THE UK’S premier festival promoting complementary therapy and natural remedies will bring visitors from all over the country to Ilkley this weekend.

The unique atmosphere of the two-day event at the King’s Hall and Winter Garden will offer visitors a chance to explore and sample the huge range of remedies, therapies and natural wisdom.

Workshops will be presented by local practitioners, experts and traders from across the North of England, throughout the weekend.

Organiser of the town’s 26-year-old festival, Michael Weaver, says he is looking forward to a weekend full of lively activities with more than 60 participants, stands with taster treatments, talks to introduce new ideas and therapies and the chance to meet therapists from all over the country.

He said: “I’m more excited than ever about this Autumn festival, as we have some wonderful products and therapies on the stands and talks all day Saturday and Sunday, that can now be booked online from now.

“This will hopefully avoid people being disappointed on the day, as many talks prove so popular. We have talks on so many fascinating subjects, from the launch of Ilkley’s new range of Flower Essences, Verbeia, to crystals and healthy drinks and food.”

There will also be a stronger presence of local therapists this weekend. The festival will be welcoming the combined Therapists of Ilkley group, as well as individual chiropractors from Advanced Wellness and therapists from Ilkley Complementary Therapies, including homeopaths, Bowen Technique practitioners, reflexologists, a holistic massage therapist and an Alexander Technique teacher.

The Therapists of Ilkley group was launched at the festival in Spring 2013 and has developed over the last year from an initial group of 25 local therapists to the current group of 98 therapists working in Ilkley and the surrounding area. It now meets every month and has also produced a reference directory of local complementary therapists to be available in the GP surgeries in across the area.

Jenny Howarth, of Ilkley Complementary Therapies, will be giving a talk on Ilkley’s new range of Flower Essences, named after Verbeia, Ilkley’s ancient Goddess of Wharfedale.

The seven Verbeia Moorland essences have been widely trialled and it is claimed have helped people with anxieties, low energy, low self-esteem, difficulty in decision-making, making changes, difficulty in moving on from difficult times and generally lifting the spirits. The festival is open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Visit icmf.co.uk for more information.

Admission is £4 (£3.50 concessions), or a two day pass is £6.50.