Faces of Fitness Chicago used a Friday morning spot on WGN’s “Around Town” to tease its summer comeback, promising celebrity instructors, DJ‑backed workouts, and a sprawling Wellness Village. Organizers say the two‑day festival will sync with National Fitness Day and route a portion of proceeds to youth programming in Chicago. The quick TV push is the event’s first big public landing ahead of its late‑July run.
WGN preview and who showed up
Co‑founders Lindsay and David Grass joined WGN Morning News’ “Around Town” segment with instructor Olivia Santelli to give viewers an early taste of the festival, as reported by WGN‑TV. The spot identified Santelli as a festival headliner and tied the weekend’s programming to National Fitness Day, while organizers used the airtime to spotlight the mix of classes, live music, and wellness activations they say will anchor the event.
When and where
The festival’s official site lists Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26 as the dates for the Chicago edition, according to Faces of Fitness Chicago. Organizers say the two‑day event returns to River North, with event listings and sponsor materials placing the footprint at Durso Park near West Locust Street. Municipal and vendor documents match that layout, and a separate listing on Anvara shows the Durso Park footprint and related transit logistics.
Lineup highlights and music programming
Organizers have leaned into live music as part of the festival experience, pairing DJ sets with instructor‑led workouts to build what they describe as a “music‑to‑the‑mat” vibe. Promotional materials and coverage note that Austin Millz is slated to perform across Day‑2 classes, bringing an electronic and hip‑hop soundtrack to group sessions, per EDM. Ahead of the festival, Faces of Fitness staged a media‑day Pilates class with Santelli that doubled as the on‑air demo for WGN; an event listing on Sweatpals details Santelli’s media‑day appearance.
Community tie‑ins
Faces of Fitness is again folding charity into its ticketing model, with organizers stating that a portion of proceeds will benefit Urban Initiatives, a Chicago nonprofit that brings sports and play programming to underserved youth, according to Faces of Fitness Chicago. Local coverage has repeatedly pointed to the partnership as central to the event’s mission and community footprint, with Axios also describing Urban Initiatives as the festival’s community beneficiary.
What to expect and tickets
The weekend’s programming is set to blend high‑energy studio‑style classes, pop‑up wellness activations, and a brand‑heavy Wellness Village, all in a 100‑percent sober environment, organizers say. Event platforms show that ticket windows and presales opened this spring as the team finalizes specific time blocks and stage lineups. Songkick and the festival site are carrying the latest ticketing details and schedule updates.
