Glow sticks, DJs, and a dance floor might sound like the makings of a late-night rave, but at Electric Movement Fest, the party starts in the morning and the drinks are alcohol-free. The new St. Louis event blends fitness classes, dance sessions, and hands-on wellness experiences into a daytime gathering designed to spark connection, movement, and self-discovery without the pressure to drink.
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Wellness professionals Kate Buer and Samantha Lander launched Electric Movement Fest in January to fill a gap in the city’s social and fitness scenes. The inaugural gathering drew more than 75 attendees and 20 vendors, offering everything from cold plunges and massages to astrology readings and energy healing.
With the next event, April 18 at The Garage STL (750 S. 4th), the founders hope to grow the quarterly fest into a cornerstone of St. Louis’ emerging sober-curious culture—scaling it into a large alcohol-free rave that celebrates wellness, music, and community.
“We just want to show people that you can still have fun,” Lander says. “You can dance, connect, meet amazing people—and you don’t need alcohol to do it.”
At the event, the morning unfolds less like a traditional fitness class and more like a choose-your-own wellness playground. Guests might start with a 45-minute group workout before the music shifts to a dance session led by a live DJ, such as Lander herself. Afterward, attendees circulate among wellness vendors that offer hands-on experiences, from cold plunges and saunas to massage, facials, and Reiki-style energy work.
Buer says the vendors are intentionally different from the typical health fair lineup. Instead of supplement booths or product pitches, the goal is to introduce people to healing modalities that they may have never tried before.
“We really want people to experience something new,” she says. “If someone’s never had bodywork or they’re curious about breath work, astrology, or energy healing, they can try it here.”
At the first event, that mix of music, movement, and experimentation created an unexpected atmosphere. “From the moment people walked in, the energy was just there,” Lander says. “Everyone kept saying the same thing—that the room felt different.”
For Lander, who has been in recovery for nearly two decades, the concept also responds to a gap in St. Louis’ social scene. While the city has a large recovery community and growing interest in alcohol-free events, a vast majority of social spaces still revolve around nightlife and drinking.
At the same time, younger audiences are increasingly embracing the “sober curious” movement—seeking social experiences that prioritize wellness, connection, and daytime activities over late-night bar culture.
Buer and Lander plan to host Electric Movement Fest quarterly, gradually expanding the concept as they gain bigger crowds. Their long-term vision: a full-scale alcohol-free rave with hundreds of attendees, live DJs, and nonalcoholic drinks. They hope the concept will become a fixture on the city’s wellness calendar and proof that nightlife energy doesn’t have to happen at night.
For Buer, the concept is simple: create a party that people can feel good about the next day. “You can dance. You can move. You can meet incredible people,” she says. “And you wake up the next morning feeling better than when you walked in.”
