for naturism, often telling us how well we compare with their other guests. They have made a camping field or two available for naturist use in the week leading up to and after the Nudefest weekend for the last two years and - ***STOP PRESS*** - will be making that same arrangement from Easter to October from now on, excluding the school holiday period in July and August. Fantastic!
Let’s get this party started
Many people, including a contingent of Suntreckers, had been at Newperran for a few days by the time the event began on Thursday lunchtime, the time for the much-awaited “kit off”. The “NEC” (Naturist Exhibition Centre) marquee was the centre of operations with the BN shop and many other stalls, with holiday-related resorts and companies, BN SIGs, clubs and regions, the Marine Conservation Society and others displaying their wares, plus the popular body-painting and crafts tables and a Wii games machine with giant screen running endless 10-pin bowling and other competitions. The BN photo display boards allowed a look back to previous events, and photos that were taken during the weekend were projected for all to see. The on-site pub, shop and café did a roaring trade, all being open most of the time, as was the swimming-pool with its large and sheltered sunbathing area. There were new staff behind the bar, Gary – a naturist himself – and Diane, with help from Christine when it got busy (often!), giving us excellent service and enjoying the atmosphere. Thursday night was Diane’s very first time serving behind a bar and also her first time in a naturist environment, and she joked at the end of the weekend that serving clothed people was going to be more of a challenge! Local therapist Amanda Phillips set up for massage and other treatments in the bright orange BN gazebo (you certainly couldn’t miss it!) and was busy the entire time, into the evenings and beyond the end of Nudefest on Sunday. She joined in with some of our activities when she could and is likely to return – and even travel to other BN events – next year. Feedback was that her treatments were excellent and that, although guests paid for them, they were a welcome addition to the weekend’s activities.
Busy doing nothing
One of the great things about events like Nudefest is that guests can choose to take part in the activities, or laze around and enjoy the atmosphere and company. Doing the activities is somehow relaxing, too. This year’s activity timetable included popular favourites such as yoga, the Cherokee dance of creation, life-coaching, t’ai chi, bingo, photography workshops, running, juggling, belly- and soca-dancing, pub quiz and organised sports sessions. New activities this year included an introduction to war-gaming, a presentation about the work of the Marine Conservation Society and a couple of excellent feedback sessions on BN and naturism.
“MiTunes” saw guests bringing their favourite piece of music – classical one day, and contemporary the next – to talk about and play to others, and wafting across the sun-filled lawn we enjoyed music from Elgar to Ry Cooder and Stravinsky to Sigur Ros. Certainly an activity we plan to repeat. The Treasure of the Old Penwarren “wide game” that was postponed from 2008 saw teams of players of all ages criss-crossing the Park in search of pirates and clues. We can’t mention everyone who ran an activity or helped (in so many ways), but thanks to you all. A nice “extra” is that guests came forward to offer to run activities not on the printed timetable, and many additional items were also added to the list of raffle prizes as the weekend progressed.
Rhythm of the night
Though Nudefest is great by day, it’s perhaps even better by night when guests gather in the pub. Many people arrive dressed, but it’s not long before everyone strips off as the room warms up. We had two live music sets this year, starting with Stars in their Eyes finalist Jay Washington, a soul singer with a repertoire including classics from the likes of Lionel Richie, The Drifters and Wilson Pickett. There was a great atmosphere, with a packed dance-floor. He posed with his new and naked fans for a photo, which we’ve sent to him as a memento of the evening. Hopefully, it won’t be his last Nudefest. On Friday night we welcomed our old friends, 1970’s chart-toppers Edison Lighthouse, who also played classic cover versions to a packed house. When it ended, people were still buzzing and not wanting to go to bed so, using the giant screen, we decided to show a movie in the marquee. (How many people can say they have watched a film, naked, at 1 in the morning, in a field?) Jim’s eagerly anticipated disco on Saturday night did not disappoint and was the highlight for many. A wide range of styles of music was played and kept dancers from the ages of 10 to 60-plus entertained into the early hours. Only in naturism…
We're all in this together
Most of Sunday was devoted to enjoying the last of the sunshine, but we all gathered for the group photos in a few locations around the site. Keith, Christine and Jean (our lovely lady from the shop) joined us for one or two. We took some more “publicity-anywhere” pictures for use when we get requests for images – once again, great to see so many people unafraid to take part. Ten non-members joined BN over the weekend, including a textile couple who were caravanning at the site for a fortnight (they had been made aware of Nudefest falling in the middle of their stay) - they were present (clothed) at one of our activities one evening and by the end of the week were stripped off with the rest of us. A warm welcome to you both. It shows once again that, whatever the preconceptions, once people see a naturist environment at first hand they realise what a lovely, safe and friendly place it is. I hope you will all agree that these events do so much good for BN, its members and naturism in so many ways.
Keen to return? Not been yet and regretting it? Dates for 2010 were announced at Nudefest2009 and booking is already open. Rates and activities are yet to be agreed but we’ll bring you that information as soon as we can.
And finally, don’t take my word for it – see the comments from Nudefest2009 guests on the forum here
Nudefest2010: 17–20 June, 2010 at Newperran Holiday Park, Newquay . www.newperran.co.uk. Tel: 0845 166 8407. Keep an eye on www.nudefest.co.uk
Nudefest2009 sponsors
Many thanks to all those who supported Nudefest2009 by taking advertising space, provided brochures for distribution, sponsored an activity, exhibited and/or donated a prize. We couldn’t have run the event without you. They are:
Little Crugwallins: Rosemary and Rupert Adkins, telephone 01726-63882; Website www.littlecrug-naturism.co.uk
Broadlands:telephone 01508-492907; website www.broadlandsun.co.uk
Chalfont Holidays: telephone 0845-045 0987; website www.chalfontholidays.co.uk
Fig Leaf Villas: telephone 00306 9824 53437; website www.figleafvillas.co.uk
Infiniti: telephone 01548-561289; website www. infinitinaturist.co.uk
Parasol Holidays:telephone 01604-863300; website www.parasolholidays.co.uk
Suntreckers: telephone 01474-410416; website www.suntreckers.org.uk
Peng Travel: telephone 0845-34583465; website: www.pengtravel.co.uk
David Hornsby: telephone 0116-3321201; mobile 07877710840; website www. dhlifecoach .co.uk
Maguez, Lanzarote:telephone 0034928 835233; website www.cottageinlanzarote.com
Mobile Homes Abroad: telephone 07939 123345 or 0844-840 2345; email martin@caravansinthesun.com
