DeKALB | Hollie Hageman plans to go to the NIU Wellness Fair today.

Hageman, a junior early childhood studies major, is one of more than 1500 people expected to attend the fair. Hageman said she will probably be stopping by the fair with her childcare center group and does not know which of the NIU and community providers she will visit.

The Wellness Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom and Capitol Room. The fair, co-sponsored by Employee Wellness and Assistance Program and Recreation Services, is free and open to all.

“People should come because it’s a great way to get a lot of information about their health in a short time,” said Becky Lewis, assistant director for Recreation Services.

Free raffles, massages and assessments will take place, as well as vision, hearing and posture screenings, Lewis said. Appointments for a blood cholesterol test also can be scheduled at the event. The appointments will take place at a later time for a fee, Lewis said.

The fair consists mainly of volunteers who donate their time and the prizes. The fair started in 1992, said Nancy Apperson, coordinator of the NIU Wellness and Assistance Program.

“The Wellness Fair has over 80 vendors from our community focusing on one of the six dimensions of Wellness: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, occupational and spiritual,” Apperson said. “This year, Recreation Services is sponsoring a scavenger hunt where participants find six selected vendors each focusing on one of the above dimensions of wellness.”

New grand prize drawings will be offered, including three packages from Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles, and $100 worth of gift certificates to the University Bookstore, Lewis said. Prizes will be drawn after the fair.

Each group is providing information and interactive activities.

“Recreation Services is offering a mystery crossword, which [participants] can pick up at the door when they come in,” Lewis said. “If they complete the crossword and unscramble the mystery word, they can enter the raffle for another drawing. Our nutrition person will also be helping people learn to navigate MyPyramid.gov, a nutrition Web site.”