The Aurora GreenFest is celebrating its ninth annual festival on Saturday, Sept. 22, with three new fun events this year: a live art exhibit, the Illinois Solar Tour, and goat yoga!

“Every year a reporter will ask me, ‘What’s new at the GreenFest this year?’ This year we have three great answers,” said Mavis Bates, festival founder and organizer. “These new attractions will help increase the community’s awareness about sustainability and saving our environment. The recycled art exhibit and Solar Tour open house provide some ways people can start making a change right at home.”

The 2018 Aurora GreenFest will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22,at Prisco Community Center and McCullough Park at 150 W. Illinois Ave. in Aurora.

The Aurora GreenFest is a free event for the whole family.

Upcycling Old Windows into Art

This year, the GreenFest will have an exciting addition with Window Works hosting on-site demonstrations of painting on old windows.

“We want to bring awareness to the recycling and reuse of old or unused home remodeling materials,” Bates said.

Window Works is recycling the windows into pieces of artwork by local artists to be sold at the fest after judging takes place at 3:30 p.m. for Best of Show.

Artists are asked to contact event organizers early to reserve your space and opportunity to paint. Demonstrations begin at 10 a.m. and continue to 3 p.m. Call Sue Klein at 630-464-3863 for more information.

Illinois Solar Tour

The GreenFest will once again be host to the Illinois Solar Energy Association’s Solar House.

This dollhouse-sized house is decked out with photovoltaic solar panels that produce real electricity!

The Illinois Solar Tour has put us on their Solar Tour map for the day. Ambassadors from ISEA will be on hand to answer questions on how to harness the power of the sun to fuel your home and business.

The tour creates an opportunity for participants to gain valuable insight on the costs, processes, and economic and environmental benefits of going solar.

Officials say Illinois is on the verge of a solar energy boom thanks to the implementation of new legislation.

Goat Yoga

“We love to connect people with nature,” Bates said. “That’s one way to encourage our visitors to protect our planet Earth.”

One of the newest ways to connect with nature is with goat yoga. Yes, that means doing yoga with goats.

OsweGoat Yoga will be at the GreenFest from noon to 2 p.m. with sessions every 15 minutes. Come early to sign up and to pet the goats for a joyful, fun experience. 

For more information, please visit www.AuroraGreenFest.com.

SOURCE: GreenFest news release