St. Louis Earth Day Festival is the largest Earth Day celebration in the Midwest, according to its organizer Earthday 365.
“The time is now for us to come together as a region to address climate change since we already feel its effects.”
The free, family-friendly event 2024 theme is Climate Action and it will take place on 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday April 20 and 21 at the Muny Grounds in Forest Park. The annual festival will have educational activities, entertainment, local businesses, and planet-friendly food options.
“The time is now for us to come together as a region to address climate change since we already feel its effects. 2023 was the hottest year on record, with extreme weather across the country,” said Dr. Jess Watson, Earthday365 executive director.
“The St. Louis Earth Day Festival is a time to highlight local solutions and success stories.”
Earthday365 is a nonprofit organization that touches more than one million individuals annually through one of the largest Earth Day celebrations in the country, in addition to award-winning programs Recycling On the Go and Green Dining Alliance.
Each year, the festival connects around 20,000 attendees with 200 local vendors who offer engaging activities, sustainable resources, and eco-friendly items in the Green Marketplace.
The Main Stage is a centerpiece, as it will host the organization’s 3rd Annual Sustainability Awards with Mayor Tishaura Jones and County Executive Dr. Sam Page, and features keynote speaker Heather Navarro, director of the Midwest Climate Collaborative at Washington University.
The festival will also feature a Sustainable Fashion Show produced by Room Seven and emceed by Maxi Glamour. The showcase will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday April 21st the Main Stage–MC Tres, rapper, and co-owner of Hustle City will co-host with Maxi Glamour.
The runway will highlight a variety of unique and eco-friendly garments and accessories, many from vendors in the Festival’s Black-Owned Sustainable Fashion Marketplace such as Liberated Roots Collection, GemU Vintage, and Tribe228. In addition, models will wear One Planet Standard-certified shoes from Caleres.
Every look is accentuated by the work of local black-owned makeup and hairstyling businesses Healthy Hair Solutions and The Whisper Style Team, with diverse models of all ages, genders, and body types, from professional models to community activists.
“Fast fashion is a major driver of environmental destruction around the world, which is why we invited Room Seven to curate a show focusing on vintage, local, upcycled, and sustainably sourced clothing from talented local designers,” said Watson.
Other events include the World Bird Sanctuary’s wild bird shows, BWorks’ toddler bicycle racecourse, and yoga with The Collective STL. The Climate Action Zone will offer information about the regional effects of climate change.
Festival goers are encouraged to participate in the Earth Day Challenge by making their visit as sustainable as possible–traveling to the festival by sustainable transportation, and bringing reusable shopping bags and drink containers. Or eating vegetarian or vegan food options.
This year’s sponsors include Ripple Glass, Missouri American Water, City of St. Louis, Metro/Bi-State Development, St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District, MO DNR, Washington University in St. Louis, Sunset Hills Subaru, and Green2Go
For more information visit Earthday365
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
