Newtown’s Sixth Annual Earth Day Festival is promising to be “bigger and better than ever,” according to organizers. Join the celebration on Saturday, April 27, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen.
To invest in the future, proceeds are supporting the annual “green” scholarship at Newtown High School.
The day, aimed at family fun and learning, is designed to highlight Newtown’s abundant natural resources and help the community become greener.
From kids’ activities, live music and refreshments to the vendor fair, silent auction, and the Lions Club’s Annual Lose The Litter effort, April 27 promises to be a memorable day for the whole community.
Residents can meet Lions Club members at the middle school as early as 9 am. Garbage bags, gloves, and other supplies will be provided at the Lions Club booth. Residents who cannot get to the middle school Saturday morning can arrange to pick up cleaning supplies in advance.
Residents of all ages are encouraged to help pick up roadside litter. Participants can choose a road to clean up or the Lions will suggest one for you.
Beyond the feeling of knowing that they have helped clean up their hometown, some lucky cleaners will discover one of many prizes hidden around town: gift certificates for free ice cream sundaes at Ferris Acres Creamery. The Lions will continue offering road assignments and handing out supplies until 1 pm Saturday.
For additional Lost The Litter information contact Glenn Nanavaty (203-426-2116) or Ed Miklaszewski (203-885-8561), this year’s co-chairs.
Meanwhile, organizers say this year’s Earth Day celebration has a focus on children’s fun. Organizers have scheduled a full day of family activities and learning.
The event will officially open at 10 am with the singing of the national anthem by Brett Boles, followed by a performance by Newtown Youth Voices with Jim Allyn.
Ongoing activities will include the opportunity to make your own birdfeeders with EverWonder Children’s Museum, eco-crafts and tie-dying with the FunArt Bus, seed balls and pottings, kids crafts with Nancy Diperrio, worm composting with Transition Newtown, beekeeping with Jeff Shwartz, learning how to knit with Nicole Christensen, and bike safety checks with Terrence Ford.
Also, the Sustainable Energy Commission’s booth will have information on how to save money on residential electric bills, including the opportunity to sign up for clean energy. (Bring a copy of a current utility bill if interested in signing up on Saturday.)
Scheduled events and performers are as follows:
10:45 am: Drum Circle with Cadence Carroll;
11 am: Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Musicians; also Sharon Audubon Birds of Prey demonstration;
11:15 am: The Graceful Planet Flash Mob dance workshop, followed at 11:45 by flash mob dancing;
Noon: SunDad (father and son world fusion, jam band) and The Graceful Planet Family Yoga;
12:30 pm: Sharon Audubon Birds of Prey second demonstration;
1 pm: Performance by Time and Again (Newtown High School rock/ska band);
1:45 pm: Comments by First Selectman Pat Llodra;
2 pm: Performance by The Shout Backs (“o Outlaw string band with a moonshine heart”); and Newtown Youth Academy Boot Camp (test your strength, endurance, and humor);
3 pm: Performance by Bedlam Brothers String Band (local pickers and grinners), plus old-fashioned relay races and games with Terrence Ford; and
Afternoon, ongoing: Predator-prey and food web tag, recycling toss
For additional information, included updated schedules and announcements, visit NewtownEarthDay.org