Celebrate Mother Earth, support local economy

Mom Earth will appreciate your visit, and so will local businesses on Sat., April 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the town of Haymarket holds its fourth annual Earth Day Family Festival. The event will take place on Washington Street and down Old Carolina and Costello ways.

"This is a once-a-year event where the whole community gets together, turns green and has fun doing it," said Charlie Mills, President of the Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary Club, which is co-sponsoring the event.

"It's our opportunity to reinforce to children what being green means to them, the community and the world, while having fun at the same time."

The celebration marks a collaboration between the Dominion Woman's Club, the Rotary Community Corp, Battlefield High School's Interact Club, the Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary Club, the Town of Haymarket and event sponsors and vendors.

"The spirit of community and environmental awareness is strong here in the Haymarket-Gainesville area," said Marilyn Karp, event co-coordinator.

Stephanie Sturges, president of the Dominion Woman's Club, said, "This is a wonderful example of community organizations and businesses working together towards a common interest."

The Haymarket Woman's Club will help visitors start the day on a full stomach with a country breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. at 15000 Washington Street.

"We love to participate in Earth Day each year by serving breakfast as a fundraiser for our club's projects," said the club president, Linda Marlow.

Children can enjoy a train ride, moon bounce and face painting. Chalk artistry, crafts, games, a treasure hunt and an activity corner will add to the fun.

Children can also join a parade at 10 a.m. to show off their versions of green transportation such as bikes, scooters, wagons, skateboards and roller blades. Or, anyone can take a walk down Washington Street, even with pets.

For the grownups, there will be golf lessons, crafts vendors and green product demonstrations. A knit-a-thon will be held in front of Needles in The Haymarket on Washington Street. Poetry readings and energy talks will take place in the Haymarket Museum.

Paper shredding will be available in the parking lot of Fauquier Bank, electronics and bike recycling across from Costello Way.

Town beautification volunteers will help clean up sections of Haymarket, particularly along U.S. 15.

The Friends of the Gainesville Library will continue their book sale.

Organizations such as Court Appointed Special Advocates, supporting foster children, and Haiti Relief, will collect donations. The Haymarket Woman's Club and the Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary Club will collect non-perishable food items for the Haymarket Food Pantry.

Parking will be available in the lot across from Costello Way, in the lot on Old Carolina and behind the Mason's Lodge on Old Carolina.

For more information on the festival, visit www.haymarketearthday.org.