Reflections on Sauna Days 2024 | 200 People, 12 Saunas, One Lake Superior Experience | Sauna Talk 95

In this episode of Sauna Talk, Glenn reflects on Sauna Days 2024—a weekend where over 200 sauna enthusiasts gathered along the shores of Larsmont Cottages for a one-of-a-kind celebration of heat, cold, and community.

Set against the vast backdrop of Lake Superior, Sauna Days has become more than an event—it's a living, breathing expression of modern sauna culture rooted in nature.

The formula is simple, almost deceptively so:
a collection of mobile saunas, a few wood-fired anchors, cold water access, good people, and just enough structure to let spontaneity take over.

This year's gathering featured 12 mobile saunas, a brick-and-mortar heat source, multiple cold plunge options (including the big lake itself), and a steady rhythm of connection—from quiet solo rounds to packed benches full of laughter and steam.

But what really defines Sauna Days isn't the setup—it's the people.

Familiar faces returned, new friendships formed, and conversations flowed easily between rounds. Whether on the bench, around the fire, or standing barefoot on the rocks, there was a shared understanding: everyone knew how to sauna.

Guests traveled from across the U.S., Canada, and the UK—including representation from Finnmark Sauna and the British Sauna Society—highlighting just how far this movement has spread.

The weekend also featured a dynamic speaker series, with topics ranging from breathwork and sobriety to the future of large-scale wellness spaces. Meanwhile, Steam Masters introduced many to the power of venik treatments—adding a deeper, more traditional layer to the experience.

And through it all, nature remained the headliner:
sunsets over the lake, star-filled skies, shifting weather, and that unmistakable feeling of being somewhere that matters.

In this episode:

• Inside Sauna Days 2024 at Larsmont Cottages

• The rise of mobile sauna culture

• Why shared sauna experiences create instant connection

• Guests traveling from across North America and beyond

• The role of speakers, rituals, and Steam Masters

• Venik treatments and the influence of banya traditions

• Sauna as a festival—and why it works

• The power of sauna in nature

At its core, Sauna Days is a reminder that sauna doesn't need to be complicated to be meaningful.

Just heat, cold, water, and people—
done well, in the right place.