Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection will host free festival from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. #MCGreenfest
SILVER SPRING, MD –Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and 11 nonprofit and governmental partners are hosting the inaugural Montgomery County GreenFest on Saturday, March 28th, 2015 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Jesup Blair Local Park and Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. The festival will feature family-friendly activities, exhibits, workshops and numerous opportunities to learn while having fun.
“The Montgomery County GreenFest is a celebration of our environment and an opportunity for County residents to learn about actions they can take to reduce their impact,” said Lisa Feldt, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. “Young people play an important role, because they are often the champions of green actions in the household. By coming to the Montgomery County GreenFest, young people see that environmental activities can extend to recycling, water quality, food, community service and beyond.”
A sampling of fun, interactive activities taking place at the festival include:
- Rope-assisted tree climbing for kids in Jesup Blair Local Park.
- A self-guided tree trail to learn more about the trees of Jesup Blair Local Park.
- Kids’ films with educational activities: Montgomery College students will facilitate a learning activity after screenings of the “Loop Scoop” film series, helping children to consider the impact that their choices have on the environment.
- Bioretention demonstration in the park. Experts will explain how stormwater management facilities help keep local waters clean.
- Almost 80 exhibitors showcasing different ways to go green – including green energy sources, green food, transportation and more.
- Music and picnic area in the park.
“We are looking forward to co-hosting this event and we have a lot of neat activities and demonstrations planned that will get kids and grownups excited about protecting our environment.” said Mike Riley, Director of Montgomery Parks. “While everybody loves their parks—the GreenFest invites people to learn about the many ways the department is working to protect and preserve our most treasured resource – the environment. From streams, wildlife and natural resources to the development of new parks and new park amenities, Montgomery Parks is dedicated to environmental stewardship across everything we do. We look forward to a great event and welcome everyone to join us in the park!”
Food will be available for purchase at the event by Montgomery College’s caterer, Chartwells, including sustainably sourced lunch items and snacks with vegan options. Attendees who bring a reusable bottle can also receive a discount on drinks, such as lemonades and iced tea.
The Montgomery County GreenFest takes place from 11AM-4PM, rain or shine. To view the full schedule, visit montgomerycountygreenfest.org. Attendees are encouraged to use public transit, walk or bike to the event. The city of Takoma Park is sponsoring a free shuttle between the event and the Takoma Metro Station. For directions to the GreenFest, visit montgomerycountygreenfest.org/directions.
Jesup Blair Local Park and the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus are located at 7995 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
About The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 36,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.MontgomeryParks.org