AUGUST 2026 UPDATES
THE SEASON SO FAR!
Photo by Stone Watters
We held another successful Jam last month at Foster Beach! Huge thanks to all the volunteers who came out in the sweltering heat to help us set up! Flowchemy held their first pre-jam yoga session, which went beautifully!
For those who missed it, there will be a free yoga class & sound bath before every remaining Jam this season! Please bring a yoga mat or blanket if you have one and join in to release tension, ground your energy, and reconnect with yourself before the evening's festivities begin!
We had a record number of performers at our July 29th Jam with 126 performers! Wow!
Despite a rainy start, the Fourth For All Jam went amazingly well! Our staff was determined to make it happen, and 38 fire performers showed up along with dozens of drummers! We want to thank Winnemac Park Advisory Council again for hosting an incredible event!
RAINBOW BEACH JAM RELOCATED
Due to unexpected permit complications and a lack of approval and support from the local alderman, we will be unable to host the Full Moon Jam at Rainbow Beach. While we are disappointed by this sudden hurdle, our priority is to ensure a safe, legal, and stress-free gathering for everyone in our community. The great news is that the Jam must go on, and we have found a fantastic alternative and are officially moving the August 27th event to Palmisano Park!
Please help us spread the word to your friends and fellow drummers, so no one shows up at the wrong location!
PALMISANO PARK JAMS
The last two Jams of the season will take place on Thursday, August 27th and Monday, September 28th, in Palmisano Park. This event is also sponsored by the Chicago Park District's Night Out In The Park and is located in Bridgeport (the closest address to the entrance is 919 W 29th St). This will be our fourth year at Palmisano Park, and it has always been a wonderful experience. We hope to see you all there!
Photo by Cedric Salisbury
FLOW COLLECTIVE CHICAGO (Community Event)
Flow Collective Chicago is a community of flow artists who are passionate about expanding art and sharing it with others. They host monthly flow jams where community gathers to share their love for flow arts as well as monthly workshops where individuals from the community can teach flow prop concepts and skills. Along with monthly jams and workshops, they've connected and continue to collaborate with local organizations in Chicago to merge the world of flow, music, and art.
Upcoming events: Flow Collective Chicago outdoor jams are live! Meet ups are at Montrose Harbor July 1, July 12, August 2, August 30, September 9, and September 27!
Stay connected with FCC on Instagram @flowcollectivechicago and look out for more updates and upcoming events.
FLOW FEST CHICAGO (Community Event)
Join Flow Collective Chicago in Chicago's PING TOM MEMORIAL PARK for a full day of workshops, performances, dance parties + more! There will be 30+ workshops in FLOW ARTS, starting at 10am. https://flowfests.com/chicago-2026/
The theme for 2026 is Symbiotic - leaning into the positive energy and mutual appreciation cultivated across communities nationwide in the past 15 years. Join Flow Fest Chicago to explore INTERDEPENDENCE in new ways as we grow smarter, happier, stronger and even more joyful than we've ever been.
ALL ACCESS WORKSHOP PASSES- $25 now, $35 July 21st, $50 on site.
DOG BEACH DRUMMERS (Community Event)
With the return of warm weather, the Dog Beach Drummers have returned to the lakefront just north of Montrose Dog Beach and are gathering weekly through the warm months, weather permitting (as any outdoor circle must)!
Now officially 10 years old, this tradition began quietly many years before as a few people, a handful of drummers, a string of text messages, and a patch of sand. From that, the circle has grown into a regular gathering with a few thousand followers, but the heart of it has never changed. Everyone is welcome in the drum circle. Come to play, come to dance, or come to listen.
The Dog Beach Drummer gatherings are a celebration of community and creativity where community arrives as individuals but plays as One. From the day ones to the newest faces, everyone adds their own signature to the sound and vibe. No audition, no admission. Just the rhythm, the lake, and whatever the evening brings. “We are the sound that draws you in and the energy that brings us all back to the One.“
Please note that fire performances are not permitted at the Dog Beach Drum Jams.
For updates and announcements on drum circles, you can join the Dog Beach Drummers and Dancers group on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1800010960231022
Q2 2026 BOARD MEETING MINUTES
In the spirit of transparency, we have uploaded our most recent Quarter 2 meeting from 2026, held on June 15th. 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 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: Julie Brannen / Frann Fatale (she/they)
I’ve been fire spinning since 2017, when I was initiated by Radia Ali & Audrey Herrington. My first ever fire performance was in September 2017 at the FMJ; I apparently like to start off strong. I have been performing, volunteering, & learning ever since. My favorite 3 things about the Jam are; how accessible it is for all levels of flow arts, how the culture is about encouragement, artistry, & celebration, & how it’s become an institution for Chicago summers. An upcoming project near and dear to my heart is a femme-forward, liberatory & eclectic cabaret called PussyWolf Performance Showcase, which will be August 28th 9:30 PM at Newport Theater. You can read more info & get tickets at shewolfsacred.org/pussywolf
Photo by Petr Mesi
