Organisers of upcoming ‘festival for everyone’ Sunflowerfest have announced an exciting line-up of events featured this year in the Bliss realm of the festival.

Offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant weekend-long festival, this year Bliss will feature a packed programme of complementary therapies, all-inclusive yoga sessions, and a unique chill-out zone sponsored by Vita Coco coconut water.

“As Sunflowerfest grows each year, we are finding more and more visitors attracted to the Bliss Area,” said Vanessa Magowan, festival organiser.  “The complementary therapies and opportunities to relax and reconnect against the gorgeous backdrop of Tubby’s Farm have contributed to making Bliss a hub for festival goers looking to re-energise during the exciting, action-packed three-day festival, and this year we are delighted to welcome our sponsor, Vita Coco, who we believe fit perfectly with our festival’s ethos of a back-to-nature, chilled out weekend.”

We’re looking forward to teaming up with Sunflowerfest to offer a unique space for festival goers to chill out and get away from the heat and hustle and bustle of the festival,” said Cara Millaney, Vita Coco.  “The Vita Coco chill-out zone will anchor the Bliss realm and include bean bags, lounge chairs, palm trees and free Vita Coco coconut water for guests to rehydrate and relax away from the sun.  Festivals are a highlight to our summers here in Ireland, but it’s important to stay hydrated during long summer days outdoors and Vita Coco is offering a service to improve the festival experience this year.”

Bliss will also feature a village of tents hosting unique opportunities like chocolate shamanic yoga by Northern Ireland’s only chocolate shaman Helena Lavery as well as a sound healing bath, crystal healing, aroma therapies, a drum circle, reiki and massage, among other therapies.

“In addition to some of the lesser known complementary therapies available in Bliss, many festival-goers are expected to take advantage of our wide range of yoga classes offered throughout the weekend,” said Kathy Barenskie, Director of The intention is Love and Bliss organiser.  “We feel that Sunflowerfest – an all-inclusive festival – is about head-to-soul healing, and we will be offering a range of one to one therapies and treatments, workshops including  meditation, Shake your Soul Dance and a variety of yoga classes including kids’ yoga and baby reflexology with Adele Quinn, and designated yoga sessions for happiness, deep relaxation, and energy as well as our well-known laughter yoga sessions to help festival goers connect with nature and unplug during their weekend at Tubby’s Farm.”

Last year Sunflowerfest  broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest laughter yoga class, which saw nearly 400 festival guests partake in a half hour session held at the festival’s main stage.  This year, festival organisers plan to recreate last year’s laughter yoga session on the Sunday morning of the festival, hoping that more guests will join in on the invigorating session before kicking off the final day of the festival.

Also planned to feature in the Bliss realm and the adjacent Enchanted Glade will be sonic artist Gus Leudar’s magical invisible forest sound installation which will encourage guests of all ages to interact with the forest, while the community garden will offer a plethora of gorgeous summer blooms in the heart of Bliss ahead of the annual all-Ireland Permaculture Gathering.

Sunflowerfest kindly acknowledges the assistance of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Tourism NI in the production of this year’s event.

For further information or to purchase tickets visit www.sunflowerfest.co.uk