(COOPERSTOWN)—Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking sponsors, vendors and exhibitors for the 14th annual Earth Festival, event organizers said.
Established in 2005, Earth Festival is an environmentally-focused, interactive event featuring exhibits, activities and vendors. This year’s theme is Reduce, ReUse Recycle, and will take place onSaturday, April 21 at Milford Central School, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Earth Festival is an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and organizations, and to promote your environmentally-friendly products, services, and practices to an ever-growing audience,” said Leslie Orzetti, OCCA’s executive director.
Contributions and sponsors are being sought to help defray the costs of the event, which includes table and chair rentals, facility fees, promotion and advertising, and charges for the event’s popular recycling programs. Sponsors will receive recognition on Earth Festival promotional materials, Orzetti said.
In addition to sponsorships, Orzetti said registration is now open for vendors and exhibitors interested in attending the event. Each vendor and exhibitor will have an eight-foot table for their display.
“The event attracts over eight hundred people each year,” Orzetti said. “We look forward to seeing the outpouring of support from the community to rally around the conservation of natural resources.”
The vendor and information fair takes place in the school gym, while special workshops and activities occur throughout the building. New this year is a clothing swap, to help people find new homes for unwanted but good condition clothes. Returning activities include a morning bird walk led by members of the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society; Spring Garden Day, a special program of the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie Otsego Counties; the Eco-Art/Trendy Trash exhibit and competition; and special recycling opportunities, including paper shredding.
Returning for the second year is Earth Festival movie night, sponsored by Otsego 2000. Held on Friday, April 20, this year’s film will be “Landfill Harmonic.” The award winning documentary follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan musical group that plays instruments made out of items scavenged from the local landfill.
“This is an inspiring film. I’m thrilled we’ll be able to share it with the public,” Orzetti said.
Sponsorships are being accepted through April 13. For information on how to get involved, either as a sponsor or vendor/exhibitor, contact Orzetti at (607) 547-4488, or visit occainfo.org/earth-festival/.
Founded in 1968, OCCA is a private, non-profit membership group dedicated to promoting the appreciation and sustainable use of Otsego County’s natural resources through education, advocacy, resource management, research, planning and practice. For more information on OCCA, or to donate, visit www.occainfo.org.
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