advertisement

Sixth annual Aurora GreenFest explains 'going green'

The whole family can explore beehives, enjoy locally made food, peruse energy-efficient cars and pick up healthy living tips at the sixth annual Aurora GreenFest.

The environmentally conscious festival, which features more than 100 exhibitors and draws around 1,500 visitors each year, will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Prisco Community Center and McCullough Park in Aurora.

"We're excited and gearing up for it," said Cody Kamp, Prisco facility manager. "Hopefully, the weather is fantastic."

This year's GreenFest theme is "Seeds for the Future," as organizers home in on kid-friendly education surrounding "going green." Featuring locally made, recyclable products; local eco-friendly jobs; regional sources for healthy food and examples of renewable energy, festival founder Mavis Bates hopes to sow seeds today to grow a bright future.

"We hope that everyone who comes to GreenFest leaves with some small thing they can do at home to start planting those seeds," Bates said.

For example, the Kids' Eco-Village will include several "how-to" sessions such as how to make a mini garden to feed bees and butterflies and the basics of solar cooking. It also will offer a zoo of sorts with chickens, skunks, bats and owls. Margaret Gazdacka is the facility supervisor at Red Oak Nature Center, an environmental education complex in Batavia. She has both sponsored a booth at the festival and attended in the past.

"In this day and age, kids aren't connecting with the environment," Gazdacka said. "What they say is if you grow up understanding and appreciating nature, then that's what you'll want to protect. We try to give kids a little taste of nature to enjoy it."

There are attractions for parents as well: an auto and bike expo, recycling extravaganza and grown-up demonstrations of healthy living activities. Locally grown and concocted cuisine including Natz Dogz Hotdogs and Rivers Edge Cafe will accompany live music performed by the Fox River Art and Music Academy, "Soon To Be Famous" Hix Bros. Ukulele Band and more.

Bates said parents should bring their kids and kids should bring their parents because there is something for everyone at Aurora GreenFest. She is also thankful city government has encouraged the initiative.

"GreenFest and the city of Aurora have grown up hand-in-hand as far as the 'green' mission goes," Bates said. "The city has done many wonderful things to go green."

The festival is organized by Aurora GreenLights in affiliation with the Conservation Foundation. Together, the nonprofit organizations promote healthy ecological and economic solutions for the community and provide educational opportunities in the Fox River Valley watershed region.

If you go

What: Aurora GreenFest

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 13

Where: Prisco Community Center and McCullough Park, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 343-9697, auroragreenfest.com or info@auroragreenfest.com

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.