There are so many ways to dance, and all of them can be wonderful and joyful, like Ecstatic Dance to feel free and unconstrained, Contra Dance when you want to be told exactly what to do and twirl the night away, or Barefoot Fusion on Fridays when you want a little bit of both

It feels different to pick up an instrument and play, for the sheer joy of it, rather than for some childhood obligation. But, for many of us, that's how long it's been since we've tried to play. If you're maybe ready to try again, the Oran Mor Irish Sessions are a good place to start 

Just gathering together can sometimes be enough to find intermagical joy, and there are so many great local PNW festivals. The Shrewsbury Renaissance Fair, Realms Unknown, and the local event in this picture where competitors crushed watermelons in the street, to name a few

Making joyful noise with other people is a particular and potent kind of magic. Once place you can feel it is at the Pub Sing at Tomorrow's Verse taproom, every fourth Thursday. This photo is from Seattle's Folklife Festival in 2026 when hundreds of us gathered to sing together

Creating, just for the sheer joy of creation, is one of our most magnificent human magics. If you want a particularly joyful crafternoon, come to a community crafting event hosted by Puffball Creative, where you can make anything you can imagine with the art of needle felting

Capitalism is the enemy of joy, and a great way to find community and togetherness is through giving to and receiving community resources, like the monthly plus size clothing swap, and the new pay-what-you-can thrift store. Community resources grow and thrive when they are utilized