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2026 FMJ January Updates
- Devin Bean
- Jan 11
- 7 min read
HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2025 was a challenging year that brought a lot of amazing growth to the Full Moon Jams. We are working on many exciting things for 2026, but first, we want to pause and reflect on all the fantastic things we accomplished this year!
We trained 240 fire performers at 5 Fire Safety Training Workshops, and hosted over 300 performers at 6 Full Moon Jams! We held a Jam in a new location at Rainbow Beach, and got drenched in 2 incredible Halloween parades! We also spent a lot of time behind the scenes laying new groundwork towards funding & sustainability, which we hope will help to support free community programming for many more years to come.
Hosting the Jams is a lot of work, and it is because of the generosity of many wonderful, hardworking volunteers that it is all made possible. No one gets paid to organize the Jams, so it is truly a labor of love. Thank you to all the wonderful souls who have helped keep this tradition alive for over 21 years!
2025 END OF YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
As we wrap up 2025, we’re proud to share some of the year’s biggest accomplishments and milestones. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year such a success!
Training & Workshops
Hosted 6 free-to-attend Flow Workshops and over 25 classes throughout the year
Held a Fire Safety Training at the University of Illinois Chicago in April
Hosted 4 Reserve Jam Fire Safety Trainings and a Halloween Parade Training
Trained 240 fire performers throughout the year
Our December Winter Workshop was a (cold!) success with 56 sign-ups and 39 attendees
Events & Jams
Hosted a Fire Jam and showcased our Prop Library at the Between the Trees Festival in MO
Held 6 Summer Jams across 5 locations (one date, July 10, was sadly rained out)
Welcomed 316 individual fire performers to our Summer Jams
Launched a new Accessibility Seating Area at Jams, which was well used & greatly appreciated
Parades & Performances
Halloween Parade Training was well attended (29 participants) and improved parade flow
Two parades were a (wet!) success, with 25 first-time parade performers
29 fire performers participated in Arts in the Dark
23 performers lit up Haunted Halsted
Grants, Growth & Operations
Submitted a Chicago Park District Night Out in the Parks grant proposal for 2026
Received an Illinois Arts Council General Operating Support Grant
DCASE City Arts Program Grant application was submitted and accepted
Created a new Department Guide to strengthen and organize operations
Began legacy planning and preparations for future leadership
Looking Ahead
On-site merchandise sales have been moderately successful
We’re seeking dedicated organizers to support Merchandise and Accessibility efforts
A new website is launching in 2026
Planning a fundraiser in April 2026 - stay tuned for more details soon!
Thank you for being part of our community and for an incredible year. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!
BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT
The Full Moon Jam Foundation will be recruiting new board members in preparation for the 2026 season. We are looking to grow the composition of our Board to reflect the community that we have become. Just as the Full Moon Jam itself grew from a small gathering of fire-spinning friends into a vibrant and multifaceted community, the Board that guides the Full Moon Jam and its future should represent the breadth of possibilities that we continue to grow into as well.
Our ideal board size will be 5-7 members, populated by board members with a range of skills, roles in the FMJ community, identities, and outlooks that represent not only the current FMJ attendees but also represent and have a keen awareness for making connections with interested and underserved communities across Chicago.
Historically, fire dancers have comprised the board in its totality; however, we would like to invite others from the broader community to provide oversight and direction. That means drummers, photographers, and individuals from the entire ecosystem of the Full Moon Jam are encouraged to apply, as well as those with experience in running nonprofits, grant writing, or event production.
Board members do not need to have specific expertise with fire performance, nor are they required to handle fire themselves, but it is important that prospective board members understand or be willing to learn the basic requirements and standards needed for hosting public fire performances. Event Leads produce the Full Moon Jam and oversee fire safe education, regulation, and protocol as on-site producers. They fulfill a reporting role to the Full Moon Jam Foundation Board, which oversees the work and advocates for the community at large.
The Board should have a community-oriented organizational skill set, overseeing fundraising and advocacy for the interests of the Full Moon Jam community to make sure it grows in a healthy manner that is welcoming to all and aware of its impacts, positive and negative, on the immediate neighborhood and Chicago.
Strengths in prospective board members include familiarity and participation with the Full Moon Jam in any capacity, organizational or fundraising skills, a community-building outlook that values inclusion, and a broad range of life experience. They must work well with others in a collaborative setting and possess a strong drive to implement positive change. Artist and performance support, experience, or involvement is a plus. Above all, a love for and fulfillment in what we can create as a group of people coming together is necessary.
Our hopes for future Board priorities include advancing community-wide skills and awareness in de-escalation, trauma therapy, consent, flow arts education, organizational sustainability and communication. We envision continuing an evolution that uses fire, dancing, music, and celebration as a metaphor and starting point for building a vibrant, healthy, and inclusive community and City. It is our belief that creating unique, vital, creative spaces gives us all the energy and purpose to be better neighbors for each other.
Carrying the spirit of friends and neighbors welcoming each other in celebration will always be a core value of the Full Moon Jam and those who create the vision for our gathering.
Responsibilities of being a board member include, but are not limited to:
Attending 4 quarterly board meetings
Being familiar with FMJ policies, operations & procedures (budgets, permits, insurance, culture, etc.)
Attending at least 1 organizer meeting annually
Responding to emails & messages in a timely manner
Providing input and/or assistance with delegating Jam-related discussions and tasks
Attending a minimum of half of the Full Moon Jams in the calendar year.
Reading, abiding by, and upholding the FMJ Code of Conduct
Abiding by and upholding FMJ safety standards and expectations as outlined by the Full Moon Jam’s Level 1 Safety Training, Level 2 Safety Training, Guardian Training, & Parade Fire Safety Training.
If you are interested, here is the Board Application Link:
We will be hosting a Informational Forum / Q & A over our Discord channel on January 12th & 19th at 8:00pm for people who are interested in learning more about joining our team and would like to ask questions or get more information.
FMJ Board Member 2026 Timeline
Monday, December 29 - Open Call for Applications & Nominations
Monday, January 12 & 19 - Discord Open Q&A Session
Monday, February 9 - Applications Close. Applicant Interviews are held until the 23rd
Monday, February 23 - Organizers vote on new board members.
Tuesday, February 24 - New Board announced, effective date March 1st, 2026
Should you like to join that meeting and talk to us about fit or any questions you have, send an email to info@fullmoonjam.org requesting an invitation to join.
Thank you!
WINTER WORKSHOP 2025-2026
We will be hosting another Winter Workshop on April 11th 2025, at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse located at 1440 N Humboldt Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647!
We will be announcing more details on the schedule of the classes offered as soon as possible!
Classes will take place between 10:00am - 4:00pm and there will be a Flow Jam Skill Share from 4:00pm - 5:00pm. Props for every class will be available and a free allergen-friendly lunch will be provided at 12:00pm!
These daytime all-ages flow workshops will be held at various Park District Fieldhouses and will be free to attend (there is a $20 suggested donation, which can be made via Zelle - info@fullmoonjam.org).
The Full Moon Jam Flow Prop Library will be available for all the Winter Workshop classes, so anyone can attend regardless of experience. If you have any old props you would like to contribute to the FMJ Flow Prop Library, please send an email to info@fullmoonjam.org with the quantity and condition of the props you would like to donate!
Q4 BOARD MEETING MINUTE NOTES
In the spirit of transparency, we have uploaded our most recent Quarter 4 meeting from 2025, held on December 19th. We invite the community to stay up to date on the latest discussions and developments of the Full Moon Jams and hope to encourage more to get involved and propose new ways we can help to improve our events and reach out to new audiences and communities.
All of our board meeting notes are available on our website: fullmoonjam.org/jamnews
PERFORMER SPOTLIGHT
Sir Leo (he/him)
My first time spinning fire was October 2024. Originally, I wanted to add fire to my world of kink. I searched instagram for “#chicago #fire”, FMJ popped up, and went to my first Jam. I then went to the FMJ workshops later that year, where I met a lot of people. After some time, I learned that some of them also meet weekly, so I joined. By the next summer of 2025, I attended the burns as a volunteer and burned when I had more confidence. My experience with FMJ is positive, people just want to learn, get better, share with others what they know, and flow. No politics, no drama, it’s all about flowing. It's very friendly, and people are as excited if not more of your progress.
FULL MOON JAM MERCH STORE!
Be sure to visit the Official Chicago Full Moon Jam Merch Store!
You can help support the Jams by purchasing official FMJ swag, including jerseys, magnets, stickers, tote bags, t-shirts, coffee mugs, sweaters, and zip-up hoodies! All proceeds fund the Full Moon Jam Foundation's Flow Arts Education and Jam event programming.
Click here to purchase the freshest FMJ Merch:
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