The Lighthouse Wellness Festival is coming to Minto and Wellington North this weekend for the first time ever.

The event was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic but cancelled.

Throughout the three days of activities, local businesses, sports organizations and others will "shed a light on wellness." Community Wellness Worker Joe Wettlaufer, who is a member of the sponsor Healthy Opportunities Promoting Empowerment (HOPE) committee, says the festival is a long-awaited one.

"This is actually celebrating the tenth anniversary of the HOPE committee. That's what this festival was originally about, but it got postponed due to COVID," Wettlaufer explained.

"So, it's nice to get back out, get involved with the community and have the community involved with the HOPE committee again," Wettlaufer added.

Making this return to the community, Wettlaufer says the festival will be promoting positive mental health strategies.

"When you're feeling well, you feel like you're having a really great day, so that's what we want to promote throughout the whole community of Wellington North and Minto," Wettlaufer said.

"Anything that makes you feel a little bit better than you did yesterday," he concluded.

The event will get going Friday, Sept. 8 in Mount Forest, with a kickoff barbecue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that will involve celebrity chefs. An afternoon of speakers will end the event on Sunday.

Listen to the CICW story below: