Carol Stream preparing Earth Day celebration

Carol Stream is getting greener, and at this year’s Earth Day Festival you can learn how.

Community organizations including Carol Stream Park District, Cool Cities, District 93 schools, Carol Stream Library, Friends of the Great Western Trails and Carol Stream Woman’s Club will be sharing information on their green initiatives at the festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Carol Stream Town Center, Lies Road and Gary Avenue.

Visitors also will be able to bring a range of items for recycling from 9 a.m. to noon. The village will be collecting electronics, athletic shoes, clothes, working bikes, fire extinguishers, crutches and wheelchairs.

“More than 800 people attended the festival in 2012, and we had some great feedback on what they wanted to see at this year’s festival,” said Kelly Carbon, community relations manager for the Carol Stream Park District.

“So we’ve added more food and local craft vendors to the farmers market and more green activities.

“This year families will be able to create recycled tote bags, try geocaching and meet local beekeepers. The festival has also become a true community event, not just a park district event, as we have over a dozen community organizations attending the festival.”

New activities this year include the chance to make your own tote bag from recycled plastic bags, a reptile show and touch-a-tractor. The first 100 children will be able to make a wooden toolbox in the Home Depot Kids Craft Corner, and two dozen vendors will be selling everything from cherry salsa to handmade soap at this year’s farmers market.

Admission is free. For details, visit www.csparks.org/environment.