Earth Day Festival is April 26 in Bedford

Karen Sabath, Bedford 2030 board president, and Cynthia Braun, climate action volunteer, at Earth Day 2023. BEDFORD 2030 PHOTO

Bedford 2030 says it is throwing a bigger, better, and more-fun-than-ever free Earth Day Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Bedford Village Memorial Park. Bedford 2030, a leader in local climate action, will showcase organizations, businesses, and initiatives that make the planet a cleaner, greener place, with a heaping scoop of festival fun on top.

The family-friendly Earth Day Festival will feature two live rock bands, Boomer Brothers and Guard Hill, and a sound bowl and poetry performance by award-winning local jazz musician Andromeda Turre, accompanied by a gentle standing yoga flow courtesy of Second Wind Yoga. 

Festival-goers will dine on local fare including fresh wood-fired pizza from the Pizza Girls, Jimmy’s Soft Serve ice cream, fresh green smoothies from Plant Based Treaty, wild food samples from D.I.G. Farm, and craft beer from Captain Lawrence. 

Kids can dig their fingers into the soil to plant seeds with Curbside Compost, painting a recycled city with the Giggling Pig, learning to cook a plant-based meal with Fiddleheads Cooking Studio, matching animal tracks with the Watershed Agricultural Council, and making nature-themed crafts such as shell necklaces and leatherworking with the Rewilding School. People can pet bunnies and guinea pigs from Blue Barn, and meet puppies and kittens up for adoption through the SPCA. Kids can also check out a tractor from Pennington Gray landscapers. Team Nikhil will help us host an inclusive event by creating a quiet, sensory-friendly space. 

There will be a pop-up electric vehicle car show, featuring Rivan, Chevrolet, Polestar and GMC, with the option to hop in for a test ride in a Chevy. People can explore the monetary and planetary benefits of driving an EV. Inductive Auto Works will show how to turn an internal combustion vehicle into an EV.

Participate in planting a native tree and learn about deer protection, native plant propagation, emission-free yard management, sustainable alternatives to a traditional lawn, and the benefits of native vs invasive plants from expert eco-friendly landscaping professionals — Bedford 2030’s Rooted Solutions Coaches. Take home native seeds, DIY grow boxes, and organic fertilizer from Bedford Nursery, Hopp Ground Garden Club, Plan it Wild, and DIG Farm. Learn the importance of native pollinators with the Bedford Conservation Board and Healthy Yards. 

Learn about home energy-efficiency solutions from Bedford 2030 and Sustainable Westchester. Enter Bedford 2030’s Climate Hero Home raffle by signing up for a free Home Energy Coaching session — winners who complete their energy coaching session in the allotted time will receive $500 from Bedford 2030 and a matching contribution from the Earth Day partner of your choice — Healthy Home Energy & Consulting, Renewal by Anderson, or Croton Energy — to complete a sustainable home upgrade, such as getting insulation, air sealing, a heat pump, solar, or new windows. 

Reducing waste will be a central theme of this zero-waste festival. Learn about composting from Curbside Compost and the Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions.  Peruse second-hand clothing with Prelove You and items from Bedford 2030’s TIOLI Shed. 

The organizers urge people to become part of the sustainable conversation by subscribing to local news with The Recorder and becoming an environmental advocate with the League of Conservation Voters.

For more information, visit bedford2030.org