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If it wasn’t bad enough to be broke (a week’s wages on presents for extended family), bloated (from Christmas cake and too much prosecco) and bored (dry January tends to put a stopper on your social life) – it’s also BLOODY COLD. All these are good reasons to get yourself down to the Winter Happiness Festival, which kicks off on Saturday January 20. Lord knows we need it.
This two-week festival of frivolity is dedicated to pure, ridiculous fun. Those urgently in need of a dose of dopamine can leap into a giant ball pit, join a laughter yoga class, play ‘gratitude bingo’ or just bliss out to live music. Plus, munch your way to a happier self with guilt-free chocolate, courtesy of The Well-Bean Company, which champions the benefits good food has on the mind. But there is a serious message to be garnered among the smiling yogis: the event aims to counteract the anxiety, mental illness and depression that can be particularly prevalent this time of year.
Museum of Happiness co-founder Shamash Alidina says: ‘Winter can be a particularly depressing time in London. We want to offer a space for people to meet with other friendly Londoners [and] learn tricks to a more positive outlook in life.’ It’s basically the next best thing to winning the lottery and we reckon the odds of a happy ending are a lot more likely.
Tickets are £5 and will be available to purchase from the website on Blue Monday (Monday January 15).
The Winter Happiness Festival takes place at Arlington House in Camden from Jan 20-Feb 4.
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