Celebrate the earth at Aurora GreenFest

Nature exhibits featuring bats, eagles, bees, skunks and other creatures will take center stage during next month's seventh annual Aurora GreenFest.

The celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Prisco Community Center and McCullough Park, 150 W. Illinois Ave. Volunteers, sponsors and exhibitors still can sign up.

Organizers say celebrating nature is one way to teach children and grown-ups to protect the earth. Live music and local food create a festival atmosphere. Green-friendly energy sources show ways to save money and save the world at the same time.

Other exhibits include:

• A bike, car and truck show featuring electric vehicles, including a Tesla, Nissan Leaf and a Chevy Volt.

• A Kids eco-village with games, crafts and recycled art projects.

• A local market and trade show with more than 100 exhibitors.

• Local organic farmers.

Last year's fest attracted more than 3,000 visitors.

"We are excited about this year's festival," said Mavis Bates, festival founder and organizer. "We love bringing our community together to celebrate our planet. Every great movement starts locally."

Aurora GreenLights, an affiliate of The Conservation Foundation, organizes the festival. The Dunham Fund is a major sponsor of this year's festival, in accordance with John C. Dunham's dream of "making the world a more comfortable, safer place for mankind to live and prosper."

For details, visit auroragreenfest.com.