HOUSTON — On Oct. 28, students walking through the University of Houston's Butler Plaza could find their classmates stepping into cold plunges, practicing yoga, interacting with animals and exploring what taking care of themselves can look like during college.
It is all part of WellFest, an interactive wellness festival hosted by UH Wellness that brings Be Well to Do Well to life by helping students explore new ways to care for their health and wellbeing.
This year, UH Wellness is introducing a new format for the annual event. After approximately 750 students attended a primarily resource- and tabling-focused WellFest in 2025, Wellness staff are transforming the event into a festival built around participation, with a goal of reaching approximately 1,000 students in 2026.
The idea behind the change is simple: Students do not only need to know wellness resources exist. They need opportunities to experience what wellness can look like in their everyday lives so they can Be Well to Do Well in college and beyond.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Butler Plaza will become an interactive wellness space featuring eight experiences and activations, with support from seventeen campus departments, community partners, sponsors and activators.
Students will be able to move among experiences such as cold plunges, stretching sessions, and interactions with animals in a small petting zoo. Each experience will introduce a different dimension of wellness through movement, stress relief, social connection, or self-care.
A student may initially stop because they want to try a cold plunge with friends, join a yoga session, or spend time with animals. That experience can also introduce them to people, programs and resources that support their physical, mental, and social wellness after WellFest ends.
Rethinking How Students Engage with Wellness
The shift comes as colleges nationwide continue to consider how best to support student health and wellbeing. According to the Wellbeing Improvement Survey for Higher Education Settings (WISHES), 41.8% of UH students in Spring 2026 reported that they were thriving, meaning that their wellbeing was strong, consistent, and progressing. That leaves over half of UH students whose wellbeing is at risk.
“We shifted WellFest from a traditional resource fair to an experiential model because we have learned that students engage more deeply when they can actively participate, connect with others, and experience wellness in a personal way. Students are more likely to adopt a wellness practice when they have the space to try it in an accessible, low-risk environment. We hope WellFest shows students that prioritizing their wellbeing does not have to be difficult or expensive, and that there are people across the university ready to support them,” said Brittani Clarkson, Director of Wellness and Health Promotion at the University of Houston.
Organizers want students to leave WellFest having done something: moved their bodies, tried a new activity, connected with another person, taken a moment to decompress or discovered a health and wellness resource they can return to later. There is no single way to experience wellness, and that is part of the point.
As UH Wellness expands opportunities for students to engage with wellness in ways that feel personal and meaningful, it is also creating new opportunities for students to help shape the conversation.
Building Wellness Communities with Influencers
UH Wellness is also reimagining who shapes the conversation around wellness on campus. This fall, the department launched its inaugural Wellness Influencer Program, a student-led initiative designed to amplify authentic student voices and make wellness more relatable, accessible and visible across the UH community.
The inaugural cohort includes seven University of Houston students creating content that reflects the realities of college life. Through personal stories and experiences, they explore topics such as building friendships, creating sustainable wellness routines, trying new hobbies, reducing screen time, and practicing gratitude. Their content helps students see wellness not as a destination, but as a series of everyday choices that support their overall wellbeing.
WellFest will serve as one of the program's first major touchpoints with the campus community. Influencers will participate in activations alongside their peers, document their experiences, and highlight the people, resources and opportunities that make wellness accessible at UH. Their perspectives will help extend the reach of WellFest beyond Butler Plaza, inspiring students who attend and those who engage online.
As the program grows, Wellness Influencers are expected to play an increasingly important role in fostering a culture where wellness is woven into everyday campus life, helping students discover that wellness is not one-size-fits-all and that everyone has a place in the conversation.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are essential to the WellFest experience. Opportunities include assisting with wellness activations, greeting attendees, supporting event logistics, connecting students with resources, and collaborating with UH Wellness staff, Wellness Influencers and campus partners. Volunteers will gain valuable event experience while helping create an engaging and welcoming environment centered on student wellness.
Event Details
What: University of Houston WellFest
When: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Butler Plaza, University of Houston
Expected attendance: Approximately 1,000 students
About UH Wellness
UH Wellness supports the University of Houston community through programs, education, resources and experiences designed to help students make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. Its work connects students with opportunities and resources that support wellness and student success.