Aurora GreenFest offers Kids Eco-Village, local market, trade show
The sixth annual Aurora GreenFest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Prisco Community Center and McCullough Park, 150 W. Illinois Ave. in Aurora.
This free family event features a Kids Eco-Village, local market and community trade show with over 100 exhibitors, vendors and recyclers from the Chicago area and the Fox River Valley.
Learn the A-B-C's of going green! Watch food-scrap composting demonstrations and learn to grow nutritious, fresh food in neighborhood, backyard and community gardens. Connect with Community Supported Agriculture, meet local farmers, see healthy farm animals and wild rescued animals too. Play recycling games that teach ways to keep valuable natural resources out of landfills.
Attractions include: community gardens and local farms; renewable energy exhibits; natural resource restoration; electric car & truck show; reuse & recycling extravaganza; and Kids EcoVillage with art, games, and music.
Exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers who would like to support this independent, grass-roots initiative can apply to participate at auroragreenfest.com.
Shop at the local market with friendly artisans who make eco-friendly gifts. Find energy efficient technology and solutions for home and office. Network with green business leaders and entrepreneurs at the community trade show. Enjoy musicians like the Hix Brothers Soon to be Famous Ukulele Band and relax under beautiful burr oak trees by the Fox River.
Festival organizers are sowing "Seeds of the Future" by introducing common sense solutions and providing earth-friendly education to improve the quality of life in Fox River Valley. This watershed region is home to over half of all the living creatures in the state of Illinois.
"Aurora GreenFest Organizers are dedicated to making ecological solutions available for everyone," says executive director Mavis Bates. "Our community leaders are dedicated to preparing the next generation for what lies ahead."
"This effort goes way beyond sustainability; Aurorans are working together to build a healthy future for this community by taking wise actions today," Bates said.
Communities in the Fox River Valley are preparing to navigate economic and environmental challenges by sharing skills and knowledge, preparing the way for renewable energy solutions to improve the quality of life for all.
The Dunham Fund is proud to support this year's festival, together with major contributions from local media partners, Allegra Marketing Print and Web, Fox Valley Magazine, GreenLife Media Group, 94.3 K-Love Radio, Natural Awakenings Magazine and The Voice Newspaper.
Aurora GreenFest is produced by Aurora GreenLights, a group of active, diverse, independent, grass-roots community leaders who organize ecological events, activities, and educational opportunities to raise the quality of life in the Fox River Valley watershed region.
Aurora GreenLights is an affiliate of The Conservation Foundation. Founded in 1972, The Conservation Foundation is one of the region's oldest and largest nonprofit land and watershed conservation organizations dedicated to preserving and restoring open space, protecting rivers and watersheds and promoting stewardship of the environment in northeastern Illinois.