A different kind of festival will take over the Nethermead in Prospect Park this Sunday.
Wanderlust 108, a daylong wellness celebration, is not so much Parkchella as it is “a festival for grownups, for people who are seeking balance in their lives,” says founder Sean Hoess.
Close to 9,000 folks, eager to get lit on endorphins, are expected to take part in the “mindful triathlon,” which combines a morning 5K run/walk, followed by a 90-minute yoga class and a 30-minute guided meditation.
“A lot of us, as we get into our ‘30s, start feeling like, we still love festivals…but it’s less about getting wasted in a hot dusty pit as opposed to being somewhere beautiful and having a rich experience,” he explains.
With his fellow co-founders, Hoess has been hosting Wanderlust events all over the world since starting the mindfulness company in 2009. This Sunday will mark the festival’s fourth year in Prospect Park.
You can still expect some of the trappings of a traditional festival. DJ Drez, a yogi and self-proclaimed “sound ambassador,” will spin during the yoga class and throughout the day. You’ll find food vendors at the True North Cafe, where you can purchase healthy snacks, including a Wanderbowl of brown rice, black beans, avocado, salsa, cheddar cheese and sour cream (also available vegan). You’ll also find a marketplace with local craft vendors as well as fitness and wellness sponsors handing out free samples. No, there won’t be any booze onsite, though Hoess notes that’s less because of ideological reasons and more because the park won’t allow it.
A premium ticket, which runs you $59.08, allows you to participate in all three legs of the mindful triathlon, includes a tote with $200 worth of wellness swag and your choice of two scheduled activities in the afternoon, which range from a class in sound bath therapy to an essential oils workshops. For every ticket purchased, Wanderlust will donate $1.08 to No Kid Hungry.
If you opt for the free option, skip the morning run and afternoon workshops and just partake in the mass meditation and yoga class. This Sunday, the highs are in the 70s, so it’ll be a nice day to drop by the park and mellow out.
If you go
Wanderlust 108
Prospect Park, the Nethermead
Sunday, Sept. 10, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Free-$59.08
