Written by Staff Writer-Now Moments TIMES
A different kind of holiday moment is taking shape in Suitland this season. Wellness Wondaland arrives on December 14th as a pause in the middle of the month a place built for youth, families, and community members who need a softer landing during a time that can feel heavy.
This time of year brings joy, but it also brings weight, and that weight often settles on families already carrying a lot. Wellness Wondaland steps in here, offering a day that feels like relief.
The pace is the first thing visitors notice, steady and unrushed. Nothing pushes you forward. The day opens with mindful movement led by Britt Dupree Daniels, setting a tone that feels grounded instead of busy. From there, workshops unfold in a way that lets people take what they need.
Young artists move through a Plant & Paint session shaped for creativity and calm. Nearby, the Hat and Crown Art Session gives youth room to explore identity and expression through design. The Self-Care Santa moment offers something different from the usual holiday photo: gentle encouragement, affirmation, and a chance for kids to feel seen without pressure.
Around the corner, the Youth Cypher begins. It’s a space where young voices matter, where rhythm and freestyle feel like language. At noon, the Youth Poetry Showcase brings that same energy into spoken truth, featuring work from Lemonade Dream and other emerging creatives.
Throughout the day, attendees can choose what meets them best: on-site stretch therapy, intuitive tarot readings by Nico “NNIL” Pires, music by DJ Art.Is, coffee by The Black Coffee Co., and food by That SaWce. Each part of the day meets people where they are not where they’re expected to be.
The Wellness Marketplace builds on that intention with mental-health vendors, creative self-care brands, and local artists offering work rooted in meaning. It’s a reminder that small businesses and wellness practitioners hold community in ways that are often overlooked.
The event also centered on giving. Through partnerships with Nothing But The Arts, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, and the Capital Hill Boys Club, families are invited to bring food, toys, art supplies, and youth gift cards. These donations go directly to young people across the region, turning attendance into real impact.
By the time people head home, the day feels like something simple but rarely a holiday experience that doesn’t demand performance or perfection. Just a moment to breathe, create, rest, and reconnect.
Wellness Wondaland leans into that kind of moment. One that reminds families, kids, and community members that creativity and care can exist together, even in the hardest seasons.
