Root Awakening Farm
I created a mini kit for Root Awakening Farm, a nonprofit focused on community and wellness, to promote their new once-a-month "Farm Fest" event. The release positioned the event as a fun, inclusive social experience for sober and sober-curious individuals. Highlighting the growing demand for alcohol-free spaces. Deliverables include a press release and backgrounder that align the organization's mission with broader trends in mindful living while clearly communicating the event's purpose and appeal.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amanda Sharp
Title: Founder, Executive Director
Phone: 503-348-9027
Email: amanda@rootawakeningfarm.org
Website: https://rootawakeningfarm.org
A New Kind of Nightlife: Tampa’s Alcohol-Free Farm Fest Offers a Fresh Alternative
TAMPA, Fla. — A new kind of Friday night is taking root in Tampa Bay. Root Awakening Farms will host Friday Farm Fest on March 27 at its Tampa farm, offering an alcohol-free night out for people who are sober or sober-curious, creating an adult social space filled with music, activities, and community connection.
As the sober curious movement continues to grow nationwide, more young adults are seeking social experiences that do not revolve around alcohol. Friday Farm Fest responds to that shift by offering a farm-based gathering where guests can enjoy live music, food trucks, and an open-air setting designed for relaxation and community.
Held once a month, the event transforms the farm into a wellness-centered social space featuring live music, bonfires, food trucks, and local vendors. Optional activities include yoga, breathwork, sauna sessions, and cold plunge therapy, creating a flexible environment where guests can engage as actively or passively as they choose.
“This is a free community event where we bring people together, people in recovery, community allies, and anyone looking for a different kind of Friday night,” said Root Awakening Farms Director of Development Eliza Darracott. “There are so many people who are sober curious, and we’re creating a space where everyone can come hang out, have fun, and feel connected.”
Farm Fest also features a rotating vendor market that highlights local makers and wellness-focused businesses, offering items such as honey, candles, sourdough, fresh juices, and natural skincare, as well as services like permanent jewelry and tarot readings. Darracott says the vendor lineup will evolve each month as the event grows.
Unlike traditional nightlife settings, Friday Farm Fest is designed to emphasize accessibility, mental well-being, and authentic connection. The event is free and open to the public, reflecting its goal of lowering barriers to community participation.
“This isn’t just for people in recovery,” Darracott said. “It’s for anyone who wants to feel good, physically, mentally, and socially, when they go out on a Friday night.”
The concept reflects a broader cultural shift among Millennials and Gen Z, who are increasingly prioritizing wellness and experience-driven socializing over alcohol-centered nightlife.
By blending music, food, nature, and wellness in an alcohol-free environment, Root Awakening Farms is positioning Farm Fest as a new model for Friday night social life in Tampa Bay, one built on connection over consumption.
Friday Farm Fest takes place once a month at Root Awakening Farms in Tampa. For event dates and additional details, visit https://rootawakeningfarm.org or follow on Instagram @rootawakening.farm.
About Root Awakening Farms
Root Awakening Farms is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit developing a therapeutic, recovery-centered community farm where individuals in recovery and community members can heal, grow, and rebuild through connection to nature and supportive programming. The organization integrates sustainable agriculture with holistic, evidence-based wellness practices such as yoga, mindfulness, sauna, cold plunge therapy, group support, and hands-on farming. These practices promote whole-person recovery, skill-building, and long-term stability in an environment grounded in dignity, autonomy, and belonging.
For any additional questions, please get in touch with Amanda Sharp at 503-348-9027 or amanda@rootawakeningfarm.org
Location & Contact
Root Awakening Farms
110 E Hanlon Street, Tampa, FL 33604
656-241-7351
Backgrounder
Overview
Root Awakening Farms is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit community farm focused on recovery, wellness, and regenerative agriculture. Located near Tampa’s Sulphur Springs area, the organization operates as a hybrid therapeutic farm and wellness space that integrates hands-on agriculture with holistic and behaviorally informed health programming.
Root Awakening Farms was developed to expand access to supportive, non-clinical environments where individuals can engage in healing through nature, movement, skill-building, and community connection. Its model emphasizes dignity, autonomy, and belonging through both structured programming and open community participation.
Mission & Approach
Root Awakening Farms centers its work on a whole-person approach to wellness and recovery, combining regenerative agriculture with evidence-informed and experiential practices. The farm environment is designed to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders as well as community members seeking wellness-focused engagement.
Programming is intentionally flexible, allowing participants to engage through structured pathways or informal drop-in experiences, depending on individual needs.
Core Program
Root Awakening Farms offers a range of wellness, recovery, and agricultural programming, including:
Yoga, breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness practices
Functional fitness and movement-based wellness classes
Sauna and cold plunge therapy
Farm stewardship and regenerative agriculture training
Cooking and nutrition workshops using harvested farm produce
Supportive group-based community engagement
These programs are designed to integrate physical wellness, emotional regulation, and practical life skills in a shared outdoor environment.
Community Model
The farm operates as an open-access community space serving individuals in recovery, family members, and community members interested in wellness and personal development. Many offerings are structured as donation-based or low-barrier participation to increase accessibility.
Activities take place across outdoor farm spaces, garden areas, and communal gathering environments designed to encourage interaction and connection outside of traditional clinical settings.
Farm Fest: Emerging Community Program
A key new initiative is Friday Farm Fest, a monthly alcohol-free community event designed as an alternative to traditional nightlife.
Farm Fest responds to the growing “sober curious” movement and broader cultural shift toward wellness-centered social experiences, particularly among younger adults seeking alcohol-free environments.
The event features:
Live music and entertainment
Food trucks and local vendors
Bonfires and outdoor social spaces
Optional wellness activities include yoga, breathwork, sauna, and cold plunge therapy
A rotating market of local makers and wellness-focused businesses
Farm Fest is designed as a flexible social environment where attendees can participate in activities or gather in a community setting without alcohol.
Cultural Context
Root Awakening Farms’ programming aligns with a broader national trend toward wellness-oriented social spaces and reduced alcohol consumption. The organization positions its Farm Fest series as part of a growing movement redefining how people gather socially, prioritizing connection, health, and shared experience over alcohol-centered nightlife.