The 3rd annual Healthy Living Fair -- a celebration of local and natural foods, health and fitness, nutrition and the environment -- will feature over 50 vendors and a variety of health-related exhibits. The fair has moved this year and will take place next to the Freight House, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport. The free event will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 20 and is presented by Radish magazine. The Freight House Farmers' Market, the Quad-Cities largest market, will be happening concurrently.
The one-day fair will feature a marketplace where visitors can shop for and experience the healthy goods, resources and services featured in Radish, from reiki to organic hair care and everything in between. More than 50 exhibitors will present healthy foods, green energy and transportation, outdoor recreation opportunities and holistic, alternative and integrative medicine.
The Freight House Farmers' Market, the Quad-Cities largest farmers' market, will be happening concurrently, with special hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Special events indlude the Quad-Cities Largest Yoga Class III, the Radish Dog of the Year Contest, Junior Sprint Solar Races, a Radish Scavenger Hunt for kids and adults, a drum circle, and cooking demonstrations with Chef Robert Lewis, the Happy Diabetic.
During the fair, visitors can listen to live, acoustic music and take in the view of LeClaire Park and the Mississippi River. Kids can use the new play equipment behind the Freight House. Fresh-roasted coffee, baked goods, beverages, hot sandwiches, kettle corn and more will be for sale at the adjacent farmers' market.
Featured tents are the Children's Tent, which includes an old-school fire engine that's been turned into a mobile playground; the Fitness Tent, featuring free 15-minute massage; the Community Tent, where everyone can sign up to share his or her talents as a volunteer; and the Mature and Healthy Lifestyles Tent, which will provide free vision testing and activities for adults over 60.
Support for the Healthy Living Fair is provided by The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus newspapers and The Friends of Radish: Metro, Trinity Iowa Health System, WQPT Quad-Cities PBS, and Zimmerman Honda. Sponsors include Alternatives for the Older Adult, Davenport Parks and Recreation, Humana, Take Action Fitness, Davenport Levee Improvement Commission, and the Freight House Farmers' Market.
Scheduled activities
Quad-Cities Largest Yoga Class III, 9 a.m.: Start the day with Jeani Mackenzie of the Davenport School of yoga as she leads a free, 30-minute class covering basic yoga positions in the Hatha style. The class will be held behind the Freight House in LeClaire Park. (davenportschoolofyoga.com)
'Drum wash' drum circle, 9:30 a.m.: River Circle will hold a "drum wash" drum circle after the Quad Cities Largest Yoga Class III behind the Freight House in LeClaire Park. Attendees are invited to watch, or they can get involved by bringing their own instruments.
Yoga smorgasbord, 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m.: Get a taste of yoga with demonstrations from several different schools: The Davenport School of Yoga (10-11 a.m.), Indigo Wellness (11:05 a.m.-12:05 p.m.), Michelle Campbell, River City Yoga (12:10-1:10 p.m.) and Tapas Yoga Shala (1:15-2:15 p.m.).
Cooking with Chef Robert Lewis, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Chef Robert Lewis, The Happy Diabetic, will share his tips for shopping the farmers' market and prepare two healthy, delectable dishes: Mediterranean Chicken of Love and Sliced Lemon Creme Cake Tower. Chef Robert will cook at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 1 p.m. in the Radish booth.
The Radish Dog of the Year Contest, noon: Bring your dog to the Radish booth and be prepared to tell us how you keep him or her healthy. We'll line up the dogs, talk about each one and then put the pooches up to a vote. The winning dog -- as chosen by applause -- will be named Radish Dog of the Year. The winner will get a gift bag filled with healthy treats and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Radish.
Happening all day
Solar-energy enthusiast Sharon Wren will use her solar oven to cook with the heat of the sun. Stop by the Radish booth to meet Sharon and watch as the sun bakes cookies and more!
The Radish Scavenger Hunt is designed to introduce young and not-so-young alike to the variety of healthy and interesting goods and services that can be found at the fair and the adjacent farmers' market. Stop by the Radish booth and pick up the Scavenger Hunt list. Each vendor will validate his or her item as you locate it. Bring the completed list back to the Radish booth and you'll be entered into drawings for a variety of prizes, including such things as a free subscription to Radish, a Radish tote bag and gift certificates.
Alternative transportation test drives will be offered all day. For adults, ePower Syngeries, Inc., of Port Byron, Ill., will offer test drives of the zero-emission, all-electric Xebra truck and Xebra sedan by ZAP. The three-wheel vehicles can reach a top speed of up to 40 miles per hour and can travel up to 25 miles before needing to be recharged at any electrical outlet. Also available for test rides will be the E-BikeBoard. This two-wheeled personal transport vehicle (PVT) provides zero-emission mobility for consumers; the G1000 Golf can be taken to the links.
The kids, meanwhile, can race Junior Solar Sprint cars from the University of Northern Iowa. Pre-built cars will be available to race, or kids can build a car from a kit. Completed cars can be purchased for $15 or left at the fair for others to race. Another hands-on activity, More Power!, will demonstrate energy efficiency in a fun and interactive way.
