Full Moon Fun

Chicago offers a never-ending array of special interest groups. There are over 170 Meetup groups in the city, with topics ranging from Astrology to Waku-Waku: Anime Rave.

My Chicago Meetup group is 1001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die. When the announcement of the 24th Annual Full Moon Jam featuring drums and fire appeared in my inbox, my curiosity was piqued.

A full moon, drums, and fire? What’s not to like? I had to go. Fellow photographers Scott Fuller and John Tarsha graciously joined me last Monday at the Foster Avenue Turf Fields on the Lakefront for this new experience.

The Chicago Full Moon Jam is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization hosting free, family-friendly fire performers and drummer gatherings, along with free education on Flow Arts. The gatherings take place once a month in the summer between sunset and 10 PM.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a cacophony of drums. Anyone with a percussion instrument is welcome to join the drum circle. These three drummers seemed representative of the energetic group of approximately fifty drummers that performed for a large crowd.

The fire dancers started around sunset. To qualify, fire dancers must be age 18 or older, complete a fire safety course every two years, and use only approved fuels. Fire tools and costumes are personal expenses. Purchasing your own personal fire performer insurance policy is recommended.

In case you’re interested, the remaining 2026 Jam schedule is available at News — Chicago Full Moon Jam. If this has sparked your interest in becoming a fire performer, you can sign up for Jam Fire Safety Training at FULL MOON JAM 2026 SUMMER SCHEDULE — Chicago Full Moon Jam. If you perform, you’re automatically eligible to become a Friday Photo headliner!

The Shot

The photography was tricky. The best light was during the “blue hour,” about 15-45 minutes after sunset. The torches had to be close enough to illuminate the performers’ faces and to create interesting fire paths.

The shutter speed had to be long enough for the fire to create a path, but not so long as to make getting a face in reasonably sharp focus impossible.

I settled on a shutter speed of 1/6th of a second. The lead photo is a composite of six images, blended to create the fire circles. The rest of the images are single shots. Despite the odds, I was able to capture several interesting images.

Thanks for looking,

Chuck Derus Zenfolio | Chuck Derus