Adults and children of all ages are invited to join the fun as Penn State Shenango holds Earth Fest 2014 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in downtown Sharon, Pa. The event, which offers free admission and is open to the public, will include live music and entertainment, children’s activities, an artists’ market, Penn State Berkey Creamery Ice Cream, information from sustainability-minded local organizations and businesses, a computer recycling event and eco-friendly cars from Montrose Auto Group. Food will be available to purchase.
Educational presentations in the Great Hall will include: “Rethinking Our Food” by recent TEDxYoungstown speaker Michael Kovach of Walnut Hill Farm at noon, “Backyard Greenhouses” by Elliott Lengel from Lengel Bros. Farm at 12:20 p.m. and “Composting 101” by Jim Mondok from Mercer County Conservation District at 3 p.m.
There will be live music all afternoon beginning at 11 a.m. in the Great Hall with a community drum circle (all are welcome — bring your own drum) followed by the Greenville High School Steel Drum Band at 1:15 p.m. Featured performer, Billy B: The Natural Science Song & Dance Man, from New York City, brings his energetic, interactive music to the auditorium at 12:15 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. Billy B. has performed in such diverse venues as the White House, the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Activities for children and family members of all ages include hands-on lessons in alternative energy from Youngstown’s Oh Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology, rainforest crafts with the Hermitage Schools Green Team, face painting and crafts by First Presbyterian Church of Sharon and take-home seed planting by the Penn State Shenango Agriculture Club. Circle K Pottery will offer attendees an opportunity to purchase and decorate a commemorative tile, which will be included in an upcoming civic mural project to be installed in downtown Sharon.
Other activities available throughout the day include an eco-friendly local artist’s market and information tables from environmentally-conscious local businesses and organizations in the auditorium. Bring your unused computer equipment and cellphones (no older than 10 years) to the Information Technology Club’s recycling drive, located in the foyer of Forker Laboratory on Penn Avenue.
Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream will be available for purchase in the Great Hall.
Earth Fest 2014 is being co-sponsored by WKBN and Fox Television as well as Montrose Auto Group. For a complete schedule of events or for more information on Earth Fest 2014, contact the Student Affairs office at 724-983-2836 or visit www.facebook.com/pennstateshenangoearthfest.