BERKELEY – Music, activities, and a lot of positive people filled Veterans Park with a festival atmosphere during Soulsational.
The event was a health and wellness fair with a laid back vibe. Artists and crafters showed off their talent. New age practitioners reached out and taught people about astrology or crystals.
Food trucks lined the side of the park closest to the ball fields, but there were other food and drink vendors as well as a large tent to enjoy a meal or snack out of the sun. While the heat has been overwhelming recently, the temperature during Soulsational was hot without being too hot.
Local businesses like family law or veterinarians made connections. There were even good causes being supported, like fighting human trafficking or collecting for animal shelters.
The scents of lavender and soaps accented the air. The Goodstock Jam Band was playing on the stage. People were dancing along – not necessarily in front of the bandstand. They were grooving in front of booths or at their own blankets set up on the lawn.
Everyone was doing their own thing – which is one of the things organizer Michelle Leonard liked about it.
Now in its 14th year, the event has been a passion project for her and a group of helpers who are dedicated to creating a space for people to explore healthy alternatives.
“It’s built by the community, for the community,” she said.
That’s why you’ll see activities for kids as well as adults and seniors. While a petting zoo might interest some people, others might want to learn what the stars say about their future.
Sometimes alternative healing is just that – alternative. People exhaust all aspects of the medical world, which could take years, Leonard said. Meanwhile, there’s something that could help them.
Maybe you’ve thought about giving acupuncture a try, but wanted to learn more. Maybe you think yoga would be relaxing but you don’t know how to start. Maybe you just wanted to talk to other like minds about holistic lifestyles or healthier eating. This was a good place to start.
There were 30 free classes taking place over the course of one day, Leonard said. There were plenty of opportunities to try something new.
“You can be here from opening to close” and not run out of things to do, she said.
The people providing these services were shoulder to shoulder at tents spread out throughout the park. They weren’t competitive or working against each other, she said. It added to the welcoming ambience.
As Hannah Mary said to the crowd after giving out awards, “When you walk past someone, give them a smile, give them a wave, give them a hug.”
