Wellness isn't a luxury. It's survival.
Rest Fest is a celebration of wellness in community—a platform to highlight the best of what Richmond offers.
Make rest accessible. Build community. Support local wellness.
Rest Fest is founded on the belief that wellness workers—the healers, facilitators, and practitioners working in the trenches every day—are more likely to change the trajectory of our world than any policy or politician. Rest Fest is Richmond's way of proving it.
Richmond's wellness community is vibrant, but hidden in silos—lost in word-of-mouth circles or buried in Instagram feeds. Rest Fest brings Richmond's best leaders and practitioners to one central location: Dogwood Dell and the Carillon Lawn.
Built by the community, for the community.
Donation based
There's no fee to attend. We ask for a donation to cover the cost of the event and to pay our volunteers a small stipend.
RVA's own
Co-created right here in the Richmond wellness community, with a vision to expand as far as we can.
Alcohol free
From the beginning, Rest Fest has committed to being alcohol free. We believe alcohol clouds the mind and body and keeps us from connecting to our shared consciousness.
Growing every year.
- 2024 Richmond, VA
The first Rest Fest: a day pass to group classes, presentations and community.
- 2025 The Cardinal, Moseley, VA
A weekend retreat with group classes, live music, presentations and local vendors.
- 2026 Dogwood Dell / Carillon Lawn
Our 3rd annual festival, donation-based for the first time, with Richmond's biggest sound bath.
Who we are
- Rick Plautz, founder
- Lindsay Hess, co-organizer and operations manager
- A crew of volunteers from Richmond's wellness community