Love is coming to us all. This week, it’s heading to downtown Akron as the Big Love Fest, which will spill throughout the Musica complex and bring 12 hours of continuous music, dance, visual arts, healing arts, storytelling and so much more on February 28.

In a telephone interview with committee chair Zach Freidhof (who goes by Zach), the organizer talked about the scope of entertainment and education sessions that will be going on that day. There are so many participants that it was even difficult for Zach to enumerate them all. (To see the full schedule, it’s best to go to the Big Love Fest page at www.facebook.com/BigLoveAkron.)

Zach, singer and entertainer. Photo by Rachelle Farren

Zach commented about ways that the three floors of space would be used to present all the events. The Musica stage will feature many to most of the musical acts, beginning at 12:15 p.m. with Jeffrey Zayda and Madison Lopez, followed by yoga dance with Julie Norman, and other area musical favorites such as Rachel Roberts. Later in the evening, Zach’s group, Zach & the Bright Lights, will appear at 10 p.m. right before the closing act of the day, The Admirables, who will play from 11 p.m. to the event’s close at midnight. The emcee for the day will be Jeff Marras.

In the adjacent Urban Eats café area, there will be not only food provided at cost, but a Kids’ Space, where the Akron Art Museum (a Knight Arts grantee) and the Spring Garden Waldorf School will have several things going on, thereby making this event a family-friendly one.

Across the courtyard from Musica will be a Healing Room, where there will be such things as entrance meditation techniques, a hug workshop and crystal singing bowls.

Up a flight of stairs in the Uncorked Wine Bar, there will be workshops and additional music. Some of the acts are: Shakti yoga with Nancy Lynn Holland of Free Akron Yoga (with Matthew deRubertis playing sitar); storyteller’s children’s yoga; a session by Abraham Nabors of Mustard Seed Market & Café called Super Snacks to Charge Your Super Self; and still more informative and musical sessions.

Yet another flight up, which Zach calls the Third Floor Nest, there will be a relaxation area with acoustic tunes from Oliver Evans and Kyndra Heischman. Attendees are invited to come and hang out.

In the stairwells, along with space in the interconnected We Gallery store, there will be “a slew of installation artists” mounting displays of their art, to include live painting throughout the day.

To some it may seem a mishmash of activities, but that’s deceiving. Zach said the idea came from a desire to establish a healthy, mindful and inspirational get-together during the wintertime. In the summer months, there are many festivals and events, but nothing much in the colder season. This fills the gap.

Zach commented that, rather than invite participants and then direct what they should do, this event is different. Participants were invited to bring what they want to the affair. It is an inclusive, co-creational event, Zach added.

In any case, it sounds like a lot of fun and a day filled with activity, as people may choose to come and stay, or come and go. The event is free. Food is provided for sale by Urban Eats, Mustard Seed Market & Café, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen and The Vegan Mentors.

Zach also commented that the event is focused on zero waste. Last year, he noted, only one bag of trash was amassed after a whole day of people being part of the many activities.

Big Love works on a small budget, mostly through donations. All revenues of the day go toward providing participants with some sort of stipend – “a little token” as Zach puts it.

Come early and stay late, or pass through as schedules permit. The day has a loose enough structure and calendar that everyone can stop by and simply join in as the day progresses.

Big Love Fest 2015 will be held from 12 p.m-12 a.m. on Saturday, February 28 in the Musica complex, 51 E. Market St., Akron; 330-374-1114; www.facebook.com/BigLoveAkron. Admission is free.