Nestled deep in Squamish Valley, this forty-eight hour counter culture festival transformed a stretch of beach into an experience of expression and music. Campers could wander the grounds to admire the art and hand crafts on display, meditate and practice yoga on the beach, participate in seminars, swim in the river or dance at one of three stages.

But more than anything, I was most impressed with the atmosphere created by everyone at the festival. There was a friendliness and air of acceptance that I have never experienced with such a large group before.

When setting up my tent, I accidentally found myself in the middle of a giant wedding party and was immediately adopted and introduced to everyone. Walking down the paths, people greeted one another with warmth and open smiles. Expression was always encouraged. Criticism and judgment had no place here.

This year’s Sin City annual party was nothing short of the explicit and casual display of fetishes one would expect from an event billed as a Sextravaganza.

With a strictly fetish dress code in effect, all kinds of freak-alicious people came out to show off their appreciation for whips, corsets, PVC, masks, leather, cross-dressing, bondage, body piercing and bare skin.

On the main floor, the crowd danced to a mix of electro-synth, techno and gothic industrial music. Upstairs, voyeurs could watch the dancers or ‘play’ in the sectioned off dungeon with restraints and paddles.

It was more of a kinky Halloween party than anything Hollywood would have you believe about the fetish crowd. I met a lot of friendly & fabulous people and can recommend this event to anyone with an exhibitionist streak in them.

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Powwow music is spiritual and evocative… and with a stack of amplifiers it’s just awe inspiring. Walking up to the powwow grounds, I could easily imagine that 50 tribes had come to celebrate as one.

Inside there was salmon smoking beside a gigantic fire, vendors and artists selling their wares all around the Powwow’s center of attention – the dancing circle.