2020 Festival Update - New Name, Same Great Experience

"Northeast Naturist Festival" Renamed "Sentient Festival"

​

Festival dates for 2020 are Tuesday, July 28th to Sunday, August 2nd

​

 

Moravia, NY, October 28, 2019  The revitalized 28th Northeast Naturist Festival attracted 200 people this year - up substantially from previous years!  Based upon the solid foundation that Morley Schloss created and his support for new Festival leadership – we were inspired to honor the past as well as work diligently all year round to engage new contacts as well as upgrade the Festival from waning interest. New Festival Directors, Brian Leonard and Petra Stone (Paytra's Coffeehouse) worked tirelessly to forge a bridge between Festival Goers and Seasonal Site Holders along with offering new and unique ways to encourage engaging activities that were inclusive, joyful and personally enriching – a tall task by any means! They also worked overtime to engage and upgrade the Festival with a strong online presence on Facebook (Northeast Naturist Festival), a dedicated website, and a Meetup.com group (n.u.d.e. Naked Unity & Diversity for Every-BODY!).

Brian and Petra's goal in their own words is to “expand ethical naked culture” that includes but also reaches beyond the usual Nudist/Naturist dichotomy to one that embraces an array of life affirming body perspectives and activities.

 

This past year's Festival was a great example of this - with a diverse blend of seasoned facilitators and attendees along with an array of new keynote speakers, performers, workshop providers and activities like “Naked in the Air” (a historic first for our Festival) – there was something for everyone to do. As with any leadership change – growing pains will occur – and we always welcome your input as to how we can improve and what you can do to effect the changes you want to see.  We received much heartening and thoughtful feedback at the closing circle this year and our new online evaluation system provided us with dozens more respondents letting us know how much they enjoyed the festival and were looking forward to 2020. 

 

With this new found momentum and much consideration & thought, we have decided to rename the Northeast Naturist Festival. We realize change can be both difficult and welcome. In this case, the book has gotten a new cover, but its contents will always be at the core of our ever-evolving story! Renaming a festival with this much diversity was no easy task! After what seemed like weeks of conversations we have settled on calling it the SENTIENT Festival. For us – a key component of ethical nudity is the unbridled opening of the senses. Bare feet on the grass…gentle breezes over clothes-less skin…the body rejuvenation and pleasure of swimming naked...viewing the utterly gorgeous nighttime star systems above…and all while filling one's lungs with crisp, fresh mountain air. We believe these experiences can form the background for a return and reclamation to being fully in one's body!

 

For ease of information, we have expanded our online presence to include Instagram and Twitter (just look up “Sentient Fest” and our Festival website has also been upgraded (www.sentientfest.com). Our bottom line is that festival changes will be gradual, engaging, sometimes challenging, life affirming, body accepting, inclusive, diverse, celebratory, empowering and above all vital – to keeping ethical family nudity alive and well into the coming decades!

​

Some changes that we will be making for the 2020 Sentient Festival: 

• Festival rates are being offered as packages this year – Full Festival or Weekend (covers Friday-Sunday). These packages include the Festival Fee, Daily Grounds Fees, and Accommodations.  There is a discounted rate for those who pre-register by Friday, July 10th.  One-day admission will also be an option.  There will be no refunds given for early departures. 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

If you have already put down a deposit to reserve a rental/site for the 2020 festival and do not want to partake in this newly renamed festival, we will refund your deposit in full if you respond by FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29th.  For those who still want to come for the same great experience (and then some!), we will welcome you with arms wide open.

 

We hope to see you at the 2020 Sentient Festival!

 

Sincerely,

Brian, Petra, and Empire Haven