Metra Picnic promotes freedom of affection

Around 1,000 people mingled, held hands and kissed at the 27th Annual Metra Magazine Picnic, held July 9 at Salt River Park in Lenox, Mich.
And the affection didn't feel awkward, organizers said.
"We first started it because people can go out on a picnic and be themselves and not be bothered by people gawking 'cause they're holding hands or whatever," said Mary Sappington, publisher of Metra Magazine.
The picnic reunited many familiar faces.
"A lot of people don't see each other all year, or they don't see each other in years, and then they get to," she said.
Attendees participated in non-traditional games, like stuffing as many water balloons in their panty hose as possible and running with sex toys in between their thighs.
"It was funny," Sappington said. "It's always awkward. It's not sexy or anything."
Storm clouds also steered clear of the festivity.
"We had beautiful weather," she said. "The night before they kept threatening thundershowers, but we didn't get anything."
Sappington said Metra Magazine is busy planning next year's picnic with the help of 50 workers.
"We're already organizing the booth lists," she said.