Fitness February Fair returns to Yorktown Center

Healthy Lombard founder Jay Wojcik hopes more people than ever before will attend the group's annual Fitness February Fair next month.

The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, on the lower level of Yorktown Center, near HomeGoods and Marshalls. It will feature demonstrations on a stage, contests and physical challenges for kids and adults, and about 40 exhibitor tables where attendees can learn about health care providers, healthy foods and other health-related topics.

"We really want them to stop and visit," Wojcik said of shoppers who are just passing by. "There's enough variety that there should be something for everyone."

At 1:15 p.m., Healthy Lombard will honor individuals, families and businesses who have made a noticeable effort to improve their health in the past year with the Health Heroes award. Nominations are being accepted until Feb. 5.

Anyone wanting to submit a nomination should write a paragraph explaining what the nominee has done to help themselves or the community lead a healthier life in 2016. Nominations can be emailed to Jenn McGrath at jenn@healthylombard.com with the name, address, phone number and email of both the nominee and nominator.

Among the new sponsors this year is 2XL Powerlifting, a gym located in the mall, in the old Lands' End space. Representatives from the gym will take part in one of several demonstrations scheduled for the stage, but will focus on ways older adults can stay healthy through stretching and other light exercises instead of powerlifting. Other demonstrations will feature yoga, martial arts and aerobic exercise.

There are several kids contests planned as well, including a jump rope and Hula-Hoop competition. Adults who visit 15 of the 40 tables and get stickers at each can put their name in a raffle for one of 15 prizes, such as Beats headphones, a FitBit and gift baskets filled with massage items.

This is the seventh year for the event, which started as a small program held after a board meeting in village hall. Last year more than 300 people stopped by.

"Sometimes it's overwhelming, but the day of it is so heartwarming," Wojcik said. "People actually stop by and they want to learn about something healthy. I know we're making a difference with things like this and all the other things we do."