Photos courtesy of the Sun Valley Wellness Festival.
The whole topic of wellness seems like it’s been with us for ages. In fact, much of the credit can be traced back to Sun Valley, our high-mountain sister community to the west. A quarter century ago, this world-famous recreation playground gave birth to the Sun Valley Wellness Festival.
The 4-day celebration for 2022 will be running June 10-13.
According to the festival’s executive director, Heather Deckard, it’s the longest running wellness festival in the country.
“We have a proven history of presenting visionary leaders in the world of wellness,” Deckard told us, noting that one big draw to the annual event is the sheer fact that it’s in Sun Valley–the ultimate Western Mecca of wellness itself.
“It’s a place to indulge yourself, and also where attendees can find community and relationships with each other,” Deckard said. “We’re especially excited about expanding our offerings for dinners and receptions and areas where people can connect.”
In between presentations, one of the more interesting draws is sure to be the free-to-the-public Experience Park, where attendees can peruse booths featuring wellness products and services, healthy-food vendors, music, yoga classes and additional 45-minute presentations on the InSight Stage.
On tap for 2022, the festival will be featuring presentations from about 30 speakers, each renowned in their area of expertise. Past presenters include Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass, Elizabeth Gilbert, Arianna Huffington and many others.
Deckard notes that at the festival’s inception, subjects like mindfulness and meditation were treated as on the fringe, but are now more accepted as mainstream facets of the health and wellness movement.
The event and its namesake institute is a not-for-profit organization developed by community members seeking to showcase wellness programs in their communities. That now includes the festival as well as a scholarship program and development of free year-round programs.
“I think it’s going to be a way to give yourself a shift for the better,” Deckard said. “A great way to focus on your own well-being and your goals, and connect with people who are working on the same kinds of things.”
Attendance pricing varies from a $95 30-day Virtual Pass all the way up to a $2,500 Supporter Pass. Depending on the package, attendees will enjoy a variety of keynote and main stage events, culinary classes, workshops and much more. (All passholders will have full access to the festival’s online content through July 31.)
The event headquarters is located at the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum, offering special discounted lodging rates for passholders.
Festival passes–both for in-person attendance and a 'Virtual SVWF Experience'—are now on sale at the festival’s website. For pricing options, speaker lineups and other details, visit www.sunvalleywellness.org or call 208-696-1107.
Click here to read more of the February issue of Idaho Falls Magazine.