With spring in full bloom and Earth Day upon us, now is the perfect time to appreciate the planet for all its beauty and be reminded of sustainable practices to keep it looking clean for generations to come. While volunteering to pick up trash on the side of the road, collecting recyclables and planting flowers are all popular Earth Day activities, there’s so much more that we can do to help protect and restore our planet the other 364 days of the year. You can load up on ideas as the oldest and largest Earth Day Festival in the Midwest returns to the Muny Grounds in Forest Park this weekend on April 23-24.
The St. Louis Earth Day Festival provides area residents the unique opportunity to learn about sustainable products and services offered by local businesses and organizations, meet local area non-profits that share Earth Day values, as well as enjoy local entertainment and the best eats from Green Dining Alliance restaurants. This year will also feature rock climbing, yoga with the Collective STL, concerts by Fire Dog and Sharon Bear, a bird show from the World Bird Sanctuary and an awards presentation to recognize leadership in areas of utmost importance: climate, food, waste, education and environmental justice.
The Earth Day Challenge is another great way the festival is working to make the experience even more sustainable for attendees. Individuals are encouraged to use sustainable methods of transportation to get to and from the festival, such as riding transit, walking, biking or carpooling; bring a refillable water bottle or reusable bag; commit to starting a compost bin or service for household food scraps; and try a vegetarian or vegan meal option at the festival. By completing at least two of the four tasks, festival-goers will have successfully completed the Earth Day Challenge and be entered into a raffle for the chance to win various prizes. Some of the prizes include a Big Muddy Adventures canoe trip for two and $25 guide shop gift card; an overnight stay at Union Station with (4) combo tickets to the St. Louis Aquarium, Wheel, etc.; a Missouri Botanical Garden membership package; a BWorks Bicycle with a helmet, lock, tire pump, and light kit; Trailnet gift basket; and much more.
For more information on the St. Louis Earth Day Festival, click here. To learn more about the link between living greener and our air quality, visit the Clean Air Partnership website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.
