By Kate Bartlett
This Saturday, June 1st, marks the first annual Ellicottville Wellness fair hosted by Warrior Fitness and Wellness at Nannen Arboretum. The June 1 festival begins at 11am with a full day of free activities including a wellness market, circuit-craze workout, yoga, kid’s carnival, and more.
Brad Poole, founder and owner of Warrior Fitness and Wellness, has envisioned a wellness fair since opening the gym in 2021. “I’ve always wanted to get the community involved in a health expo to spread awareness of healthy lifestyles and fitness,” says Brad. He sat down with his team, Jessica Wallace and Julia Dunn from Refined Media and instructor Casey Allen, and figured out the logistics to make it happen. “It’s coming together nicely and we’re looking forward to a great inaugural event. I couldn’t have done it without this amazing team.”
The events kicks-off at 11am with a circuit craze workout at noon led by three local instructors. Casey Allen will lead a 20-minute Zumba class, followed by a 20-minute HIT class with Brad, cooling down and closing with a 20-minute yoga session with Laura Solly. The class is $15 and open to everyone regardless of fitness level/ability. “We invite everyone to join us and participate your level of comfort,” says Brad. “It’s about having fun and getting active, not performance or ability.”
Kids activities include face-painting, games and more. The Ellicottville Police and Fire Department will be on site with cars and firetrucks for the kids to tour. Ellen Fenton sponsored a Dunk Tank for the Little Eagles League to raise money for their program. Balloons restaurant (appropriately) will be bringing hundreds of water balloons for kids and adults alike. Jenny Lee Feed Mill from Cattaraugus will have chicken BBQ available for purchase.
Currently, there are around 20 vendors registered for the event, with the capacity to host up to 30. “We’re happy to host a variety of vendors and hope the community will learn something new and gain some insight into different health practices,” says Brad.
Rachael Territo, local Nurse Practitioner, will be on site providing full body scans and IV therapy treatments. The body scans show proportions of overall muscle/fat/water ratios in the body and provide valuable insight into an individual’s health. Mountainview Massage will be on-site along with Reiki practitioners and breathing instructors with tutorials and demonstrations of their practice.
Runners Roost from Orchard Park will have a booth with apparel and information on running clubs. The Ellicottville Playground will be present throughout the event in order to raise awareness and community support for the new all-inclusive playground project in the village. EARS (Empire Animal Rescue Society) will have dogs available for adoption and to visit with those in attendance.
Brad also ensured there would be resources for women’s health and mental health awareness. Cattaraugus County Community Action will have a booth in hopes of raising awareness to mental health and provide resources to individuals and families in need of assistance.
“We have a great variety of independent and established vendors for our first year. It’s a great opportunity to get out and spend the day with friends in the community while learning about health and wellness. We hope this helps everyone kick-off the summer season on a healthy note.”
For more info follow Warrior Fitness & Wellness on social media, call 716-699-1100, visit the gym at 5 Park Ave, or stop down to the free family-friendly event on Saturday, June 1 at 11am at Nannen Arboretum.