by Zipper Magazine Staff
Fetish Con is one of the largest networking events for the fetish industry and BDSM lifestyle community. Each year thousands eagerly look forward to collaborating, learning, and getting their kink on with like-minded people at this warm and welcoming convention.
This month, August 11-14, Fetish Con made its long-awaited in-person return to St. Petersberg, Florida after a two-year pandemic-related hiatus. Zipper Magazine was there along with Clips4Sale to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this legendary fetish community gathering.
Photo Credit: Sheba Queen of the Night & Freckles Galore
Photo credit: Aiden Valentine and Anastasia Valentine. Twitter @_AnaValentine_
The energy during the Thursday night kick-off was electric and it set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The first event was the Kinky [RED] Carpet. It’s “the only red carpet event in the industry that everybody gets to participate in” according to Anastasia Pierce, Clips4Sale Studio Relations Representative. “I love it! People love it! There’s more photographers there on the red carpet than at AVN. There’s so many people taking your picture! Everybody dresses up for it. Everybody gets to do it. It’s fun. It’s wild. It’s positive. It’s so cool!” The Red carpet is Anastasia Valentine’s favorite event too. “It’s a time to just be yourself, wear your craziest outfit, and talk about sex with no judgment.”
We asked attendees how it felt to be back at Fetish Con after more than two years. Multi Award-Winning Fetish Filmmaker & Actress Ludella Hahn told us, “It means family . . . to be surrounded by people you can feel fully comfortable to be your kinky self around.” That sentiment was echoed by many including Pierce, “Fetish Con feels like a family. I think that’s inspiring for other conventions, they’re not like this. Fet Con is completely different, that’s why it’s my favorite convention.”
Photo credit: Ludella Hahn
caption: Photo credit: HiThereCatsuit, Host of @whatwomenwantpodcast
For four exciting days, Fetish Con’s hotel-takeover event was jam-packed with networking opportunities, entertainment, classes, and more. It wrapped up on Sunday with the fifth annual Fetish Awards hosted by Anastasia Pierce, Kendra James, and Lauren Philips. The awards honor those in the fetish and alt sex industries – performers, creators, and models, plus makers of BDSM gear, kinky toys, and fetish apparel. among this year’s fetish awards winners was king noire who took home both favorite male fetish performer and favorite male fetish webcam performer. Ludella Hahn swept the show with seven wins including Favorite Female Fetish Performer.
Attendees enjoyed a full schedule of activities and parties like the Twisted Dungeon, Superheroine Showdown, Bondage Battle, Pervy Pool Parties, BDSM lifestyle workshops, fetish industry seminars, vendor hall, Speakeasy, Kinky Karaoke, and after-hours parties. Members of the fetish industry devoted much of their weekend to things like creating crossover content with other performers, social time with fans, teaching, and performing.
Photo Credit: Sheba Queen of the Night on the Clips4Sale stage
Photo credit: Rachael LMHC
The main stage celebrated kink in all its forms by showcasing a variety of fetishes around the clock. Sponsored by Clips4Sale and hosted by Jean Bardot, attendees viewed mini scenes and demonstrations in bondage, boot worship, facesitting, balloon fetish, trampling, Fem Dom, flogging, and more. Clips4Sale also unveiled its new logo giving away BDSM paddles and rulers, fetish-themed shirts, stickers, and other merch showing it off.
Ludella Hahn Enjoying Zipper Magazine’s special print issue
Photo credit: Goddess Indica Jane Fetish
Back at the Clips4Sale booth, Zipper Magazine made its first public appearance too. We surprised convention-goers with a special Fetish Con print run of the magazine. We were so thrilled to see it in the hands of the community we work so hard to serve!
If you didn’t make it to Fetish Con and our round-up is giving you FOMO – great news! The 21st annual Fetish Con has already been scheduled for August 10-13, 2023. We’ll see you there!
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