Wellness Weekend Fills Niche in Door County Festivals

When Kress Pavilion event director Jess Reinke and her team began brainstorming which events they wanted to see come to life at the pavilion’s spacious property, they got excited about the idea of offering a more immersive, multi-day event.

“We were looking for something that would be great for the community to be involved in,” Reinke said, “and something that would also work for the shoulder season – and the conference idea really stuck.”

The Kress Pavilion – a library and community center completed in 2018 – has a large space on its second floor for events, a catering kitchen and a wrap-around deck with panoramic views of Egg Harbor.

“We first thought about food- and beer-type events, but Door County already has those, and they do them really well,” Reinke said. “I began thinking back on which events I really enjoyed at the Kress recently and realized there were a lot of alternative-wellness professionals who have been able to take advantage of our space.”

The wellness idea began to blossom with support from community members who quickly embraced the concept. Kathy Navis of Greens N Grains and Myles Dannhausen Sr. of Bay Point Inn joined the planning and have helped to create a full schedule of diverse speakers, workshops and “immersion excursions” covering nutrition, mindfulness, yoga and beyond.

“Door County has always been a very healing, restorative place for a lot of people, so this event has fit well with that idea,” Reinke said. “We have been able to tap into this community of awesome health professionals – many who have already held events or workshops at the Kress.”

Attendees will be able to participate in sound massage, meet with a hypnotist, take a mindset workshop, learn more about using CBD and go off site for excursions such as tai chi practice, a guided naturalist hike and a chakra workshop. The event is structured to allow participants to choose topics of interest and build their own schedule.

The festival kicks off Friday evening, May 10, with Jon Mueller leading a gong meditation. Saturday, May 11, is a day full of activities, and the wellness festival wraps up after lunch on Sunday, May 12. Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday are included in the ticket price. Guests will enjoy local food and drink from Kick Ash Coffee, Tapuat Kombucha, the Kitschinn Juicery, Isely Coffee, Island Orchard Cider and Wild Tomato.

This is the first time an immersive event such as this one has been offered at the Kress, and plans for its return in 2020 are already taking root.

“We are excited to make this an annual event,” Reinke said. “Hopefully, it will grow bigger each year.”

Door County Wellness Festival
May 10-12, Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor

Join us for a three-day Door County retreat filled with opportunities to get inspired, go explore and feel renewed.

Connect with practitioners of natural wellness for diverse experiences in mindfulness, yoga, whole eating, sound therapy and more. Immerse yourself in the peninsula’s natural landscapes through guided hikes, field trips and explorations in the sense of place. Give yourself the gift of time to explore a new practice or advance your current path.

Full-festival and single-day passes are available. To learn more, visit doorcountywellnessfestival.org.