Return of Green Expo among 50 events for Earth Month in Elgin
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a volunteer committee is planning 50 activities and events in April throughout Elgin, including the return of Green Expo.
Free to the public, Green Expo will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 4 at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way. The event, last held in 2014, brings together people, community groups, organizations and businesses to share ideas, products and services "aimed at making Elgin a more sustainable community - socially, environmentally and economically," according to its website.
The city's sustainability commission is giving a $5,000 sponsorship to Green Expo and won't charge its organizers for the rental of the space, city spokeswoman Molly Gillespie said.
Sponsors, businesses or organizations interested in display or vending space at Green Expo can contact Elgin Community Recreation Supervisor Jan Monell at (847) 531-7012 or sustainability@cityofelgin.org.
This year's Green Expo will have a new element: the Midwest Green Car Expo.
"Green Car Expo will feature all kinds and types of alternative fueled vehicles," car show planner Rich Hirschberg said in a news release. "That means a variety of trucks, cars, motorcycles and pedal bikes. It's anything powered by batteries, natural gas, propane, biodiesel, grease, fuel cells, solar panels or humans."
The Midwest Green Car Expo will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 4 in the city parking lot just west of the Centre of Elgin, on the southwest corner of Kimball Street and Grove Avenue. For more information visit The2020MidwestGreenCarExpo.weebly.com.
The festivities on April 4 will include family friendly activities from 1 to 3 p.m. at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. Elgin-based hip-hop artists Moore will play sampled and original music. There will be storytime for the kids and a community art project titled "Reuse, Recycle & Repurpose With Risé!"
The full lineup of events for Earth Month is still being planned but will include: an "eco meditation" April 6; gardening lessons April 8; a presentation on decluttering April 13; an environmental poetry slam April 15; a Fox River cleanup April 18; a "farm-to-table" program April 22; a program on wildflowers April 23; and several film presentations at Gail Borden Public Library.
Charles "Chuck" Marohn, the founder of the nonprofit international movement Strong Towns, will speak April 16 about how to become a more sustainable community.
The city will organize its customary, free Earth Day celebration April 25 at Hawthorne Hills Nature Center, Gillespie said. There will be local bands, healthy snacks for children, face painting, a photo booth and more.
For more information on Green Expo and other Elgin Earth Month activities, you can visit facebook.com/ElginEarthMonth or cityofelgin.org/earthmonth.