Friday at the Cherry Festival will be all about the Environment
TRAVERSE CITY -- The National Cherry Festival is usually a colorful event, but this year, green will be standing out more than ever.
Friday, July 10th, is DTE Green Day, which will highlight renewable energy, recycling, water conservation and everything green in between.
Event organizer and "Up North Green Guy," Ric Evans, says this year’s DTE Green Day is more extensive than last year’s Environmental day and incorporates many local vendors, companies, and environmental groups.
Three sections of the open space will be dedicated to booths with hands-on demonstrations, information about everything green, and kids’ activities. Visitors will be able to check out working wind generators and solar panels.
Northwestern Michigan College’s mobile solar classroom will be on hand, not just as a learning tool, but as a power source for a series of concerts. The trailer’s solar panels will keep the music playing throughout the day.
Evans says the green efforts at the Cherry Festival extend beyond the one day event. Recycling has tripled since last year so festival goers will likely notice recycling bins throughout the open space. “The standards have been set pretty high this year and Festival organizers are hoping to recycle a huge amount of waste,” says Evans.
Eating a slice of cherry pie or having a sip of pop this year will also be more environmentally friendly than in years past. Most of the utensils, plates, and cups used at the Festival are made from a biodegradable, corn-based plastic.
