Myth has it that when the moon is full, people let go of their inhibitions and go wild. Truth or fiction, people totally let loose at LMNT's monthly downtown full moon party.
"We need to come together as a community and bring body and soul together," said Tracie Samara, hostess and co-founder of the lunar bash.
"When it comes to full moon parties, the subtle vibrations have an impact... people just come and do their thing."
And people of all sorts, from women in their 20s decked out in colorful flowy skirts, ruffled midriff tops, and floral headbands, to an Iraqi vet wearing a cut-off camouflage Army uniform top with a brown kilt and black combat boots, to bearded mid-aged men dressed in white linens walking around with djembe drums, and a Rico Suave doppelganger, did come exactly as they were.
See also:
-Six Worst Miami Pick-Up Lines, According to the Ladies
Some watched as open mike performers took the stage and read aloud their prose or sang to Florence and the Machine, while others joined in on the indoor drum circle, stared in awe as fire spinners twirled their lit up pois in the air, or talked about the symbolism of the moon.
It may have been a diverse crowd of party goers, but one thing was for sure: what happens at full moon parties most definitely doesn't happen anywhere else.
And if you ever catch yourself questioning whether or not you're at a full moon party, here are six signs that give it away.
Pyros Fire Spinners
Ever wonder what it's like seeing bright orange flames spinning in midair? Watching these guys juggle fire and not getting burned is all the wondering you'll ever have to do. And aside from a circus, we're pretty sure full moon parties are one of the only places where these guys can freely spin fire.
Drum Circle
People seemed to have lost control of their joints somewhere in between the infectious rhythm of the bongos, congas, and djembe drums. While some just moved their feet and hips, others violently shook their bodies and gyrated their hips to the beat of the percussion. One thing was for sure though, almost everyone in the drum circle was in their own little world - they were so lost in the music they clearly didn't care who was watching.
Open Mike
Full moon party stereotypes aside, the men and women in the U.S. armed forces are heroes that deserve all of our respect and honor. But it's not every day an Iraq vet can openly express himself, unless we're talking open mike.
"Poems are a way for me to cope and open mike gives me an opportunity to read my poetry," said Quique Hartmann who opened with his poem inspired by Hamlet, "To Thy Own Self, Be True. To Everyone Else, Fuck Off."
"It's Memorial Day weekend and I want to remind everyone that it's not national barbecue weekend. Poems are a way to look at my experiences and keep them real. I don't want my boys to be forgotten."
Protest Announcements
After Hartmann recited his prose, a guy who appeared to be in his mid-20s with blond hair that reached his shoulders took the stage and announced a protest against Monsanto, a producer of genetically modified food, that was going to take place at Publix the next afternoon.
Now that's something you don't see every day.
People Dressed In Their Finest Full Moon Attire
Among the crowd of people was a dude with blond hair that touched his tatted triceps dressed in a white and black American flag screen muscle tee with neon printed skinny pants, and brown rugged boots, chicks wearing metallic gold tops and leather body suits, guys wearing carnival masks and tribal necklaces, and even the guys of Locos por Juana wore an orange, green, and yellow feathered monkey mask. Whether or not that's how they normally dress, everyone sure suited up for the occasion.
Lovers Of The Moon
While some party goers were there for the full moon party experience, others were really into spiritualism and the moon.
Standing near a hookah vendor was Rune Masri.
"I love the moon because it honors feminism," she said as she adjusted her black knitted mask that covered everything but her long eyelashes. "The moon cycle is 28 days and so is the cycle of a woman. When the moon is full, there is an energy that erects... We are all connected. We are one."
Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.
