By Cassie Phillips; Executive Director
St. Louis Earth Day
Every year, on the fourth Sunday of April, St. Louis Earth Day stages what has become the oldest and largest Earth Day celebration in the Midwest. This premier event, held on the Muny Opera Grounds in Forest Park, annually draws more than 25,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors for environmental education, celebration, and stewardship. St. Louis Earth Day invites your participation as a vendor or exhibitor in this benchmark fortieth year. Our theme – 40 Years Later: Living Earth Day Every Day – honors the first Earth Day celebration in 1970. Our goal is to celebrate the important steps already taken toward sustainability while actively addressing the growing challenges the global community faces through environmental education, reflection, celebration, stewardship, and conversation. We welcome everyone – businesses, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies, as well as individuals, students and families – to participate in the St. Louis Festival on Sunday April 25, 2010.
Similar to the 2009 Festival experience, participants can expect a layout based on environmentally themed “Neighborhoods.” Designed to facilitate a holistic educational experience, we have groups that create distinct and engaging learning environments. With the addition of refreshment stands and picnic areas in the neighborhoods, this year we encourage attendees to leisurely explore the event grounds, enjoy the entertainment on any of the three stages, and stay for a full-day immersion.
The Neighborhood areas we plan to include are:
• Energy Efficiency – Green Building – Alternative Fuel/Transit
• Nature – Natural Resources – Recreation
• Education – Legislative – Governmental
• Arts – Crafts – Jewelry – Clothes
• Wellness • Beauty
• Pets
• Recycling – Waste Reduction
• Home – Family – Spiritual
• Earth Day Café – Food Education
• The Eco-Arts Village will return this year as well (applications available online).
The “Transparent Green” distinction returns for a second year. This voluntary program encourages vendors to look at the environmental impact of their products, services and practices to identify strengths and areas for improvement. In addition to special recognition, participating exhibitors will receive information to help identify ways to reach “green” their goals.
Be a part of this event!
Businesses, Organizations, and Government agencies – register online by March 1 and have your booth listed in the program that will be printed in the April edition of The Healthy Planet magazine.
Organizations can submit an environmental education activity or demonstration proposal through our website www.stlouisearthday.org. The deadline for applications is March 1.