Bring the whole family to the Montgomery County GreenFest

“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, they see that environmental activities can extend to recycling, water quality, food, community service and beyond.”

13 nonprofit and governmental partners are hosting the inaugural Montgomery County GreenFest on Saturday, March 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – rain or shine – at Jesup Blair Local Park and Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring. The festival will feature educational, entertaining and family-friendly activities, exhibits and workshops suitable for all ages.

Interactive activities for kids and young people at the festival include:

• Rope-assisted tree climbing 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 education students will facilitate a learning activity after screenings of the “Loop Scoop” series, helping children to think about the impact 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, etc.
• 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 — this special event provides an opportunity for us to show people the many ways the department is working to protect and preserve our most treasured resource – the environment. From streams and creeks to 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 invite 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.

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, visit montgomerycountygreenfest.org/directions.