On June 20th, 2024, Playa Ponderosa welcomed about 2,000 souls with a breath of fresh, pine air for a memorable June Jam weekend. Tents, campers, buses, and art car-villes sprung up throughout the trees and main grounds as everyone landed into their temporary outdoor homes.
As we wandered deeper into the heart of the happenings, the magical energy of creation was palpable. The budding joy being experienced through dances, giggles, smiles, and wiggles (plus some Full Moon howls) was inspiring and transformative throughout the weekend. Amidst these suburban tree villas, we could see & hear the art flowing out from the pirate-ship art car, Fuzzy Bunny art car, a tie dye room that changes color, Sean T. French’s fire installations, metal heart- shaped hands holding a heart and more-all surrounding the main festival grounds.
Thursday night’s pre-party kickoff had us jammin’ at The Stoop while soaking in nature adorned with playful lights, 2-foot-tall LED mushrooms and lasting chill vibes, and the designated canvas art area flowing with even more creative juices. Nestled between the stages were the rows of vendors – festival gear and food such as Freak Brother’s Pizza, Tot Box, and The Sassy Fig. The DeWomp area also supported us with rejuvenating drinks, rest, comedy shows, a burlesque show, and throwbacks that definitely drew some crowds from the sustained EDM vibe.
“The Stoop” Stage
As Friday unfolded, we witnessed the music and people expand from The Stoop to The Nook and eventually to The Oasis with boppin’ artists like Megan Hamilton and Opiuo. People flowed with their toys, their bodies, and words in a 2,000 person energetic symphony.
“The Oasis” Stage
Breathing into Saturday, we were given a fun smorgasbord of workshops to support our optimal EDM energy – yoga, blindfolded movement, shibari, chakra alignments, along with Southwest Flow Fest’s flow workshops. The stages all jammed with us as we wubbed and dubbed our bodies into the night with G-SPACE, Philipp Jung, SKYSIA, and more. The Oasis stage hosted absolutely stunning Goddess accompaniment performances with a sacred offering to the sky as the sun welcomed us into a glorious Sunday sunrise.
Sunday was sprinkled with more workshops that brought our vibrating beings into deeper alignment through meditation, a summer solstice ritual, movement, psychedelic chats, and balloon animal art. We became one with ourselves, with each other, and with the grooves and moves of the jammin’ evening lit up with Justin Martin, and other artists carrying us through to sunrise. The lightning, thunder, and rain added a mix of comfortable temperatures and some down time to the 2024 June Jam Adventure. The memories made in tents and camps during these times are always plentiful in gold nuggets and laughter.
From creating a portal in the center of a tire swing to witnessing life energy surge through the performers, the weekend was full of individual and collective excitement, play, and truly altering avenues of soul co-creations. With the June Jam values and the smaller festival size, there was definitely a strong community feeling of support, safety, and unity. The community vibes and camaraderie is boosted by organizations such as The Good Eggs and a volunteer booth overflowing with humans supporting an easeful and safe weekend.
We all join up for the music and we repeatedly come back for the genuine core feeling of community. Thank you to all the beings who showed up to play, work, volunteer, paint, dance, facilitate, build, support, weave, howl, hop, laugh, cry, explore, and everything else that transpired. We are a wonderful weaving of this Life Tapestry, and it is an honor to dance with you.
