“At the same time that I originally contacted everyone about The Roster, I also proposed that a first-ever get-together of all-male tickling enthusiasts take place. I offered that it be in the Fall and that everyone could come to my home. I sent out ‘registration’ forms and talked about it in my cover letter that went out with each Roster. In September 1993 the first Get Together occurred with a total of sixteen guys from several different states and Canada. We talked, we played, we tickled...we had a good time. It was a liberating event that gave the opportunity for anyone who had never done so to meet and tickle another guy.
Each year as The Roster grew, so did the Get-Togethers. In the second year, there were exactly double the number, thirty-two. The next year there were forty-two and then fifty the year after that. Each one was held in my home with participants staying in a near-by hotel that was within walking distance. Guys had come from all over the United States, as well as men from Canada and Europe. By the fifth year, I realized this had become something bigger than my home (or I) could keep up with. I also knew that it was reaching the critical point of event planning: the first event is a tentative success; the second one grows and gains credibility; by the third everyone wants to be a part of a successful tradition. If it’s still successful, the fourth will be about the same as the third, and by the fifth, people are going to start thinking it’s the ‘same old thing. ’I didn’t want that to happen, so I decided to make the fifth one the last one that I would host.”
-Jon K. Founder of TKLFest
The 1st ever TKLFest. Organized by "JonK" in the form of a house party in Chicago
Director - JonK
TKLFest attendees grew from house party attendance to a hotel gathering of members
Jay Grafmiller becomes the “official” TKLFest photographer. Event photos featured on jayspix.com
The beginning of TKLFest venturing out and hosting in other cities The first year of multiple Fests
Director - Rich, Rick
Director - Rick
Director - Ken, Alphonso
Director - Scooter
Director - Rich
Director - JonK
Director - Scooter
Director - John Spencer
The 1st year that TKLFest did not occur due to schedule conflicts
The most attended TKLFest with 120+ members
Director - Joey
The 2nd year that TKLFest did not occur due to economic recession
Director - Joey, Scooter
Director - Joey
Tau Kappa Lambda formed a committee tasked with organizing TKLFest
Director - Joey, Nick
The 3rd year that TKLFest did not occur due to a global pandemic; Virtual Fest was conducted instead!
Director - Nick
Director - Nick
At 135 attendees, this was the biggest Fest so far.
Director - Nick
The 1st ever TKLFest. Organized by "JonK" in the form of a house party in Chicago
Director - JonK
TKLFest attendees grew from house party attendance to a hotel gathering of members
Jay Grafmiller becomes the “official” TKLFest photographer. Event photos featured on jayspix.com
The beginning of TKLFest venturing out and hosting in other cities The first year of multiple Fests
Director - Rich, Rick
Director - Rick
Director - Ken, Alphonso
Director - Scooter
Director - Rich
Director - JonK
Director - Scooter
Director - John Spencer
The 1st year that TKLFest did not occur due to schedule conflicts
The most attended TKLFest with 120+ members
Director - Joey
The 2nd year that TKLFest did not occur due to economic recession
Director - Joey, Scooter
Director - Joey
Tau Kappa Lambda formed a committee tasked with organizing TKLFest
Director - Joey, Nick
The 3rd year that TKLFest did not occur due to a global pandemic; Virtual Fest was conducted instead!
Director - Nick
Director - Nick
At 135 attendees, this was the biggest Fest so far.
Director - Nick
We owe what we have today to those who came before us. We remember the community members we've lost and honor their memory every time we come together, support one another, and dare to be our true selves.
TKLFest Photographer and "Goodwill Ambassador" (1994 - 2010)
Grafmiller passed away in 2010 from complications of lung cancer. His website, jayspix.com was a launch pad not only for many of us to explore our fetishes but of discovery for TKLFest itself. He is remembered and his legacy is cherished by all those that got to meet him.
We owe what we have today to those who came before us. We remember the community members we've lost and honor their memory every time we come together, support one another, and dare to be our true selves.
TKLFest Photographer and “Goodwill Ambassador” (1994 - 2010)
Grafmiller passed away in 2010 from complications of lung cancer. His website, jayspix.com was a launch pad not only for many of us to explore our fetishes but of discovery for TKLFest itself. He is remembered and his legacy is cherished by all those that got to meet him.