Therme Group will bring European bathing culture to Washington DC, US, for a two-day community wellbeing festival called Bathe-ing DC, between 18-19 October this weekend.

The group is developing projects in DC and Dallas. It is hosting this event at its DC development site, Therme DC at Poplar Point, as a way to build the culture of accessible and affordable wellness in the US.

A spokesperson for the event said this East Coast festival is a rarity for the US, “which largely lacks the connection to water, heat and wellness that’s common across the Atlantic.”

Entry to the 15-acre wellbeing oasis will be free and open to all ages, while the Sauna Village is limited to those aged over 13.

The Sauna Village will house mobile and pop-up saunas, plus opportunities to experience aromatherapy, sound baths and cold plunges. There will be ten 60-minute sauna sessions on Saturday and six on Sunday.

An area called The Sandlot, Transformed is a hub for movement workshops, a makers market, food and drink, interactive art and music. The workshops will cover meditation, venik rituals, breathwork, sound healing and storytelling.

The Community Connection zone is a place for all attendees to gather and celebrate together.

Therme DC at Poplar Point

Plans for Therme DC include a 15-acre wellness destination at Poplar Point, a long-undeveloped 110-acre waterfront site. The project will feature thermal baths, saunas, mineral pools, waterslides, immersive art, restaurants and lush greenery, anchoring an area that will also include a 70-acre riverfront park, a trail system and 25 acres of mixed-use development.

“This is a unique opportunity for DC and an economic driver for Ward 8 – creating jobs, attracting visitors and delivering new opportunities for our residents,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Projected economic impacts of Therme DC include:

• US$1.5 billion (€1.4 billion, £1.2 billion) in tax revenue over 25 years.• 5,000 local construction jobs.

• 720 permanent jobs upon completion.