Wellbeing centre stage at Port Douglas Wellness Festival
Wellbeing Festival
Ice baths, salsa, sound baths, drumming and yoga are just some of the experiences on offer at the inaugural Port Douglas Wellness Festival.
Held on October 30-31, the free two-day community event will give locals the chance to try a huge range of wellness activities with a packed program of taster workshops, activities and experiences.
Event lead Mechel Pearson said the idea grew from a group of local practitioners workshopping ways they could support community wellbeing and resilience.
“The Port Douglas Wellness Festival is a way for the amazing, passionate and dedicated people who care about wellbeing and people’s health in our region to come together and share what they do with the community,” Ms Pearson said.
“We wanted to create a space where people can connect, learn, listen and explore the many different ways wellness can be part of their lives.
“Whether it’s about improving vitality and health, finding a new daily practice or simply satisfying a curiosity, people can come along, try something different and discover what speaks to them, completely free of charge.”
The festival begins with the Twilight Market on Friday, October 30 from 4pm to 9pm, with activities across the Sugar Wharf Ocean Stage and Dixie Park Chill & Groove Stage, alongside wellness and food stalls.
Short sessions throughout the evening will give attendees the chance to sample activities including Zumba, Pilates, salsa, Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, African drumming, didgeridoo, breath meditation, sound bath and gong meditation, with live music and other performances continuing into the evening.
On Saturday, October 31 from 9am to 4pm, the festival moves to the Port Douglas Community Hall for a full day of workshops, talks and activities across the Community Hall Stage and Movement Meadow.
The extensive Saturday program includes Qi Gong, drumming, breathwork, yoga, kids’ yoga and Montessori craft, aromatherapy, salsa, ice bath immersion, chair Pilates, women’s wellbeing sessions, soap making, fermented foods and more.
Ms Pearson said the festival had been designed for the whole community, including people who may never have attended a wellness event before.
“There will be something for everyone to explore, watch, listen to or take part in. It’s our first year, and everyone involved has worked hard to offer as broad a variety of experiences as possible.”
The Port Douglas Wellness Festival is free to attend, with the Twilight Market at Dixie Park and the Sugar Wharf from 4pm to 9pm on Friday, October 30, followed by a full day at the Port Douglas Community Hall from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, October 31.
The initiative is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
