Hundreds of women will gather at Lazybrook Park on Saturday for the fourth annual Wild Women NEPA Festival.
It's promoted as Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor gathering exclusively for women.
The one-day festival in Tunkhannock features outdoor experiences, live music and a Vendor Village with more than 70 women-owned businesses and artisans.
“It's a wonderful way for women to connect with their community, with each other, and with themselves in nature,” said Melissa Roberts, festival co-founder and organizer.
Roberts said the idea for a women-only outdoor festival stemmed from her personal experience of needing a village, as a small business owner and mother of two special needs children. She said through the event, she, as well as the hundreds of annual attendees, formed a support system and discovered local resources.
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“I like to say that self-care is more than just a bubble bath,” Roberts said. “It's really finding and connecting with the support and resources that we have right here in our community, and that's what the event is all about.”
The festival will focus on all pillars of wellness, including physical, mental and spiritual, through movement, mental health resources, social activities and more.
“There are all different ways that women can come out and find what really resonates with them,” Roberts said.
Roberts said the annual event honors her mother’s legacy.
“She passed away in 2018, and Lazybrook Park was her most favorite place in all of Northeast PA,” she said, noting the park is surrounded by mountains and the Tunkhannock Creek runs through the grounds. “It's something that I do every year in her honor.”
Event details
The Wild Women NEPA Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Gates open at 9 a.m.
Admission includes access to interactive workshops and experiences, such as drumming, dancing, singing, yoga, meditation, herbalism, creative writing and other activities. Classes and workshops are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Attendees can also shop for handcrafted jewelry, pottery, natural skincare, herbal products, artwork, clothing, specialty gifts and food and beverages.
This year's keynote speaker is author, speaker and transformational guide Latha Jay. The festival will also feature two live performances by the all-women folk band Cumberland Honey.
The day will conclude with an integration circle led by licensed social workers Dannielle Bennett and Shay Jones Vitale. The closing conversation will also highlight resources available for continued healing, wellness and support within the community.
Ticket Prices
Ages 18+: $50 advance, $60 at the gate
Ages 13–17: $25 advance, $30 at the gate
Children 12 & under: FREE
Advance tickets are encouraged. Admission to the event is reserved for women and girls only. Boys ages 12 and under may be permitted with an accompanying adult.
A portion of all festival ticket sales will be donated to Wild Wellness NEPA, a nonprofit fund of The Luzerne Foundation dedicated to making outdoor programming accessible. To apply for complimentary tickets on behalf of women in need, click here.
Parking is free. The event is rain or shine, with covered areas in the case of inclement weather.
Roberts advised attendees to bring a yoga mat, journal and weather-dependent gear – like sunscreen and sunglasses. She also said to feel free to come with friends, bring children or attend alone.
“I really encourage women to get out, take that time for yourself,” Roberts said. “Come for a couple hours, come for the whole day. There's no right or wrong way. Just do it for you.”
For a festival map and the complete schedule, visit wildwomennepa.com.
