A History of TKLFest

From its humble beginnings as a weekend party in someone's home, TKLFest has grown into an annual affair, reminiscent of an alumni reunion, bringing together old friends and introducing new ones. No better person exists to chronicle the history of this event than JonK, lovingly called by many the Father of TKLFest. He started with a desire to gather en masse all men interested in tickling and created "The Roster", a list of these men that he compiled and mailed --- using envelopes and stamps --- to any man who asked.

“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

1993

Chicago, IL

The 1st ever TKLFest. Organized by "JonK" in the form of a house party in Chicago

Director - JonK

1994

Chicago, IL

1995

Chicago, IL

TKLFest attendees grew from house party attendance to a hotel gathering of members

1996

Chicago, IL

1997

Chicago, IL

Jay Grafmiller becomes the “official” TKLFest photographer. Event photos featured on jayspix.com

1998

Houston, TX

The beginning of TKLFest venturing out and hosting in other cities The first year of multiple Fests

Director - Rich, Rick

1998 (SEP)

Las Vegas, NV

Director - Rick

1999

San Francisco, CA

Director - Ken, Alphonso

2000

Dallas, TX

Director - Scooter

2001 (MAR)

Chicago, IL

Director - Rich

2001 (MAY)

San Francisco, CA

2002

Chicago, IL

2003

Chicago, IL

2004

Chicago, IL

2005

Chicago, IL

Director - JonK

2006

Dallas, TX

Director - Scooter

2007

Chicago, IL

Director - John Spencer

2008

None

The 1st year that TKLFest did not occur due to schedule conflicts

2009

Anaheim, CA

The most attended TKLFest with 120+ members

Director - Joey

2010

Burlington, VT

2011

None

The 2nd year that TKLFest did not occur due to economic recession

2012

Chicago, IL

2013

Newark, NJ

2014

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2015

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2016

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2017

Dallas, TX

Director - Joey, Scooter

2018

Anaheim, CA

Director - Joey

2019

Las Vegas, NV

Tau Kappa Lambda formed a committee tasked with organizing TKLFest

Director - Joey, Nick

2020

Virtual

The 3rd year that TKLFest did not occur due to a global pandemic; Virtual Fest was conducted instead!

Director - Nick

2021

Philadelphia, PA

Director - Nick

2022

Atlanta, GA

At 135 attendees, this was the biggest Fest so far.

Director - Nick

1993

Chicago, IL

The 1st ever TKLFest. Organized by "JonK" in the form of a house party in Chicago

Director - JonK

1994

Chicago, IL

1995

Chicago, IL

TKLFest attendees grew from house party attendance to a hotel gathering of members

1996

Chicago, IL

1997

Chicago, IL

Jay Grafmiller becomes the “official” TKLFest photographer. Event photos featured on jayspix.com

1998

Houston, TX

The beginning of TKLFest venturing out and hosting in other cities The first year of multiple Fests

Director - Rich, Rick

1998 (SEP)

Las Vegas, NV

Director - Rick

1999

San Francisco, CA

Director - Ken, Alphonso

2000

Dallas, TX

Director - Scooter

2001 (MAR)

Chicago, IL

Director - Rich

2001 (MAY)

San Francisco, CA

2002

Chicago, IL

2003

Chicago, IL

2004

Chicago, IL

2005

Chicago, IL

Director - JonK

2006

Dallas, TX

Director - Scooter

2007

Chicago, IL

Director - John Spencer

2008

None

The 1st year that TKLFest did not occur due to schedule conflicts

2009

Anaheim, CA

The most attended TKLFest with 120+ members

Director - Joey

2010

Burlington, VT

2011

None

The 2nd year that TKLFest did not occur due to economic recession

2012

Chicago, IL

2013

Newark, NJ

2014

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2015

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2016

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2017

Dallas, TX

Director - Joey, Scooter

2018

Anaheim, CA

Director - Joey

2019

Las Vegas, NV

Tau Kappa Lambda formed a committee tasked with organizing TKLFest

Director - Joey, Nick

2020

Virtual

The 3rd year that TKLFest did not occur due to a global pandemic; Virtual Fest was conducted instead!

Director - Nick

2021

Philadelphia, PA

Director - Nick

2022

Atlanta, GA

At 135 attendees, this was the biggest Fest so far.

Director - Nick

In Memoriam

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.

CanukTickler
1969
-
2022
TopTicklePig
1959
-
2021
Dr. Scott
1964
-
2014
Jay Grafmiller
1941
-
2010

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.