Every body is a beach body — fat swim events

Some are THIS WEEKEND! HOT FAT SUMMER #4

This is the last issue of the HOT FAT SUMMER series (for now) and this week I'm sharing some fat swim events and the last of the swimwear recs at the very end. Please support if you can.

I’ve written a lot about safety for fat people in public spaces. That, even though we are not responsible for a fatphobic world, we can still be subject to public aggression and hate just from existing in public.

For some people, not giving a fuck and really wearing what makes them feel confident is a clear reclamation of their bodies. It shouldn’t be brave or ground-breaking to exist in our bodies or to wear clothes.

However for some of us, we might not feel comfortable showing more skin. It could stem from body insecurities, the experience of body shaming, living under more conservative cultures and feeling bound to those rules, or it could be from not feeling safe in the world.

No one deserves hate based on their body size or how they choose to dress. Sometimes it can feel isolating while being fat. Finding a place we can feel safe in bodies, finding community and being around our peers is so important.

Still from Hulu’s Shrill, image is from UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE’s student involvement page from a swim party organised in 2020.

It’s been years since I watched Shrill, especially after the devastating and premature ending. But of course, I remember the iconic pool party scene.

I haven’t been to a fat swim event yet. Most of my experiences wearing swimwear while fat have always been a combination of hesitation and self-consciousness before feeling like I can just exist within my body, instead of outside. Where I can I feel the sensorial pleasure of being in water, instead of visualising how I might appear to others. I think it’s difficult to feel fully at home with your body when you are worried about how you will be perceived, or worse you feel unsafe.

Being around other fat people and fat community is really important. It’s that embodiment of confidence, joy and freedom that I think can only be found in spaces that support fat liberation. Including fat swims.

Almost all of these events are held in city-centric locations across the US, most also require a covid test before attending. Even though most of these events have a fee, many of the organisations are open to low-cost or free tickets.

1. San Mateo — Big Fat Beach Day

Where: *location change*

Alameda Beach, 300 Coral Reef Road, Alameda, CA
When: August 10th 12-5pm, 2024
How much: Free, get tickets here
Who’s running it?
Fierce Fat Femme, Big Thick Energy, Fat Brunch and Fat People Hiking Bay Area

2. Chicago — Fat Friends Pool Party

Where: Hidden Creek Aquapark, 1220 Fredrickson Place Highland Park, IL 60035
When: August 10th 7-9pm, 2024
How much: 20USD via Eventbrite
Who’s running it?
Fat Friends of Chicago

3. Detroit — Fat Pool Party

Where: Oak Park Municipal Pool, 14300 Oak Park Boulevard Oak Park, MI
When: August 11th 6.30 - 8.30pm
How much: 20USD via Eventbrite
Who’s running it?
Fat Folks Detroit

4. Saskatoon — Big Fat Pool Party

Where: Martensville Aquatic Center
When: August 17th 8-10pm
How much: 35CAD, get tickets here
Who’s running it?
The Curvy Club, Saskatoon

5. Boston — Fat Pool Party

Where: Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School campus in Waltham, MA. The entrance is at 785 Beaver St, Waltham, MA.
When: August 24th 12-4.30pm
How much: 30-75USD based on financial accessibility, get tickets here
Who’s running it?
Bigger Bodies Boston

6. Boston — Fat Flaminge: A Body Liberation Pool Party Fundraiser

Where: Secret oasis in the heart of Boston (exact address will be emailed)
When: August 31st 1-4pm
How much: 25-150USD, tickets via Eventbrite
Who’s running it?
Ample Access Outdoors

7. Rochester, NY — Fat Float

Where: YMCA Camp Arrowhead, 20 Arrowhead Road Pittsford, NY 14534 United States
When: August 31st, 6-9.30pm (optional hike from 4pm beforehand)
How much: 10USD via Eventbrite
Who’s running it?
Fat Camp ROC

8. Bay Area — Making Waves Fat Swim

Where: Albany Aquatic Center, 1311 Portland Avenue
When: Sundays, 12-1pm
How much: 10USD
Who’s running it?
Making Waves Swim

WHERE TO LOOK FOR FUTURE EVENTS

• Did you catch the news coverage on the NY Beach Day? A fat queer beach event organised by model and activist Jordan Underwood and Berriez founder, Emma Zack. It was held back in June, but here’s hoping it happens again next year!

• Fat Babes of Columbus have a Summerween themed pool party happening on August 10th but unfortunately it’s sold out.

• Minnesota based Cake Plus Size (resale store) organised the Fat Splash events back in July.

• For Australians on here, the Body Positive expo held a pool party a few years back but they’re currently on hiatus.

• Fat Babes of Phoenix had a pool party back in June

• For New Zealanders, the Curve Collective which runs plus size sustainable market events, also has an annual pool party (Christchurch)

• NY City Plus run by Sarah from Curvily, held a beach day event back in July

• Fat Girls Travelling has a user-submitted events section so it’s a great way to find different fat community events

• Chunky Dunk, a collective of fat lib and body positive swimming groups that started in 2005. Most of these are private Facebook groups, but they are not all active.

Do you know of any fat swim events not included in here? Have you been to one before? What was your experience?

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This is the last swimwear feature for HOT FAT SUMMER. Over the last few weeks, I’ve added almost 20 brands onto the directory that carry swimwear.

Researching swim options has been exciting but it’s also been disappointing at times too. There’ve been a few brands I was really excited about only to check their sizing and realise they’re not inclusive at all. There were also a handful of brands that used to manufacture locally and switched to overseas and are no longer transparent about their manufacturing partnerships and when I asked for more info, I was ghosted.

But on the plus side (pun intended!), I’ve discovered and re-discovered some really amazing brands. I hope that if you’re in search of new swimmers or thinking about the future, that these suggestions have helped!