Festival promotes ways of creative living

WHAT was alternative is fast becoming mainstream as the world – and Nelson Mandela Bay – turns to variety as the way to spice up living. In celebration of this trend, the Creative Living Festival, Nelson Mandela Bay’s own holistic health expo, will be held on 25 and 26 June 2011, at Bayworld Exhibition and Events Centre.

This annual successful festival, which has been held intermittently over the past five years, invites a selection of international, national and local guest speakers to enlighten the public on a variety of health topics.
The festival has garnered a core and growing base of supporters interested in holistic health.  This trend is turning Port Elizabeth into the “soul city” said Evy Evlambiou, co-owner of Red Feather Trading Co together with Maria Markides pioneered the Creative Living Festivals.

“These kinds of therapy have always been niche because they work on an emotional level and on balancing of different aspects of the self. They are a combination of eastern and western approaches to health,” said Evlambiou. “We want to encourage people to come explore the variety of different views to health and living that are out there so that they may in turn help themselves.”

“Positive exploration and education of new things causes a ripple effect – we know this by just looking at how many people have shifted (their view) just by coming to the festivals we held.”

Evlambiou runs a listserve that informs people of alternative health and lifestyle events that take place in the Bay. The Port Elizabeth-based creative living festivals drew crowds of up to 2000 people previously.

Holistic treatment is when an individual’s health is considered as a whole. It is estimated that as many as one third of people in Britain have tried at least one form of alternative or holistic therapy. In Port Elizabeth there are over 60 different complementary therapies people can choose from, says Evlambiou. Some of those offering these services will exhibit at the festival as well as a selection of national exhibitors of various concerns will be displaying their products and equipment.

Workshops will be offered by various practitioners run through the day for the whole weekend. Visitors to the Creative Living Festival can also experience a variety of treatments like reflexology, aromatherapy, Indian head massage and other holistic therapies. The open arena will feature demonstrations of yoga, tai chi, ethnic dancing from various cultures.

“Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism is firstly excited to be associated with this growing industry and source of holistic health promotion in a city known for its focus on quality of lifestyle,” said NMBT chief executive, Mandlakazi Skefile. “We are also glad that the organisers have chosen to host the festival at one of the city’s iconic tourism attractions, Bayworld.

“Bayworld recently renovated the old tropical house into an events and exhibition centre in an effort to revision the buildings – the Creative Living team has chosen a great venue to showcase their offering. These kind of events give us a platform to sell the city. Thought we don’t organise our own events, we do all that is possible to support events through marketing and promotions.”

The entrance fee is only R15 and includes free access to the Museum and Snake Park. Workshops at the festival are priced at R50 and lectures are R25. The weekend pass is R200 and includes entrance for both days and 10 lectures.  A variety of healthy food will be on sale. Visit www.creativelivingfestival.co.za for more information.