The Moab Women’s Festival returns September 13-14 as “Decompress Fest,” expanding to two days after selling out last year with 250 attendees. Organizers Teresa Herd and Toni Sicola designed the programming around community wellness and stress relief.
“The world’s crazy. Let’s relax together and enjoy the perfect fall season in Moab,” said Sicola, who admits wanting her own relaxation program after feeling nervous and preparing for this year’s larger event.
“People were stoked last year. They wanted to do it again—and we wanted to do it even better,” Sicola said.
This year adds a full day of workshops are distributed throughout Moab on Saturday, letting two-day pass holders create their own “build your own reset” experience starting at 10 a.m.
Featured sessions include 9D breathwork with Letia Perry, mantra writing, and kitchen cabinet apothecary with Emily Stocks of Sundial Apothecary.
Adventure options include all-women UTV excursions through Fins N’ Things and Hell’s Revenge trails, silversmithing with Asia Rain, plus Taiko drumming and desert yoga.
Sunday’s festival at the Aarchway Inn will feature national acts including headliner Jen Grinnells, whom Sicola calls “an absolute powerhouse,” Raye Zaragoza, Abby Posner, and Sicola’s own local band, Toni Sicola & The Enablers. Comedian Amy Geist will serve as master of ceremonies.
Trailblaz-HER Award celebrates community knowledge
The TrailblazHER Award honors women demonstrating “grounded leadership and care for their community.”
A committee of longtime residents selects recipients and educates organizers about nominees’ contributions.
Last year’s winner Audrey Graham received a hand-delivered poster featuring community testimonials.
“People wrote personal stories of how they’ve been touched by her. It brought people to tears,” Sicola said. “It’s that intimate community thing that can only happen in a small town.”
Nominations for this year’s award are still being accepted at https://moabwomensfestival.org.
Tickets and nonprofit support
Two-day passes cost $100 and include all Saturday workshops plus Sunday’s festival. Single-day Sunday passes cost $40, with children under 12 attending free on Sunday.
Early bird pricing ends in August, with current prices available through the website at moabwomensfestival.org.
Tickets are also available through Eventbrite’s Decompress Fest page, which includes workshop descriptions and registration for Saturday activities. TrailblazHER Award nominations are accepted through the festival website.
Proceeds benefit Seekhaven Family Crisis & Resource Center and the Women’s Business Center of Utah, with attendees choosing their preferred recipient. The festival also achieved nonprofit status, making donations tax-deductible.
The expanded festival represents what Sicola calls a collective commitment.
“We’re super stoked to have a day of celebration together,” she said. “Just time to take one big collective exhale and just recognize that we’re all going to get through it.”
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