The When & Where
WHEN - June 19, 20 and 21, 2026, celebrating International Day of Yoga and Summer Solstice.
WHERE – Folkmoot Friendship Center Campus, 112 Virginia Avenue, Waynesville, North Carolina. Rain or shine, indoor and outdoor event with activities in the the Folkmoot Auditorium, Axis Studio, Community Center, artists’ studios and galleries within The Folkmoot Friendship Center and On the Green in the adjacent sports field.
The Why
In September of 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the idea of International Yoga Day in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. At that time, India’s ambassador, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, had sponsored a resolution to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, as it falls on the Summer Solstice, the day of the year with the greatest amount of sunlight.
With 177 nations supporting the declaration, this resolution became the most supported of any ever introduced. On June 21, 2015, 36,000+ people, including Prime Minister Modi, in New Delhi performed 21 asanas (yoga poses) for 35 minutes, marking the inaugural International Day of Yoga, which has since been celebrated globally.
The What
Every year on June 21st, International Yoga Day is commemorated around the world with festivals and special events. It is an international observance of the physical and spiritual power of yoga, recognizing the significance of exercise and good living.
Haywood County will now join the movement with a local annual family-friendly all day celebration featuring fitness classes, demonstrations, workshops, wellness and wisdom talks, an Opening Ceremony, Vendor Village with local artists and artisans and wellness related products, live music and entertainment, Imagination Station kids’ village, delicious food and beverage options, all culminating with a dynamic Closing Ceremony.
