Akasha: Handpan, Arts & Wellness Festival
About this Event
🌀 AKASHA Handpan, Arts & Wellness Festival 2026
Akasha (meaning Aether or Space) is a specially curated gathering in Ontario, blending the mesmerizing resonance of the handpan together with world music, immersive visual arts, and holistic wellness.
Hosted in the serene, acoustically vibrant Applewood United Church, this two-day event creates an inviting, down-to-earth sanctuary for mindfulness, creative collaboration, and community connection. Whether you are a curious music lover, an artist at heart, or simply looking to unplug and reset, AKASHA offers a welcoming space to step out of the daily rush and find your resonance.
🛸 What is a Handpan?
Often described as an "ethereal steel drum," the handpan is a modern, dome-shaped instrument played gently with the hands. It produces a mesmerizing blend of melody and overtone that offers a naturally calming effect for both listeners and players.
Celebrated globally for its ability to ease stress and induce a state of deep relaxation, its unique acoustic resonance makes it the perfect anchor for a restorative sound journey. Beyond the music, this instrument has become the catalyst for a vibrant, fast-growing community; bringing people together from all walks of life to connect, create, heal, and share in a collective sense of peace.
📅 Festival Flow:
- Friday, July 10: Evening Session (Doors open at 5:00 PM)
- Saturday, July 11: Full-Day Experience (Doors open at 9:30 AM)
- Lineup: Our full circle of performers and workshop leaders will be announced in waves leading up to July. Follow our journey on Instagram for the latest lineup reveals.
🧘 This Experience Is For You If:
- You love world music, arts & movement: You want to float along with a unique blend of global rhythms, featuring the handpan paired with beautiful world instruments. As live painters translate the frequencies onto canvas in real-time, you are invited to connect with the sound through joyful, free movement.
- You need a mindful reset: You feel burnt out from the daily rush and want to unplug, ground yourself, and restore your energy through live acoustic yoga, deep sound journeys, and guided mindfulness meditation.
- You want to connect with community: You want to share a space of collective peace, join inclusive community drum circles, and try playing the handpan yourself in our hands-on workshops (no musical experience required!).
- You appreciate cultural fusion & global flavors: You want to experience a rich, multicultural celebration of heritage music and slow down to enjoy a complimentary cup of premium, aromatic Sri Lankan Cinnamon Tea alongside a curated selection of authentic food and beverage offerings.
📝 Important Event Details
- All-Inclusive Pass: Your festival pass grants you total access to all musical performances, wellness sessions, hands-on workshops, and creative showcases across both days.
- Who it's for: All workshops and sessions are completely beginner-friendly and open to all experience levels (ages 14 and up recommended for wellness sessions).
- What to bring: Please bring your own yoga mat, a water bottle, and a small cushion or meditation pillow if you prefer sitting on the floor. Open hearts and comfortable clothing are highly encouraged!
- Workshop Capacities: To preserve an intimate, high-quality experience for everyone, some hands-on workshops have limited capacities. Participation for these specific sessions is on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage arriving early to secure your spot.
- Parking & Transit: Limited accessible parking is available directly on-site at the church. Main festival parking is free and readily available just a short walk away at the adjacent Applewood Village Plaza lot (located directly south of the church). For transit users, the venue is easily accessible via MiWay transit routes along Dixie Road.
Friday Evening
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Doors Open & Registration
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Opening Ceremony
🕑: 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Musical Performances
🕑: 09:00 PM - 09:45 PM
Drum Circle
Saturday Full Day
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:45 AM
Morning Gratitude Meditation
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Opening Ceremony
🕑: 10:30 AM - 06:30 PM
Group Workshops & Special Performances (Music, Arts, Yoga, Sound Healing)
🕑: 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Akasha Concert
🕑: 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Akasha Open Jam Session & Closing Ceremony
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 71.03 to CAD 92.44
