What to know about Kroger Wellness Festival (it's all free!)

Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer
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This weekend, The Banks will transform into the 2022 Kroger Wellness Festival: two full days of health-centered workshops, exercise classes and celebrity cameos aimed at helping Cincinnatians live healthier lives. Hosted by Kroger, this year's edition focuses on holistic care and features experts in nutrition, fitness, health and beauty. It runs Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24.

The Kroger Wellness Festival is your chance to hear from professional athletes, pick up health tips, work out with Carrie Underwood and score some freebies. Here's everything you need to know.

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When is the Kroger Wellness Festival?

The festival runs Sept. 23-24 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where is it being held?

The festival will stretch along The Banks, Downtown.

Is the Kroger Wellness Festival free to attend?

Yes, the festival is free to attend. There are no tickets to reserve or purchase.

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Who will be featured?

The festival promises a celebrity lineup, including country singer Carrie Underwood, Chrissy Teigen and her mother, Pepper Teigen, Abby Wambach, Bethenny Frankel and more.

Underwood will lead a full-body cardio workout with her trainer on Saturday at the BodyArmor Stage. Teigen, a model, entrepreneur and cookbook author, will host a 30-minute cooking segment and "fireside chat" with her mother, a cookbook author and Food Network personality, on Friday.

Attendees will also get the chance to meet Wambach, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion, after her moderated conversation and question-and-answer segment on Friday. Later that day, Frankel, a business woman and "The Real Housewives of New York City" reality TV star, will lead a wellness session at the BodyArmor Stage.

Both days will end with a free concert. Eli Young Band will play Sept. 23, and Fitz and the Tantrums will play Sept. 24.

Other special guests include Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes, Bravo "Top Chef" celebrity and restaurateur chef Brian Malarkey and bodybuilder and trainer Allison Warrell.

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Model, entrepreneur and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen will host a 30-minute cooking segment at the Kroger Wellness Festival.
Model, entrepreneur and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen will host a 30-minute cooking segment at the Kroger Wellness Festival.

Kroger Wellness Festival event schedule

Both days of the festival are jam-packed with wellness events across four stages. See the main event schedule, organized by stage, below.

See the festival's full schedule here, and map here.

Friday, Sept. 23:

BodyArmor Stage

  • Noon-12:45 p.m.: Live pop harp music by Victoria Lekson, followed by meet and greet.

  • 1-1:30 p.m.: "Mind Over Matter Live!" with Love Squad founder and Peloton instructor Ally Love.

  • 2-2:45 p.m.: "Becoming a Food Entrepreneur" with TV personality Kyle Cooke and more.

  • 3:15-3:45 p.m.: Bethenny Frankel leads a wellness session.

  • 4-4:45 p.m.: Live country music from Tom Wurth.

  • 5-5:45 p.m.: "Renewal Though Nature." Discover the power of nature and natural foods.

  • 6:15-7 p.m.: Societal pressures, career, marriage and motherhood are the focus of "EmpowHERment."

Johnson & Johnson Stage

  • 11-11:30 a.m.: Abby Wambach will be featured in a moderated discussion and question-and-answer segment, followed by a meet and greet.

  • Noon-12:30 p.m.: Water sommelier Martin Riese examines the fundamentals of water with a tasting experience.

  • 1-1:45 p.m.: EC Synkowski examines the relationship between food, diet, culture and intuitive eating.

  • 2:30-3 p.m.: Chrissy Teigen and her mother, Pepper Teigen, discuss embracing cultural traditions.

  • 3:30-4 p.m.: Cincinnati Fear athletes talk about the esports industry and physical and mental health.

  • 4-4:30 p.m. Cincinnati Bearcats pep rally with coaches, players, band, cheerleaders and dance team.

  • 5-6:30 p.m.: Eli Young Band performs.

American Greetings Stage

  • 9:30-10 a.m.: Live music by the Jennifer Grantham Group.

  • 11:15-11:45 a.m.: Leaders prioritizing wellness in the workplace workshop, featuring Britney Ruby Miller and Paaras Parker.

  • Noon-12:45 p.m.: Discussing the future of health care with region leaders.

  • 1-2 p.m.: Discussions on Hispanic food, culture and movement for Hispanic Heritage Month.

  • 2:30-3 p.m.: Meet with experts in transformative cancer care.

  • 3:15-4 p.m.: Live blues music by Ricky Nye.

  • 4:15-5 p.m.: "Sober Curious" author Ruby Warrington talks about the sober curious movement.

  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.: Learn holistic approaches to accelerating your skin's metabolism with Morgan Angelique Owens and Krissy Rubio.

  • 6:15-6:45 p.m.: "Curvy cardio" class with Morgan Angelique Owens.

Laura's Lean Stage

  • 11 a.m.-Noon: Live folk music by Tracy Walker and Brian Rivers.

  • 12:15-12:45 p.m.: Kroger and PepsiCo compete to make the best meal with "ugly" ingredients.

  • 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Chrissy Teigen hosts cooking segment.

  • 2-2:30 p.m.: Brian Malarkey from "Top Chef" shares his top kitchen hacks.

  • 3-3:30 p.m.: Find out how food intertwines the cultures of people in the African diaspora, and learn about the African culinary influences on American history.

  • 4-4:30 p.m.: Pepper Teigen creates twists on classic Thai dishes.

  • 5-5:30 p.m.: Cooking with Marty and Amanda Brennaman.

  • 6:15-7 p.m.: Live pop and indie music by Mikaylah Rose.

Saturday, Sept. 24:

BodyArmor Stage

  • 11 a.m.-Noon: Workout led by Alanna Martella and Allison Warrell.

  • 12:30-1 p.m.: Olympic gold medalist Mary Wineberg and Tony the Tiger will celebrate the winners of Mission Tiger, a program aimed at helping fund school sports teams.

  • 1-1:30 p.m. Fireside chat about prescription drug misuse.

  • 2:30-3 p.m.: Carrie Underwood and her trainer lead full-body cardio workout.

  • 5-5:30 p.m.: Fitz and the Tantrums perform.

  • 6-6:45 p.m.: Learn the basics of training for a marathon.

Johnson & Johnson Stage

  • 11-11:30 a.m.: FC Cincinnati and Cincinnati Sirens host soccer clinic for attendees ages 5 and up.

  • Noon-12:45 p.m.: Dance cardio fitness class.

  • 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Learn about AgNoireDay and increasing the number of Black growers and other business owners who can be part of Ohio's produce supply chain.

  • 2-2:45 p.m.: Live music by the Fries Band.

  • 3-3:30 p.m.: Dominique Dawes leads family-friendly gymnastics activity.

  • 4-5 p.m.: Silent disco.

  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.: Self-confidence building for teens and tweens.

American Greetings Stage

  • 11 a.m.-Noon: Live R&B music by Alexa Michelle.

  • 12:30-1 p.m.: Social media mental health tips with Dylan Barbour from "The Bachelor" and TikToker Megan Mitchell.

  • 1:15-2 p.m.: "Power Aging" workshop.

  • 2:15-3 p.m.: Experts discuss inclusive self-care and beauty industry trends.

  • 3:30-4 p.m.: Panelists discuss self-love and empowerment.

  • 4-4:30 p.m.: Learn about goal-setting, consistency and accountability in "Peak Performance Coaching."

  • 5:30-6 p.m.: Hear from disability advocates in "Able + Ready: Redefining Disabilities."

Laura's Lean Stage

  • Noon-12:30 p.m.: Learn about whole family wellness with Kroger Health and Lemons + Zest.

  • 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Join TikToker Megan Mitchell for "Power in Pride."

  • 2:15-2:45 p.m.: Explore easy-to-prepare meals with Chef Vanessa Miller and iHeart Radio’s JonJon.

  • 3:15-4 p.m.: Cincinnati Bengals legend Anthony Munoz, former professional baseball player Steve Garvey and Olympic gold medalist Mary Wineberg are featured in "Top of their Game."

  • 4:30-5 p.m.: Matt James from "The Bachelor" makes his signature smoothie.

  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.: Coffee and protein recipes to fuel your morning.

  • 6:15-7 p.m.: "Food as Medicine" discussion.

What roads will be closed?

These roads will be closed starting Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m.:

  • Freedom Way: Closed to through traffic between Elm Street and Marian Spencer Way.

  • Marian Spencer Way: Closed to through traffic south of Second Street, but the parking garage will still be accessible.

  • Theodore M. Berry Way: Closed east of the roundabout.

These roads will be closed starting Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 9 a.m.:

  • Second Street: Closed between Elm Street and Walnut Street/ Marian Spencer Way.

  • Race Street: Closed south of Third Street, but parking garage will be accessible on Freedom Way.

  • Vine Street/ Rosa Parks Street: Closed south of Third Street, but parking garage will be accessible on Freedom Way.

All roads will remain closed until around 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2022 Kroger Wellness Festival: Dates, tickets, schedule and more