UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 31, 2009:
CHECK OUT MY POST UPDATING THIS EVENT:
http://open.salon.com/blog/marytkelly/2009/10/31/annual_naked_pumpkin_run_squashed
Boulder is known for its liberal attitudes, new age spiritualism and left wing politics. Pearl Street Mall is the home to Mork and Mindy, hip restaurants and expensive boutiques.
Every Halloween, the Pearl Street Mall fills up with crazy Halloween college students, filling every pore on the sidewalks in their crazy costumes and alcohol soaked breaths.
Sharing the space with the sophomoric youngsters are those who are hitting the street for the NAKED PUMPKIN RUN
Tonight will be the 10th anniversary of Boulder’s Naked Pumpkin Run. One past participant reports, “It’s super liberating. It just feels like we’re all in this together and we’re all having fun together”. This coming from a town where every 4/20, over 10,000 people come together on the campus of the University of Colorado to let’s just say, hang out and be mellow, very very mellow (I was there, of course just as an observer).
My husband and friends want to dress up in costumes and go watch the Naked Pumpkin Run tonight. My husband got all excited and went out and got pumpkin heads. Silly guy. He thinks he might persuade this still shy wife of his to let it all hang loose and join in the fun. Poor guy. He’s such an optimist, but the thought of me running down this mall, with pumpkin on my head, and nothing else, well that’s just a very scary thought.
Happy Halloween to All!
UPDATE--CHECK OUT NEW POST OF 10-31-09: http://open.salon.com/blog/marytkelly/2009/10/31/annual_naked_pumpkin_run_squashed
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Comments
Joe
Rated if for no other reason than there are pics of people running around with pumpkins on their heads and nothing adorning the rest of them.
*thinks to himself it had to be cold out*
Personally, I think they are as nutty as the non-jigglers. Count me out, I never went to the Nude theaters Burlesque in Chi-town as a kid, never to a dance club as an adult. Don't want my dates going public with nudity. I am at heart just a former girlfriend collecting prude when it comes to exhibitionism. Although I must admit that the scene in EYES WIDE SHUT when Cruise's character crashed the mansion of great tall, nude prostitutes was a bit awesome.
You should totally go. Someone should make a subversive underground comic strip of the Holloween Peanuts stuff with the great big scary pumpkin, with the naked pumpkin run.
Joe: Yes, fly out...it's a beautiful time of year in more ways than one.
George: We can only hope. Even in Boulder, the annual erotica ball got shut down because it was too over the top. Sadly, I never made it to that one.
BBE: I knew this one would meet your approval. My husband would appreciate your suggestion.
Bill: Glad you enjoyed...and yes, to all the men in the pictures, I'm sure it was very cold...this is after all, Colorado.
Prof: Yes, I will say that one scene in the Tom Cruise movie--let's just say, compelling. Glad you understand the reservations.
David: Great idea about the Peanuts cartoon. Only you.
I love knowing there are all these free spirits in Boulder.
I am also glad that I am not required to participate.
My family and I have been card-carrying social nudists since 1991 and belong to the American Association for Nude Recreation (formerly the American Sunbathing Association). I waited to establish myself as a serious writer on OS (notwithstanding the picture of a dead goldfish in the toilet on my site) and hope I have accomplished this. We shall see...
I can't figure out where John Walker is...must be at work..
rated and outed myself
Don't you just love it?
I know about the Naked pumpkin Run.
At least, it's not going to be too cold tonight and noone will have a frozen tush!
Me, I'll just be handing out candy to all the little trick-or-treaters.
I love it though and actually have to go buy some more candy as we'll have plenty of little ones tonight due to the warm weather.
Happy Halloween, Mary
Have fun!
Margie
Thanks Margie!
o'stephanie: Maybe I will! If I do, you will be a motivating force!
But I can't believe you let out our little secret.
BTW to all. I having a BIG H'ween party tonight (adults only ) and you're all invited if you happen to be in the China, Texas area.
:)
Cathy, if you tell Nick you encouraged me to do this, you are in the big sissie doghouse!
And how do you explain this in the emergency room?
Mary: China isn't all that scary. There is no police protection nor any enforceable speed laws. But that's okay 'cause many of the children are armed and big dogs run loose in packs.
Just think Mayberry with spurs.
BRING IT ON!!!!
You first, O'Stephanie!
Social nudism, believe it or not, provides a nonsexual atmosphere. I am working on that post....
Blue Eyes, I added you as well. I am happy with my loyal readership but you may be right. (Mary, if this goes over 50 thumbs, you owe me bigtime!) I will add your name to my mass email when I post, carefully leaving Wayne off.
This was a great pleasure to read Mary!!
Now BBE, that little voting secret was between you and me, and you've gone and outed me.
A lot of outing going on today.
Lonnie, it'll just have to be the 420--you don't even want to think about me with a couple of shots of tequila...it wouldn't be pretty.
John: Mayberry with spurs...I love it.
Hmmm...after all these comments, maybe I'll surprise my husband. But you all can only imagine all the videos and pictures that are taken of this event. There's a running cam on the Daily Camera internet site (the local newspaper). I do have 4 children to think of who have friends still in this town. They would all need intensive therapy if their naked mother ended up on youtube.
It brought back memories of the time an old boyfriend talked me into going to a nude lake up in the Marin watershed. It was more like a pond, but the sight of so much uncovered flesh stays with me to this day. It was a warm day and, as a result, there was nothing drooping and shrunken if you get my drift...
Thanks and Happy Halloween! It's cold and windy and possibly snowing here (weather alert to Mary - it's headed your way) so I'll have a great excuse to stay bundled up!!!
also ditto & kudos to o'stephanie - I was just thinking nudity is so not equal to porn.
we should declare a body paint contest here on OS, though. Not just for Halloween. For whatever - Michigan football games, Freakfest, Burning Man, Mardi Gras...
Also suitable for those not here for OS Beta Calf Wars.
Love this post. You could do your own reverse version of the run with strategically placed pumpkins...
Sierrasong--loved your reminiscence of skinny dipping. Many folks have dipped in the past. I remember many wonderful family nude camping trips in the Sierras...
Btw2, your post rated and appreciated.
"would send me to hell for being naked under pumpkin in public."
Then I suggest that you forego the pumpkin.
Thanks for sharing! Someday, Colorado will be home. I swear it!
...isn't that what the Pumpkin Heads are for? How would anyone know it's you, punkin'?
So, just a few:
mikelpoet (I know I spelled this wrong): Thanks for remind me about the Catholic upbringing--I'll need to go to confession.
Lauren: It will happen and I'm like you...there wouldn't be enough I could drink and since I don't drink, I would be rendered useless.
Lonnie: Have you been talking to my husband???
Wayne: Go for it!
Denis: Apparently you are also in kahoots with my husband. Although the "carpe diem" is compelling...
Just get your pumpkin head on and go for it. Nick's in, too, right?
I actually would mind the pumpkin more than the nudity - and isn't it a bit COLD for barenakedness.....?
O'steph: Great post.
Cherie: Yes, I could do this in Greece!
As for trying it yourself, yes, of course you should. I'm pretty dang modest, too, but I have found out from going to hot springs type places that if you are in a crowd that is nekkid, once you join in, you actually feel fine, as we humans we tend to feel most comfortable following the normsl of the crowd we're in. So I've found that in those situations, having clothes on actually feels rather perverse.
Trust me on this, and give it a try - if not this year, next year (or any year that's not too frikkin' cold).
Silkstone: However, as you are suggesting, what the heck. It's an Indian summer evening...who knows what may happen :)
I am waiting for the morning after update. The climax, as it were, to your participation in this Halloweenie ritual. How was the race? Lots and lots of JACK-O-Lanterns on parade, I trust. And your own personal lanterns? Did you light up the trail?
For me there is not enough mind altering substances in this country to make me go out and run like that. You might say I have a "little problem" with doing it. Well not really, but it sounded good and it's not politics.
Go to:
http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=37250
I'm just sayin'
http://open.salon.com/blog/marytkelly/2009/10/31/annual_naked_pumpkin_run_squashed
R
Unfortunately, the authorities have put a stop to some of the nude runs on or near college campuses over the past few years. One of the best ever was the "Mile Run" on the night of the last finals each spring at the University of Michigan. But now, it is either very hushed up or has been stopped completely.
So, Boulder, we're counting on you!
While equally unsurprising, it's instructive to note that he's stated he'll arrest the runners as "sex offenders." This despite the fact that it's not illegal to be publicly naked in downtown Boulder.
So, MTK... I'd say you and your husband are now facing the moral imperative to protest injustice along with the opportunity to have a good time. Come on, girl... You can't let some Christofascist get away with this.
I have a new post up talking about the extremes Boulder is going to in order to shut this down.
Bryan: Always an honor to see you...and you're right...husband and I are heading down there with friends...we'll walk if we have to!
As for the moral imperative to fight this injustice, my husband and I will do our best and there'll be a report on my latest post:
http://open.salon.com/blog/marytkelly/2009/10/31/annual_naked_pumpkin_run_squashed
tomorrow morning...providing I'm not in jail! Thanks for the encouragement.
http://open.salon.com/blog/marytkelly/2009/10/31/annual_naked_pumpkin_run_squashed
A little streaking does the soul good.
http://joshfulton.blogspot.com/2009/10/israeli-police-storm-jerusalems-holiest.html