"V” stands for vitality at V-FEST, a free family event scheduled from noon to 5 pm on Saturday, July 27 at ARTS-Us at 1221 Marshall Ave in St. Paul.
By design, vitality will be reflected in every activity, presentation and vendor at the 5th annual V-FEST. The day-long event is aimed at celebrating the joy of living well and “embracing the power of feeling fantastic,” according to V-FEST founder Phillip McGraw.
V-FEST will offer a range of free activities for the whole family, set to the beat of live R&B music performed by local musicians.
The V-FEST kids’ section will feature a bouncy house, face painting and arts and crafts.
Attendees can participate in energizing workouts, yoga classes and mindfulness exercises that promote inner balance and peace.
Wellness workshops with local experts will address conditions such as infant mortality, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mental health. A mobile health bus will be on site to perform blood pressure checks and other screenings. Local vendors will showcase health-promoting products and services
Live cooking demonstrations will offer tips on preparing healthy meals. All food vendors will offer plant-based or vegetarian options in keeping with V-FEST’s healthy living theme.
“Being healthy is an amazing lifestyle where demographics and race don’t matter,” McGraw explained.
McGraw said the idea of V-FEST was sparked when he saw a fast-food wrapper on
the ground at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I knew right then that I wanted to do something that would make me happy and make other people happy,” McGraw said. “I decided to start an R&B music festival and promote healthy living to get people off the couch and into an environment that would teach them how to live a healthier lifestyle.”
After creating V-FEST, McGraw started a cold-pressed juice business. Plant
Bar Café on University Avenue in St. Paul serves a variety of nutritious juices. Noted for their high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, cold-pressed juices are thought to boost immunity, promote detoxification, improve digestion, and enhance skin health. Plant Bar Café juices will be available for purchase at V-FEST.
McGraw said that he wants V-FEST to do more than give the community a venue for a fun summer day. He hopes that learning more about healthier choices will encourage people to rethink unhealthy diets and to tackle the mental and physical health challenges they may struggle with.
He also stressed the importance of connection as the community emerges from the isolation brought on by the pandemic.
“This is all about energy and leveling up. Every year you want to be better. You don’t want to decline,” McGraw said.
V-FEST
Saturday, July 27
Noon to 5 p.m.
ARTS-Us, 1221 Marshall Avenue in St. Paul.
Free parking in the ARTS-Us lot
For more information, visit www.vfestmn.com or call (612) 314-3278.