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 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
“Our theme this year is Planet vs. Plastic, and we have upped our game,” says Dr. Jess Watson, executive director of earthday365. None of the vendors will have any disposable plastic at their booths. “Everything that’s onsite that’s going into the waste stream is going to be compostable,” Watson says.
City Sewing Room is a new partner for the popular Repair Demo at the festival. “We’ve been working with City Sewing Room on our Dump the Dumpster days where we have the public drop off hard to recycle items, so they have collected a lot of fabrics and craft materials and old sewing machines,” says Watson. “They keep a ton of fabric out of the landfill—it’s amazing to see.” A solar array will be set up to power the sewing machines that City Sewing Room uses during the demonstration. They’ve got battery backup, so clouds won’t stop the mending.
“We have a featured artist this year, Adrienne Outlaw,” says Watson. Outlaw works with recycled and post-consumer plastics. Her piece Double Bloom is two huge luminous geodesic domes that people can walk into and interact with. “They feel like you’re in stained glass,” Watson says. Outlaw connected with members of the community to create meaningful programming for the domes.
Skate Culture STL is another new participant, bringing roller skates for rent, a skating area, and skating lessons. A slightly shorted version of the new Netflix documentary The Plastic Detox will be showing on a loop by the Muny promenade. And a virtual silent auction will help raise funds for future festivals.
Familiar Staples
After more than 30 years, festival goers have some favorites they come to expect. With more than 200 vendors, there’s something for everyone to eat, drink, learn, and celebrate.
The annual Sustainability Awards honor those moving the needle on caring for our environment. Executive Director of the Missouri River Bird Observatory Dana Ripper will deliver the keynote address.
The Main Stage and the Community Stage feature music, culture, and family-friendly programming. Check out World Bird Sanctuary shows, drag storytime with Fourth City Sisters, music from the Boogie Band, Bobby Norfolk, Of Monarchs, Be.Be The NeoSoul and more, and recycling mermaid stories from Amara Arts.
The climbing wall from Upper Limits will be back, and St. Louis BWorks brings their kids’ balance bike course. CITY SC returns with soccer games and skill drills with the CITY Futures program.
The fashion show is back, produced by Liberated Roots Co’Creations. The high-fashion event has been increasingly incorporating more art forms like dance, music, and poetry. “It’s one of my favorite things about the festival,” Watson says.
The festival is also bringing back an event from decades ago, the All Species Parade. It’s a throwback but has been on hiatus long enough that it’ll be new for many. Joia: The World Percussion Ensemble leads the way for the DIY carnival atmosphere. Come dressed as your favorite flora or fauna, and join the carnival atmosphere starting Sunday at 11:15 a.m. at the Main Stage.
