you are invited

a friend thought you might love this gathering

Primal Arts Fest is a four-day immersive camping gathering for adults 21+, held in May in Darlington, Maryland.

We come together for workshops, ritual, fire arts, embodied learning, and community.

For PAF27, our dates are May 5-9th

Welcome!

If you’re reading this, someone thinks you might enjoy Primal Arts Fest.

Primal Arts Fest is a four-day gathering where we camp, eat, play, learn, make things, get a little weird, and spend a lot of time together. Because everyone is staying onsite, there’s time to actually get to know people. Conversations continue the next day. Faces become familiar. Friendships happen in the spaces between everything else.

Almost everyone stays onsite for the whole event, and we encourage that. You can tent camp, stay in one of the cabins, or bring an RV. Wherever you stay, you’ll have access to indoor showers and campground facilities.

PAF is also a sex-positive gathering. Nudity is welcome. Erotic expression, kink, and sacred sexuality are part of the culture here, but none of those things are required. You can take part in what interests you and leave the rest alone.

Participation in anything at PAF is always your choice. No one should pressure you to participate, and no one should make you feel like you need to explain why you’re not.

We expect people to respect each other’s boundaries. Unwelcome comments about someone’s body or appearance aren’t part of the deal.

The event takes place on a private campground, away from public view. That gives us a little more room to be ourselves than most of us get in everyday life.

If a friend sent you here because they thought you might fit in, take a look around. Read about the event, see what we’re planning, and decide for yourself whether PAF sounds like your kind of place.

Who It's For

PAF is for adults who are curious, open-minded, and interested in being part of a community for a few days. People come for all kinds of reasons: to learn something new, make things, play, explore, meet people, or just spend some time somewhere a little outside the ordinary.

You don’t need to have been to an event like this before, and you don’t need to already know anyone here. We do ask that you be willing to respect other people, communicate clearly, take responsibility for your actions, and contribute to the community around you.

PAF is a sex-positive gathering. Nudity is welcome, and you will encounter kink, sexuality, and other forms of adult expression. You don’t have to participate in any of it, but you should be comfortable being around it.

Consent is a basic expectation here. That means respecting boundaries, accepting a no, and making sure the people you’re interacting with actually want to be part of whatever is happening.

Registration and Updates

Registration for PAF27 starts on October 26 and a presale invitation goes out to our mailing list.

Join our mailing list here for access to the presale and updates from us.

On November 1st, registration opens to everyone!

EXPLORE PAF27

A female fire performer in black clothing and red thigh-high socks, twirling flaming batons against a dark background at night.
A person with body paint, glasses, smiling at a festival with bamboo torches and a fire in the background.
A woman with body paint standing topless at night with a large group of people gathered around a campfire and bamboo tripods in the background.
A woman with blue eyes holds a colorful floral mask in front of her face, revealing her eyes and forehead. The mask is decorated with various flowers and a large bee is perched on it.
A peaceful lake scene with calm water reflecting the blue sky and clouds, surrounded by lush green trees and plants.
Silhouette of a person dressed in a mythology-inspired costume with horns and feathers, standing against a bright fire source in the background.
A person performing a fire dance or fire spinning outdoors at night, with flames and sparks around them, under a wooden pavilion decorated with string lights.
A blue cabin with a porch with stairs, located along a tree-lined street with benches, shaded by green trees in sunlight.
A man with a beard, wearing a tie-dye shirt, a hat, and glasses, adjusting hanging gong-like musical instruments outdoors on a grassy area.
A man with short hair and a sleeveless patterned shirt holding a ball of fire against a dark background.
A person with tattoos, fishnet tights, and a plaid face covering, wearing black dragon-shaped wings, running outdoors on grass, with tents in the background.
Two people hugging near a campfire at night, with a group of people in the background.
A fire performer lies shirtless on the grass with arms raised holding flaming torches, performing for an audience gathered in the background at night under string lights.
Person lying on a black mat, in a BDSM mummification suit, with a person's hand visible on the right side of the image.
A person wears a black BDSM hood and leans against a restraint platform.
A colorful painting of a woman with blue and yellow hair, surrounded by flames and a starry sky background, with the words 'Primal Arts' written at the bottom.
Decorative dreamcatcher with a painted design of a fairy-like figure and dragons, hanging inside a white tent at an outdoor festival
Close-up of a person adjusting a wooden drum, sitting outdoors, with natural background.
Wooden carved skull with exaggerated facial features and open mouth, hanging outdoors with blurred green background.
Tattoo artist in black gloves tattooing a person's forearm while seated on a black chair.
A woman with curly hair and tattoos sits cross-legged on the ground with her eyes closed. She is wearing a black top and light-colored pants, with a lanyard around her neck. The setting appears dimly lit and peaceful.
A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a brown apron and black shirt, appears to be performing fire cupping on a persons back in a dark room with blue lighting.
Two women aiming toy darts at naked man against a May day pole outdoors.
A man and a woman on the grass, with the man pinning the woman down; both playfully wrestling.
A man giving a shoulder ride to a smiling woman with curly hair, wearing a green shirt with yellow stripes on the sleeves, outside on a grassy area near a red barn, with a person sitting at a table in the background wearing a mask and sunglasses.
A man with a beard and short brown hair, wearing a brown jacket with a sherpa collar, is seen opening a zipper on a beige bag with a small silver object, possibly a tool or device, in his hand. A person with dark hair wearing a black shirt is partial
A man dressed in a colorful, layered costume inspired by a wizard or fantasy character, standing outdoors on grass with tents in the background.
Two people working with charred logs and wood in an outdoor setting.
A colorful, abstract painting on a canvas with swirling patterns and splashes of paint, featuring the words 'PAF' and the numbers '24'. The background of the image shows an outdoor setting with gravel and a red vehicle.
Two people performing a handstand on a wrestling mat. They are smiling and facing the camera upside down.
Two people with long hair wrestling on a grassy field, one appears to be a male and the other a female, both shirtless and wearing athletic shorts.
A smiling person with short dark hair, glasses, and a septum piercing, wearing a black spaghetti strap top. Their back is attached to a suspension rig. They are illuminated by colorful stage or party lighting, with a person in the background.
Man with red beard and glasses wearing a feathered costume and a mask resembling a lion's face, outdoors with a dark building in the background.
Tattoo artist with glasses and tattoos on arms giving a piercing to a woman with short brown hair, in a tattoo studio with tables and supplies in the background.
A stone labyrinth on a sandy ground in a grassy area, surrounded by trees with a white bench in the background.
A woman smiling outdoors at a festival, wearing rainbow sunglasses and a headband with rainbow pom-poms, holding a rainbow fan. She has a pink fanny pack and a black top with a lace pattern, with tents and trees in the background.
A topless young woman with long brown hair, and tattoos is outdoors in a park is getting a play piercing on her shoulder from an artist wearing black gloves. Tents and trees are visible in the background.
Two women standing close together outdoors, smiling and wearing summer clothing and sunglasses. They have bags over their shoulders and are standing in front of a building with stairs.
Woman with long hair in a flowing dress holding a staff on stage illuminated by orange lights, with a decorated tent and blurred background visible.
A man with a beard and tattoos holding a fire bubble in a dark environment, with flames forming a tall column rising from his hands.
A woman lying face down on a massage table with tattoos, receiving a burning massage stick treatment from a man with a beard and tattoos, in a rustic wooden room, while another man watches nearby.
A person hangs from suspension hooks in their knees. A fire is visible in the background.
Person's back with four suspension hooks attached to their skin on the upper back.
A performer is spinning fire poi at night, creating flames with fire on both ends of a chain, with a dark background and some trees visible.
Person with tattoos wearing a red dress working at a table with watercolor paints, brushes, and art supplies, surrounded by paper towels and other crafting materials.
Two people standing near a campfire at night with sparks flying in the air.
A woman with curly hair wearing a dark cloak is crouching and tending a campfire with large logs burning, sparks flying, in the dark night.
A nude woman dressed in black thigh-high boots is performing a fire dance outdoors at night, holding a flaming object in her hand.
A woman with long hair holding a staff and a clipboard standing at night at a festival or outdoor event, with other people and tents in the background, illuminated by string lights.
A woman with long hair, a floral crown, and tattoos stands at a nighttime beach gathering; she wears a white crop top and a long, floral skirt with lace-up details, and is illuminated by firelight with other people in the background.
Three people at a night event with tents and others in the background. The person on the left is shirtless with body paint, glasses, and a choker, smiling and flexing muscles. The person in the middle has long hair, glasses, and is wearing plaid pant
Group of people smiling and enjoying a night-time event under a colorful tent or canopy, with warm lighting illuminating their faces.
A man wearing a mask, with a beard and glasses, holds smoke or vapor in his hands. The image is black and white and has a logo in the bottom left corner that says "PAF 25 Kanin".
Woman with long curly hair in a floral dress standing in front of a bonfire at night, with people sitting and standing in the background.
Piercing artist working on a shirtless client with tattoos in covered tent.
Person playing a hand drum, illuminated in blue lighting, wearing a long-sleeve shirt.
A man with a red beard, wearing a black cap with silver chains, tattoos on his shoulder, and a black glove on his hand, in a dark setting with hook piercing in his back.
A wooden cauldron with a question mark cutout on its side is burning inside a campfire, with flames and embers around it at night.
A young man sitting outdoors at night playing a djembe drum, wearing a black t-shirt with a forest graphic, with other people partially visible nearby.
A man standing around a campfire at night, wearing a kilt and dark hoodie, with a calm expression on his face. There are other people in the background and logs on the ground.
A woman and man tying shibari together under a wooden shelter in a green outdoor setting, with colorful mats on the ground.
A man wearing glasses, a red cap, and a dark jacket, in a simple bondage harness , smiling indoors with a wooden roof structure and a woman partially visible in the background.
Decorative drum with a colorful illustration of a woman with red hair, surrounded by a blue lotus flower, placed on a wooden surface next to a metallic vessel.
A shirtless person standing outdoors on a paved surface, smiling, with colorful body paint resembling a heart and vines on his chest and arms, holding a red sweatshirt and wearing sunglasses and shorts.
Two people sitting at a table outdoors with a sketch of a feather and a small jar.
Person with long brown hair wearing a crown of thorns, having red marks on face and arms, looking into a mirror at a costume or performance prep area.
Person with dreadlocks and tattoos holding a skull decorated with pinecones, rolled paper, and various organic materials in front of their face.
People gather around a campfire at night, with a woman sitting close to the fire and a man with a shawl standing nearby. The scene is outdoors under trees with blurred city lights in the background.
A person with glasses and a face mask with a skull design, holding a lit candle in a dark room, with a bright light or moon in the background.
Back view of a woman with red hair flexing her right arm to show a tattoo of a spider on her shoulder and colorful stripes on her arm, standing in a room with a door, furniture, and a box in the background.
A person's arm with a red henna tattoo on the inner forearm, two dots above, and a curved line below, in front of a yellow and red patterned fabric background.
A young woman with pink hair in a dress standing outdoors on a gravel path, holding a large wooden sword prop, with trees, tents, and parked cars in the background.
A man with a beard and long hooded coat holding a staff, standing outdoors at night with trees in the background. The image has a logo for PAF26 bigpinktank at the bottom right corner.
A woman with curly hair is applying makeup with a brush while looking into a mirror. She is wearing a tank top, bracelets, and has tattoos on her left arm. The background shows a room with clothes and other items.
A man with a beard, wearing glasses, a red hat, and a necklace, is holding a fireball in his hand at night. The background is dark, and the fire illuminates his face and upper body.
A person with long hair wearing a sleeveless dress at night with their arms raised, surrounded by other people, fireworks or sparklers in the air, and bright lights in the background.
A man with a beard and glasses is pulling a woman in a rainbow tutu across the grass in a park or outdoor area with tents and people in the background. The woman is on her hands and knees, wearing a black outfit and rainbow accessories. The scene app
A person wearing a blue floral dress is kneeling beside a decorated table outdoors near a lake, with a large black and white painted cloth hung behind it. The table holds candles, lanterns, and a small potted plant, under a white cloth with colorful
A group of people, mostly men, standing around a large bonfire at night, poking the fire with long sticks. Some are shirtless, and others are dressed casually. Sparks and flames are visible from the fire.
A woman with blonde hair holding a fire torch in her hands at night, smiling with a dark background.
A person wearing a Halloween costume that resembles a scarecrow with a straw hat, holding a staff, standing in front of a large painting of a lion. There's another person on the left side of the image, with only part of their head visible, and anothe