St. Cloud Going Mad For The Start of Summer

(KNSI) – Experience Downtown St. Cloud is inviting night owls to come out late on the longest day of the year.

The organization is hosting the first-ever Midnight Market on June 21st from 8:00 p.m. to midnight along West St. Germain Street. KNSI News spoke with Bella Vita Salt Caves owner Chrystina Piecek, whose business is participating in the event. Piecek says the highlight is meditation inside the cave, which is alleged to have natural health benefits.

“It’s a 300-square-foot room full of about two to three tons of Himalayan salt. There is a starlit ceiling on the top. There’s salt on the floor, salt on the walls, and so basically, you sit in the zero gravity chairs. You breathe in the salt for 40 minutes. It cleans out your lungs and brings your body more oxygen.”

She adds that a session in the salt room can help you sleep better, have more energy, think clearer, and boost your immune system. Piecek recently completed a hundreds-hour training session to teach yoga and meditation.

There will be drinks for sale and specials on the retail items at the store. Piecek says that the 21st is also the strawberry full moon, in addition to the solstice when people are encouraged to work on self-improvement.

In terms of participating, Bella Vita will have company as other businesses on West St. Germain Street are taking part. “Green Thumb is doing some plants outside. A lot of the restaurants will be open doing little specials in their areas. We’ll have artists-vendors in a lot of the places. Should be a super exciting time. I’m excited about it.”

In some cases, like with the salt cave, space is limited. It is strongly encouraged to buy tickets early. They’re available for sale online.

For more information on the artists and vendors taking part, click on the link here.

___