Spring is here in all its glory, which means it’s time to celebrate our planet. The venerable St. Louis Earth Day Festival returns to Forest Park this weekend. Visit the grounds outside The Muny from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, for one of the city’s biggest free festivals, produced by earthday365.
Each year, the festival brings tens of thousands of St. Louisans together to learn about sustainability resources and organizations working on some of society’s thorniest problems—but it’s very much a party, too.
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What’s New
Come hungry because there will be a tremendous variety of food vendors from local Green Dining Alliance-certified restaurants and breweries. Herbivores, this festival is for you: The All Vegan Zone is new this year, along with some other sporty new friends.
“We’re really excited about our new partnership with CITY SC,” says earthday365 executive director Dr. Jess Watson. “CITY Futures youth soccer is going to have their own section. They’ll be running drills in the grass, playing soccer games, and giving out treats.”
The MLS club and the festival share a commitment to zero waste. “They really care a lot about sustainability at the stadium,” Watson says.
The Sustainable Fashion Show, happening Sunday at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage, is a newish favorite, back by popular demand. There’s a new organizer this year: Liberated Roots Co., a Black woman-owned curated collection of artisan and vintage goods. Maxi Glamour will emcee, so you know it’s going to be amazing. For more ways to look fly and tread light, Perennial runs a Repair Fair, where folks can learn how to fix things (not just clothing) instead of landfilling damaged items and spending money on replacements.
The opening ceremony, Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage, will once again feature the Sustainability Awards. Two new luminaries will address the crowd: Mayor Cara Spencer and Dr. Lúcia Lohmann, president and director of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Staples & Sustainability Takeaways
Rest assured, you’ll also find old favorites. “The rock-climbing wall is always a big draw,” Watson says. “We have two bird shows from the World Bird Sanctuary every day at the Community Stage.”
Other returning classics include the Down on the Farm section, featuring the ever-popular alpacas; adoptable kittens and other pets; the Peace Garden featuring Urban Forest Therapy; yoga; intention setting; and other wellness-focused classes. Tons of live music, too.
This year’s theme is “Climate Hope: The Change We Want,” which brings a note of optimism to what can seem like a scary set of challenges.
“We think it’s really important in this day and age to focus on what we have control over, what we can do to help improve the environment and stay resilient in the face of climate change,” Watson says.
People come to the festival not just to get informed about the problems, she says, but to learn about concrete things they can do to help, such as taking transit, switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, and reducing food waste.
“There’s so much climate anxiety,” Watson says. “At the festival, there’s going to be lots of reasons to find hope in the world.”
