Earth Fest 2026 brings neighborhood collectively for sustainability, creativity and household enjoyable April 25

RIVER FALLS – Earth Fest returns from midday to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25 on the University Center at UW-River Falls at 501 Wild Rose Ave., River Falls. The occasion is free and open to all. Earth Fest is a celebration of neighborhood and environmental wellness efforts and a collaborative effort coordinated via Hope for Earth in partnership with the School District of River Falls, the UWRF Sustainability Office, the City of River Falls and plenty of further entities.     

This 12 months’s occasion options 80+ exhibitors, a Green Skills Mini-Sampler, a raptor present by Carpenter Nature Center, a clothes swap and mending station, and native and sustainable meals samples. Earth Fest is free and open to everybody.

“Earth Fest is all about empowering our community to take practical, joyful steps toward a more sustainable future,” mentioned Mark Klapatch, Earth Fest tri-chair. “Whether someone comes for the hands‑on workshops, the music, the film screening, or the food, they leave feeling connected and inspired.”

Event highlights

• Carpenter Nature Center Raptor Show: At midday, find out about raptors and see them up shut.
• Green Skills Sampler: Noon-3 p.m. 20-minute mini periods on subjects together with bicycle upkeep, vegetable gardening, zero waste life, identification and removing of invasive crops, vitality effectivity and rebates, helpful crops in your yard, composting, fundamental residence upkeep, EV chargers, meals preservation overview, wild mushroom ID, beekeeping and extra.

• Trashion Show: 1 p.m. The Trashion Show will spotlight the fallout from quick style and showcase native expertise with artistic options. Participants will current outfits created from recycled and repurposed supplies, demonstrating modern and sustainable style selections. Three classes might be offered together with recycled/upcycled, mended, and thrifted.
• Green Buffalo Film Screening: 2 p.m. The movie explores about how the Lower Sioux Indian Community is hoping to revolutionize the tribal housing business with the usage of “hempcrete,” a concrete-like combination that’s sturdy and energy-efficient.

• Creatively Indigenous Art: 2:30 p.m. Melissa Niigaaniigaabowikwe Fowler, proprietor of Creatively Indigenous, is an Anishinaabe birchbark artist. A member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and neighborhood member of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, Melissa discusses her experiences in conventional arts, tradition, household life, and Wiigwaas, the sacred birch tree.
• Chris Silver Band: 3 p.m. Close out Earth Fest with the sounds of the Chris Silver Band.

• Exhibitors: 80+ displays supposed to coach about sustainability-related practices and native alternatives for involvement. There may also be giveaways of bushes, laundry detergent sheets and different sustainability associated gadgets. Exhibitors might be promoting gadgets corresponding to honey, soaps and reusable luggage.

• Activities: An assortment of actions for these of all ages will embrace interactive shows and hands-on arts actions. New this 12 months is a mending station that might be situated subsequent to the clothes swap.

Parking is obtainable on public streets round UWRF in addition to in varied campus parking heaps.

Attendees are requested to convey nicely water to be examined and one to 2 gently used grownup clothes gadgets to commerce to assist cut back throwing away clothes. The website additionally might be residence to battery recycling and unused prescription medicine disposal. Event organizers encourage attendees to assist cut back waste by bringing their very own water bottle or espresso mug to be used on the beverage stations.

Old development sponsors of this 12 months’s occasion are the City of River Falls and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Additional particulars, parking maps, and the total schedule can be found at hopeforearth.org/earthfest or facebook.com/earthfestRF

Submitted by Hope for Earth