SHARON, Pa. — Adults and children of all ages are invited to join the fun as Penn State Shenango holds Earth Fest 2015 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at the campus in downtown Sharon, Pennsylvania.
The event, which offers free admission and is open to the public, will include live music and entertainment, educational presentations, children’s activities, a local artists’ market, Penn State Berkey Creamery Ice Cream, information from sustainability-minded local organizations and businesses, and a computer and cell phone recycling event. Food and coffee from Haitian Sensation and AVI will be available to purchase.There will be entertainment all afternoon, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Great Hall with a community drum circle. All are welcome, and drums will be provided or you can bring your own. At 1:30 p.m. local songwriter Rick Bruckner will bring his rootsy original music to the stage.
At noon, Adam Swartz Puppets, from State College, will provide “The Great Bug-Tacular Game Show," and at 3 p.m. will present “Five Folk Tales From Around the World." Adam Swartz is a Penn State alumnus who has trained with the Sesame Workshop. Since 1999, he has created and performed original, interactive puppetry works that have educated and entertained crowds of all ages across the United States.
Additional activities for children and family members of all ages include an upcycled puppet-making workshop with Adam Swartz Puppets; wetlands crafts and educational activities in the “Habitat Room” with the Hermitage Schools Green Team and Penn State Shenango science department; face painting by First Presbyterian Church of Sharon; and a take-home, seed-planting activity with the Penn State Shenango Agriculture Club.Free educational presentations will include: “Soil Health for Gardeners” by Loren Muldowney of the Natural Resource Conservation Service at 1 p.m. and “Permaculture” by John Ackley at 2:40 p.m.Other activities available throughout the day include an eco-friendly local artist’s market and information tables from environmentally-conscious local businesses and organizations.
Attendees are encouraged to bring used computer equipment and cell phones to the Information Technology Club’s recycling drive, located in the foyer of Forker Laboratory on Penn Avenue. The following items will be accepted for free: desktop computer towers or laptops, keyboards, mice, monitors and cell phones. There is a $20 fee for CRT monitors due to lead content.Participants also should make sure to stop in the Great Hall to purchase some famous Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream.Earth Fest 2015 is being co-sponsored by WKBN and Fox Television. For a complete schedule of events, or for more information on Earth Fest 2015, contact the Student Affairs office at 724-983-2969 or visit www.facebook.com/PennStateShenangoEarthFest.