I'm elbow-deep in a plate of chicken limone at an Italian restaurant in Chicago's West Loop. A man who I presume to be the owner inquires first about the food, then my trip. "I'm here for a fitness festival," I tell him. "What the hell is that?" he laughs
back.
To his credit, it's not every day you hear the words "fitness" and "festival" in the same sentence. I explain that I spent the better part of the morning trying four different workout classes with fellow fitness enthusiasts. "Sounds horrible," he responds. I try not to choke on my linguini.
It's a tough sell for some. Not everyone is willing to trade a precious summer weekend for a series of consecutive sweat sessions. But when you consider that a singular fitness class can cost anywhere from $35 (Peloton) to $46 (solidcore), having the ability to sample four different modalities in one place isn't just a great workout – it's a bargain.
Even so, I felt nervous walking into Chicago's sold-out Faces of Fitness Festival. I had sworn to tighten up my fitness routine in the weeks prior, but inexplicably, my three-pound hand weights remained untouched. I was going in totally unprepared, just me and my matching workout sets against the world. But in the end, it wasn't the nightmare Mr. Chicken Limone likely had in mind.
Whether you're considering attending a fitness festival yourself, or just want to know how I survived mine, here's my honest take on what it's really like.
My Fitness Festival Experience
I hear the festival before I see it. Pop EDM music is being pumped into an expansive outdoor campus, where attendees are lined up. I walk in and feel a familiar wave of overstimulation I sometimes get at concerts. The entire perimeter of the space is dotted with different wellness brands, most of them having to do with protein, supplements, or hydration. It's 8:30 in the morning so I head straight for the Celsius activation to stock up on some (much-needed) festival caffeine and settle down for my first workout.
I plan my day strategically; four workouts, 30 minutes each, all under the bright sun. There are 16 different workouts total to choose from (four for each 30-minute slot). In my mind, it makes sense to ease into the day with something low impact, so I opt for a mind-body interval class from Life Time. Interestingly enough, this yoga and mat Pilates hybrid is one of my favorite workouts from the whole day. I catch a glimpse at the next stage over, and the participants are jumping straight into burpees. Bullet dodged.
Now fully warmed up, I have five minutes before Bünda's "glute camp" workout. The Celsius kicks in, the sun escapes from behind the clouds, and someone hands me a pink resistance band for good measure . . . the perfect storm. We dive straight into various squats, lunges, and kicks, staying low to the ground for optimal glute burn. My boyfriend beside me has somehow evaded the evil resistance band, looking at me inquisitively as beads of sweat start to roll down my forehead.
I finish the workout by the skin of my teeth and spend two of my five transition minutes curled up in a ball on my mat. When I finally manage to peel myself up, I remember that my next workout is lululemon's boxing and HIIT class.
To be clear, this is not a workout I would normally choose myself. As a self-described yoga girlie, the words "high impact" typically send me running in the opposite direction. But just as you might attend a music festival with friends, debating over which headliners to see on what day, I also compromise with my incredibly active boyfriend. Boxing it is.
One of my favorite things about Faces of Fitness is that you get to sample new workouts you might not try otherwise. I don't know enough about boxing to sign up for a dedicated class, but I find myself enjoying the movement anyway. By the end of the workout, I'm in high spirits, and more open to trying something new. I finish day one with a jump rope class from Chicago Jump Club, and find myself less worried about nailing every move, and more focused on enjoying the movement in community.
Day two, I'm pleasantly surprised that the muscle soreness hasn't fully settled in yet. It's my birthday, and I'm feeling particularly strong and present in my body . . . if not a little wiped from yesterday's antics. I spend the majority of the day listening to (and meeting!) the incredible Simone Biles. She leads us through a box-breathing exercise, talks about mental health, and guides us through the perfect cartwheel. Best birthday ever.
The rest of the day I spend exploring the different wellness activations, ducking in and out of line for electrolyte drinks, protein bars, and collagen shakes before heading out for the afternoon. But that's the beautiful thing about a fitness festival — you get to tailor your experience to fit your needs, not the other way around.
What to Keep in Mind
You may be working out, but Faces of Fitness still feels like a festival. If your experience is anything like mine, you might catch your neighbor setting up their tripod just to get an aesthetic workout video. You might sneak out of a class early to track down the (air-conditioned!) porta-potties. You might even endure a 20-minute line in the hopes of snagging a free protein bar.
In true festival fashion, I saw people rocking glittery makeup, dancing to the music, and making new friends. Bring water, a yoga mat, comfortable workout clothes, and don't be afraid to modify when you need it. The festival is all about having fun and embracing your own best self.
My Takeaways
There's a reason fitness festivals are selling out. Getting to experience so many trending workout classes firsthand (we're talking Barry's, Orangetheory, Peloton, Pvolve, and more) gives you a unique opportunity to sample everything on your fitness radar . . . and maybe even a few things you hadn't thought to try before. Tack on wellness freebies, a positive community of fitness enthusiasts, and gold-medal "headliners" like Biles, and I really did walk away feeling grounded and stronger in more ways than one.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is a staff writer and PS Fit Producer. She has over six years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.
