Set deep in the tranquil hills of Cobb, SoulPlay Festival just celebrated its 10th anniversary at Mandala Springs—a dreamy, alcohol- and drug-free retreat located beneath towering oaks, beside a creek and along paddling ponds. Over four days, attendees surrendered to a weekend that blended nature, dance, intimacy and intentional community.
With workshops spanning privilege, sensuality, feedback practice, water dancing, body awareness and queer identity, SoulPlay invites attendees to rethink old assumptions and be seen in their full complexity. It is part retreat, part classroom, part celebration and entirely immersive.
At the heart of SoulPlay’s evolution is Misha Bonaventura, who first joined as the festival’s consent lead in 2017. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, she stepped back into a leading role last year—this time, acquiring the festival and guiding its growth in a pivotal moment. Bonaventura’s vision now centers on building a “consent-forward culture” where emotional and physical safety are woven into every exchange, which is especially essential in a space exploring sensuality, touch and desire through transformational workshops.
Attendees may benefit from SoulSupport, a peer care system offering emotional support on the ground. That means feeling safe enough to stretch one’s boundaries, knowing help is nearby, and being asked to step back if things get uncomfortable.
Under Bonaventura’s leadership, the festival has amplified its inclusion efforts. Once predominantly white, this year’s festival approached 50% queer participation and about 25% Black and Brown attendees. SoulPlay also offers workshops that educate on diversity and inclusion, like its Microaggressions Workshop, to reflect the needs and experiences of its audience.
“We do a lot of work to ensure SoulPlay is an accepting space for all identities,” Bonaventura said.
What’s next, in her view, is bringing nervous-system regulation to the center of SoulPlay. She envisions intimate activities like The Sway—a dance event designed to soothe and restore—complete with cradles for participants to feel held and safe, and an emphasis on supporting caregivers, especially parents, with spaces where they can relax without worrying about childcare.
“We need to slow down, and regulate our nervous systems, in order to really be in relationship with the earth,” Bonaventura said.
Ticket prices for SoulPlay Festival vary depending on the level of access, but generally include all four days of programming, meals and accommodations on-site. Attendees receive access to dozens of workshops as well as communal art projects, dance spaces and healing sanctuaries. Most tickets also come with a festival T-shirt, camping space or shared lodging options, and access to the festival grounds including ponds, trails and performance areas. Additional ticket tiers may include premium lodging, private workshops or early access to events, allowing participants to tailor their experience while still exploring the core offerings.
SoulPlay attendee and volunteer Andrew X spoke of joining the Bodywork Team in the Healing Sanctuary, finding it both an opportunity to expand his own coaching practice and a chance to be of service. X said he chose to be involved in SoulPlay because it felt like a values-aligned community for him. He described the team’s work as creating “an oasis inside the festival.”
“People would come in buzzing from the dance floors and leave lighter, softer, more at home in themselves. Being part of that kind of collective care was really special,” X said.
Looking ahead, Bonaventura hopes SoulPlay can break free from its once-a-year format into multiple gatherings across the year. Her goal is to carry the same embodied healing, community-building and nervous-system care into future events, with hopes of strengthening bonds and sustaining transformation long after the weekend fades.
“The festival is a little edgy, but not too edgy. It’s a wonderful place to dip your toe into alternative space,” she said.
For more info about SoulPlay (2026 festival dates coming soon), visit soulplay.co.
