Festival Spotlight: Vegandale Fest

Festival Spotlight: Vegandale Fest

Festival Spotlight: Vegandale Fest

By iana velez

PROFILES

YogaLove Magazine - Vegandale Festival
Vegandale


Looking for something to do this Sept? We are thrilled festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Jenna Owen, from Vegandale  festival taking place Sept 24th in NYC at Randall’s Island Park.

Your name and role in the festival
Jenna Owen, and I am the Marketing and Communications Director for Vegandale.

What inspired you to create a festival?
Vegandale was founded and is led by steadfast abolitionist vegan, Hellenic Vincent de Paul, who has significant live event experience. Hellenic has hosted performers and celebrities such as DJ Khaled, LeBron James, and countless others. Hellenic began attending various vegan events, noticing they were all the same, with a farmer’s market vibe and rooted in environmentalism and/or plant-based eating. The messaging used was never about the animals, and the events were, quite frankly, boring. He saw this as an opportunity to introduce a vegan experience that breaks vegan stereotypes with a focus on ethical based messaging in an epic party environment.

What makes your festival unique?
What makes Vegandale unique is its contrasting vibe to veg fests and food festivals. It has been described as ‘Coachella meets SXSW’ with a defiant twist, due to our unapologetic messaging and major party vibe.

What offering/presenter or sponsor are you most excited about for this year’s event?
Vegandale New York is our flagship event that we look forward to every year. We are expecting over 200 vendors with nearly 50 coming from as far as the Philippines, which makes it a very unique opportunity for people to try new and innovative products they may not otherwise. This year we introduced over 40 new art installations that have been extremely popular amongst attendees for photo opps. We actually have a contest running right now where people who take a photo with our artwork and use #vegandale are automatically entered to win a free trip to our LA event in October.

Learn more:
Instagram: @vegandale
Tickets: vegandalefest.com/newyork/tickets

YogaLove Magazine - Vegandale Festival
AWAKE Festival - Ananda Dancing
YogaLove Magazine - Vegandale Festival - Vegan Food
Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC

Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC

Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC

PROFILES

FESTIVALS

Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC
Looking for something to do this fall? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Nicole Kazimer, founder of Hikyoga who is hosting two upcoming festivals taking place Oct 2 in NY and DC on Oct 16th. We are thrilled to partner with them and offer a promo code just for our Yoga Love Magazine Community by  entering code YOGALOVE10 for 10% off General Admission Tickets for NYS and DC yoga festivals! Apply promo code at checkout for discount to apply!

What inspired you to create a festival?
We believe that spending time outside in community with others, moving our bodies in nature and connecting with the outdoors has a massive positive impact on the human experience. We’ve experienced it firsthand in our own lives! So we decided that we’d provide a way for people to experience that!

What makes your festival unique?
Not only has it become an incredible way to gather the community in a beautifully soul grounding way, but we’ve been able to meet and gather the most incredible yoga and fitness instructors and dozens of local food and product vendors. The talent and passion in the greater Rochester is truly special. I’ve never experienced anything like it, the collective energy is powerful and energizing!

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?
I feel like I’m being asked to tell you my favorite child! It’s impossible! That being said, I get giddy thinking about seeing all of our incredible returning instructors AND welcoming some new instructors to our main stage line up. I know I already said this, but every year I’m blown away by the talent and passion in the greater Rochester area, and I’m so grateful to have them as part of our Hikyoga community. We’re also welcoming back MULTIPLE returning local vendors and a few new ones as well! From donuts and cider to handmade jewelry and soaps it’s always so fun to shop throughout the day.


 

Socials:
NYS Yoga Festival
IG = @nysyogafest
Registration link = www.nysyogafestival.com

DC Yoga Festival
IG = @greaterdcyogafest
Registration link = dcyogafest.com

Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC
Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC
Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC
Spotlight Festival: Hikyoga NY and DC
Festival Spotlight: Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival

Festival Spotlight: Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival

Festival Spotlight: Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival

By iana velez

PROFILES

Yoga Love Magazine - McKenzie Riepen - bio pic

Looking for something to do this Fall? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Sonia, one of the partners of Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival taking place  in Lakota’s Farm in Cambridge, NY (just outside of Saratoga Springs) coming up on Oct 1, 2022.

Your name and role in the festival

My name is Sonia Shultis and I am joined by partners Kristen Zorda and Grace Bishop to bring the Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival back from a 2 years of cancellations due to state and national COVID-19 related mandates as well as an unfortunate situation with our 2021 venue that forced us to cancel. We three are owners and producers of the festival. Kristen produces and manages the festival programming, from presenter/music artist booking, workshop/concert scheduling, and venue, equipment and supplies logistics. Grace works on systems development, budgeting, marketing, and is our resident tech/software efficionato. I work on acquisitions for the venue, equipment, supplies, contractors, vendors, volunteers, point of sale and customer service. We all work together to fill in gaps where support is needed. 

What inspired you to create a yoga festival?

The Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival was created 10 years ago by founders Bernie and Katherine Walters. The accessibility to world renowned teachers and music artists, as well as access to the regionally and locally loved teachers, was a true blessing. It had such a huge impact on my life and my practice that I knew I had to be more involved. Luckily, Bernie and Katherine lived in the next town over, so I was able to stay in touch with them and offer my services. In early 2019 Bernie offered me a partnership in the festival and without hesitation I said yes. We co-produced the 2019 festival and it was the most challenging, rewarding, exhausting, fulfilling experience! Kristen was already familiar with the festival. In fact she attended a few years and her yoga studio was a sponsor for a couple years. My studio, now owned by another lovely yoga teacher, was a sponsor for one year. When I became a partner, I brought on Grace as a presenter in Nonviolent Communication. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Bernie and Katherine took it as a sign to slow things down and retire from producing, and they were gracious enough to pass the torch to me. Once I became full owner I knew I had to bring Kristen and Grace on board with me as they both shared a core value of nonviolence to the self, others, and the planet as well as the activism to end practices that cause violence. They both agreed to a partnership and the rest, as they say, is history!

What makes your festival unique?

Our festival was the largest indoor festival in the Northeast. We average about 700 attendees with 50 presenters/music artists and over 100 workshops/concerts over a 3 day weekend.  We have a vendor village of 40 carefully selected small businesses where Ahimsa is present through their business practice and/or services and goods. Our workshops are small and intimate, so rather than being one in a sea of 500+ people, you can be within an arm’s distance to a major headliner and even receive hands-on assists! And we believe it is because of the intimate atmosphere we create that our festival attendees show up. To be honest, though, what makes our festival unique ARE the attendees. It is their willingness to be open, raw, honest, to show up, to commune, to bare, to let go, to embrace, to challenge, to take in, to discover, to create, to love and to be loved that makes our festival so special. The common sentiment amongst our attendees is how rejuvenated and renewed they are after the festival. It’s because of reviews like that we are motivated to continue producing the Ahimsa festival.

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?

We are thrilled with all of our presenters who are excited to present at this year’s festival! Our headliner this year is WAH!  We couldn’t be more excited about the yoga workshop and headlining concert she will put on October 1. Her music is widely known in the kirtan and yoga world and if anyone’s ever been in a yoga studio, they’ve likely heard her music. It’s a blessing and pleasure to bring her to the Northeast so she can share her gifts and music with all of us!  The festival also features Gopi Kinnicutt, Larissa Hall Carlson, Adam Bauer, Jennilee Toner, Keli Lalita, Ambika, Roberto Lim, Meg Jala, and more!  It is a very big line up for a one day festival with yoga, meditation, philosophy, kirtan, workshops with live music, DJ silent disco party, vendor village, Lakota’s Farm tour, giveaways, closing bonfire. What we’re most excited for is gathering together again. We can’t wait to see all the beautiful souls that make up the Ahimsa community. And we are honored to be a part of the magic that happens when it all comes together.

Learn more: 

Ahimsa Yoga & Music Festival
October 1, 2022

w: ahimsayogafestival.com
e: [email protected]
IG: @ahimsayogamusic

Headliner: WAH!

Also featuring: Gopi Kinnicutt, Larissa Hall Carlson, Adam Bauer, Jennilee Toner, Keli Lalita, Ambika, Roberto Lim, Meg Jala, Tomek Regulski, Beth Beaton Mausert, Kelsie Rockefeller, Jen Gerber, and we’re confirming more presenters!

Festival Spotlight: AWAKE Festival

Festival Spotlight: AWAKE Festival

Festival Spotlight: AWAKE Festival

By iana velez

PROFILES

FESTIVALS

AWAKE Festival - group shot on stage
Sept 16th
2932 Evergreen Parkway,
Evergreen, CO 80439


Your name and role in the festival
Erik Vienneau, AWAKE Festival Founder

What inspired you to create a festival?

Every morning people get up, they just want to be happy and feel good inside and AWAKE is all about helping them find the teachers, practices and paths to this true, peaceful wellness.”

What makes your festival unique?

As the western-medical system implodes on itself the wellness world is picking up the pieces. They say, “the meek shall inherit the earth.” I looked up meek and it doesn’t mean weak – it means humble. We, humble, warriors of holistic health are leading the shift to medicine/practices that heal. Out with “sick care,” and IN with true “health care.” AWAKE is dedicated to exposing folks to the most beloved teachers and businesses in the wellness field so they can heal and thrive.

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?

Tough question! With 50+ talks/workshops it’s hard to choose. I’ll have to say the Ecstatic Dance we offer on Saturday night after the kirtan. We have two DJs – Solomoon and SunDragon led by Ahva Lenay of Rhythm Sanctuary out of Denver. What’s better than a day of practice ending in completely free and in love with your inner Self and commUNITY? 


awakeexperience.com/awake-festival
eventbrite.com/e/awake-festival
https://www.facebook.com/AwakeExperience
https://www.instagram.com/awakeexperience/
youtube.com/channel/UCf4u-VXY7_dCO7LJ16MUC5w>

AWAKE Festival - Cacoa Ceremony
AWAKE Festival LOGO
AWAKE Festival - Ananda Dancing
Festival Spotlight: Womanist Arts Festival

Festival Spotlight: Womanist Arts Festival

Festival Spotlight: Womanist Arts Festival

FESTIVALS

Upcoming Festivals

Looking for something to do this Sept? We are thrilled festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Tanya Birl, Artistic Director and Tanya Bishai, Executive Producer, Fundraising and Marketing from Womanist Arts Festival taking place Sept 10th in Washington Heights, NYC.

What inspired you to create a festival?

Our belief in artists as healers and inspired by the wisdom of Alice Walker’s womanist prose, this festival is in celebration of those who have come before us, taking on the mantle and moving forward into the future that we will co-create together. Women led and inclusive of all genders and non-conformists, race, religion and creed.

What makes your festival unique?

A call to the Washington Heights, NYC community to gather, connect and heal through music, movement, spoken word, art, self expression, interaction and celebration! We have some of the most talented people in the world living right here in our neighborhood. This festival will be an eclectic expression of the gifts that Washington Heights has to offer our souls and our bodies. It will aim to bring together neighbors living East and West of Broadway, creating a more unified spirit of belonging and trust

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?

Our final performance of the day at 4pm  featuring The SoapBox Presents and spoken word artists Caridad De La Luz

Learn more

https://www.instagram.com/womanistfest
facebook.com/WomanistFestival
http://sohumanity.com/wahi-womanist-fest

Upcoming Festivals
Festival Spotlight: Ogden Yoga Fest

Festival Spotlight: Ogden Yoga Fest

Festival Spotlight: Ogden Yoga Fest

PROFILES

FESTIVALS

Yoga Love Magazine - Festival Spotlight- Ogden Yoga Fest

Looking for something to do this Sept? We are thrilled festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Stephanie DeTar, Director of Ogden Yoga festival taking place Sept 18th in Ogden, Utah. This year the focus is centered around the arts and a percentage of proceeds will be donated to the OCA.

What inspired the creation of this festival?
Ogden Yoga Fest  was created by yoga instructor Michelle Taylor 10 years ago and I stepped in in 2020, though we did skip a year due to covid. As owner of The Lotus Cafe, Yoga Studio & Shop I am inspired in creating spaces and experiences for others to feel something positive from and knew that I could bring something of that to this fest, both energetic and esthetic. Last year I shifted it to The Monarch and added some experiential opportunities around yoga classes and workshops and this year we are building on that.

What makes this  festival unique?
We focus on highlighting those teaching right here in Ogden, and feel that it is important to build our community and awareness of all of the options practitioners we have very close and to continue uniting on this path. We also donate a percentage of our proceeds brought in from the event, and this year we are focusing on the arts, specifically supporting Ogden Contemporary Arts. Last year I chose to donate to Youth Impact, focusing on the Youth LBGTQ community.

What offering/presenter or sponsor are you most excited about for this years event?
I am excited about all of it as there is such a grand spectrum of offerings.  We have yoga classes, workshops and opening and closing ceremonies that we encourage everyone to begin and end with together.  It is a high vibe day and much to choose from.  Along with all of this we have vendors, a zen den, tarot readers, massage and more. May we continue to raise vibration within and throughout.


Learn more:
https://www.ogdenyogafest.com/
https://www.ogdenyogafest.com/tickets
https://www.instagram.com/ogdenyogafest/

Yoga Love Magazine - Festival Spotlight- Ogden Yoga Fest
Yoga Love Magazine - Festival Spotlight- Ogden Yoga Fest

Photos by: glohophoto.com