The idea for this Energy Festival came out of the fact that many of our organizers have been to many "green fairs" or "energy fairs" over the years and we have always thought it would be nice to have one locally.
The highlight of other energy fairs has always been thier workshops. There are now enough truly green businesses and contractors in the area to put together a really good slate of local workshops.
This home improvement fair is showcasing local resources (businesses, organizations and networks) that can be used to reduce our dependence on nonrenewable resources.
The theme is to ease your conscience locally by promoting sustainability-focused businesses and organizations.
There will be over forty workshops offered throughout the weekend including sessions on energy efficiency and renewable energy for your home. We hope to save you money, reduce our region’s use of fossil fuels, and boost the local economy.
Workshops cover topics such as renewable energy, organic farming and bio-intensive home gardening, forest issues, conservation, recycling, verma-composting, local foods, bicycle maintenance and repair, geothermal energy, bio-fuels, composting, solar power, straw baling and permaculture, off-grid living and power smart pricing for your home.
In addition to educational workshops and vendor showcases, the weekend will feature speakers, tours of the Green Retreat, music, food, a kid’s tent and a whole lot more! The cost of the event is $7 per day or $10 for the entire weekend if you pre register, otherwise $8 at the gate. Tickets are now available here.
If you are a vendor and would like to showcase your business at this event, registration is available online using the navigation bar on the left side of this page.
We are also trying to go paper free!
This is a car-free event. Parking will be available at the SIU Arena parking lot 56, with a shuttle provided to and from the venue all day. Plenty of bike parking will be available onsite. Several wineries, natural areas and other festivals in the area can round out your day or weekend. Hours will be Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM and Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM.
