June 9: Aurora Green Fest

Aurora welcomes Green Fest 2012! Mark your calendars for June 9th, 2012, 10 am - 3 pm. Join us at Prisco Community Center & McCullough Park at 150 W. Illinois Ave for our third annual Celebration of Sustainability! This family event is free to the public.
Aurora Green Fest features local educators, entrepreneurs and environmental groups working together to build our local green economy. This is a BIG party with a BIGGER purpose – promoting ecological balance and inspiring social entrepreneurship to lift up our entire community. Visitors will enjoy:

• Environmental Education – be aware of issues impacting our neighborhoods and homes
• Local Organic Farms – boost family health and support our local farmers
• Be Green to Save Green – learn how to lower utility bills, explore alternative energy sources
• Sustainable Living Solutions from local green vendors and sponsors
• Green Art Show – 3D sculpture art from reusable objects
• Recycling Extravaganza – Bring computers and electronics, medicines, documents for shredding, metals, and more.

Big additions to this year’s festival include:

• The area’s first-of-its-kind Solar Powered Concert, powered by WCP Solar, Inc. featuring live music from The Giving Tree Band – Chicagoland’s nationally-acclaimed, enviro-conscious music group
• Green Car Show featuring the latest trends in environmentally friendly vehicles
• Live Eagles and Hawks from SOAR, an organization focused on conservation and preservation of American raptor species
• Keynote Speaker Jack Darin - Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter

Festival attendees will have a chance to win the concert’s solar system for their home. The grand prize includes a complete five-kilowatt residential solar system and installation, made possible through a generous contribution from WCP Solar. Raffle tickets are only $10, with proceeds going to help grow Aurora Green Fest in 2013, when the committee hopes to move the festival to the city’s new festival grounds at RiverEdge Park.
“The creative energy and passion of grassroots organizers in our community is unstoppable. It’s thrilling to watch Aurora Green Fest grow!” said Mavis Bates, the Festival’s director and chairman of Aurora Green Lights. “We’re on a mission to spread the word, inviting everyone to participate in building a sustainable future by bringing together families, educators, local entrepreneurs and the awesome natural resources of the Fox Valley.”
“WCP Solar is excited to demonstrate the potential of solar power to the community in such an innovative way,” says Dr. Everton Walters, WCP Solar’s founder and CEO, about the solar-powered concert, “This is a great opportunity to show the community how well solar works, and how it can help you not only save money on your electric bills, but decrease the amount of power coming from dirty sources.”
Limited sponsorships and vendor spaces are still available. Visit auroragreenfest.com for information.

June 11: Aurora GREEN SCENE includes 4 events

The downtown Aurora Farmers Market will open for the season Saturday, June 11 and highlight the “Green Scene” taking over the City next weekend.

The Farmers Market enters its 99th year bringing a wide variety of farm fresh produce, organic food, fresh bread and baked goods, fine wines, fresh flowers and more. The market will have expanded hours this season serving customers from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 22 at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway Ave.

For the first time, low income families will be able to use their Illinois electronic benefits transfer (EBT) link card to make purchases.

Residents wanting to learn more about the Farmers Market, including two additional markets opening in July on the City’s Far East and West sides, should visit www.aurora-il.org.

A free shuttle will be provided by Aurora Township at the Aurora Transportation Center to take patrons to the three other free “Green Scene” events throughout the City June 11.

The Aurora Green Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prisco Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. The event, which will highlight the latest environmental ideas and technology, will feature more than 30 eco-friendly exhibits and speakers. Green Fest will entertain children with games and prizes while adults can learn green techniques to save money on their home utility bills.

The event is sponsored by the Aurora Green Lights, an independent non-profit group affiliated with The Conservation Foundation and geared toward promoting sustainable living in Aurora. For more information on the festival and the organization, visit www.auroragreenlights.org.

The City’s Green Scene also includes the Aurora Paddlesports Festival, a two-day canoeing and kayaking festival that will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at Mastodon Lake at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive. Residents can get free lessons on how to use a multitude of environmentally friendly “human-powered” crafts. More than 30 retailers, paddling clubs and river-related organizations also will introduce patrons to the Illinois paddling community.

The third annual Paddlesports Festival is being presented by Paddle and Trail and the Illinois Paddling Council in partnership with the City of Aurora. For more information, visit www.aurorapaddlesportsfestival.org.

After taking a ride in the lake, residents can stake claim to more land-based activities with the Art in the Park from noon to 5 p.m. June 11 and 12. The City’s inaugural event will feature various mediums of art, food vendors and music at the west end of Phillips Park.

The last stop on the Green Scene is the Louche Puce Market, a new outdoor European-style vintage and collectible fair. The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 11 in the downtown Water Street Mall between Galena Boulevard and Downer Place. Patrons can re-purpose an eclectic mix of antiques, retro-furniture, vintage fashion and more.

The Louche Puce Market will be held the second Saturday of each month through September. For more information, contact Jeannie Norris at norrisjeanne@gmail.com.

June 11: Aurora Green Fest

Dear Community Residents and Friends,
Please come join us at the Fox Valley’s premier sustainability event:

Aurora Green Fest
June 11th, 2011
Prisco Community Center
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This free event includes eco-businesses, environmental non-profits, demonstrations, speakers, kids’ activities, electronic and styrofoam recycling, medication drop-off, 3D art from recycled materials, fun things to buy, live music, and food.

Urban Green Living Tips – Practical tips for everyday green living in Aurora, from how to energy audit your home to how to tune-up your bike.
Electronic, Styrofoam, and Battery Recycling -- New this year is on-site recycling provided by Get Green, Dart, and Batteries Plus.
3D Sculptural Art Exhibit -- FRAMA, Fox River Art and Music Academy, sponsors our Environmental Art Exhibit. 3D art made from recycled objects.
Outdoor Nature Activities – Nature walks and Spin Cast Reel Fly Fishing.
Gardening and Landscaping Features – Organic vegetable gardening, landscaping with native plants, water erosion management, rain barrels, and worm composting.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency -- Solar, wind, and geo-thermal
Ways to save on your utility bills -- Be green and save green.
Green Kids Activities – Triple Threat, Aurora Township Youth Program, and others presenting environmental lessons. Kid’s art activities. Cloe the Clown.
Whole Food – Reuland’s Food Service with fresh, natural foods from the grill.
Live Music – Two great local bands, Red Horse Band and Dough.
Our group, Aurora Green Lights, is an independent, non-profit citizens’ group, with a mission to promote sustainable living in the Greater Aurora Area. The City of Aurora is one of our sponsors, and you will have your own booth to meet and greet the public, or just wander around and enjoy our Big Day.