RIVER FALLS – The third annual Earth Fest will take place from noon to 4 p.m. in the University Center at UW-River Falls at 501 Wild Rose Ave., River Falls. The event is free and open to all.  

Earth Fest is a celebration of community and environmental wellness efforts and a collaborative effort involving the City of River Falls, the School District of River Falls, Hope for Creation, the River Falls Chamber of Commerce, the UWRF Sustainability Office and a variety of additional organizations.  

“Earth Fest doubled in size and attendance from year one to year two, said Mark Klapatch-Mathias,” UW-River Falls sustainability coordinator and Earth Fest organizing committee member. 

Klapatch-Mathias also notes the organizers have partnered with UWRF to hold the event on campus allowing for additional growth, as well as indoor and outdoor activities. 

There is a wide variety of events for people of all ages at Earth Fest. The event will feature a Sustainability and Wellness Fair with 85+ exhibits intended to educate about sustainability related practices, local opportunities for involvement and includes free samples of local and sustainable food. There will also be giveaways of trees, LED light bulbs, laundry detergent sheets and other sustainability related items. James Beard Award winning chef Alan Bergo will be a special guest demonstrating black walnut cracking and making black walnut milk samples. Earth Fest is a celebration of community and is a free music venue for the River Falls Bluegrass Festival. 

Attendees are asked to bring well water to be tested, and one to two gently used adult clothing items to trade, to help reduce throwing away clothing. The site also will be home to battery recycling and prescription drug disposal.  

Parking is limited, and free shuttle transportation is available from several River Falls locations in collaboration with the River Falls Bluegrass Festival.  

Platinum sponsors of this year’s event are the City of River Falls, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Whole Earth Market Co-op and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Interfacial Consultants is a gold sponsor. 

For more event and parking information, visit https://www.hope4creationrf.org/earthfest and facebook.com/earthfest.RF 
 

Paul Douglas

New this year is a pre-Earth Fest program by Paul Douglas, “A Climate of Change: From Words to Actions.” Douglas, a meteorologist with 45 years of television and radio experience, has authored four books, including his most recent, "A Kid's Guide to Saving the Planet." As a religious conservative who began as a climate change skeptic, Douglas is now viewing climate change as undeniable and believes that caring for our planet is a moral and spiritual obligation.  

Regarding the impact of climate change on us, Douglas is famously quoted as saying, "It's not hopeless, and we're not helpless.”  

The pre-event program will be held from 11 a.m. to noon in the Falcon’s Nest in the UWRF University Center. 

Submitted by Cathy Leaf