The Aurora Greenfest is back and better than ever. We are planning a wonderful festival celebrating everything about the environment and how to take care of our planet. Save the date, Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 18 W. Benton Street, Aurora, in the beautiful and historic old Post Office/SciTech Building. The Greenfest will be free and accessible to all, so bring the whole family. Everything that you have always loved at the Greenfest will be there, too. We expect to have more than 100 exhibitors to help you learn about saving the planet and saving money at the same time.
This year’s theme is “Make a Difference! Be Energy Smart!” We will have special exhibits about how to save energy in your home, including “Do It Yourself” projects for making your house more energy efficient, information about rebates for household items, and more!
We are especially excited to have the Chicago Herpetological Society join us. Their mission is to educate the public and promote the conservation of all wildlife in general and of amphibians and reptiles in particular. Their members will bring some wonderful creatures for our visitors to touch and even hold! Bringing interesting animals to the Greenfest helps children and grown-ups alike appreciate nature and the need to preserve and conserve our natural wonders.
Our Green Car Show will be a do-it-yourself project, with real owners telling you why they love their electric cars. The Fox Valley Electric Auto Association is coming, with their homemade converted vintage electric cars and trucks. You’ll be amazed at what’s under the hood and how much money you can save by driving an electric car. No more visits to the gas pump!
Our community marketplace is full of everything you need to make you and your home more beautiful, healthy, and energy efficient. Local environmental groups will be there to share fun, educational activities for kids and grown-ups. Sue Klein will be at the Greenfest check-in booth doing her amazing face painting. Don’t miss out on your chance to win a free rain barrel decorated by a local artist during a live art performance!
Call for vendors and exhibitors: Artists, jewelry makers, and other artisans, if you have a green theme to your work, please come. Environmental groups, local government officials, you are most welcome. Please go to www.auroragreenfest.com/get-involved/vendors/ and fill out our application.
“Thank you, Aurora, for supporting the Greenfest since 2010. We want to keep our community sustainable and resilient,” said Mavis Bates, festival founder and chair. “We love bringing our community together to celebrate sustainability.”
Aurora GreenLights, an affiliate of The Conservation Foundation, and in partnership with the City of Aurora and the Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board, organizes the festival.
—Mavis Bates, Aurora Greenfest