On Saturday, April 21, Simpson County will host Southern Kentucky’s only Earth Day Festival in Franklin, Ky. The event, sponsored by the Franklin Rotary, Simpson County Conservation District and Franklin Favorite, hosts various groups, organizations, and businesses joining together to provide information about preserving and protecting our environment. Activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the picturesque square on Main Street in downtown Franklin. It is the perfect setting to enjoy a fun day with family and friends as you find out how you can have a positive impact on the environment by making a few simple changes at home, at work, and in your community. The event will take place rain or shine.
This year, the Cherry Blossom Art & Music Festival and the SOKY Earth Day Festival will join forces for an event that will be a celebration of the senses. Featured this day will be arts, crafts, music (including the Red River Fiddlers and others), plus an environmental element. Vendors will delight you with designs, beautiful music and ideas that will help attendees be more environmentally responsible.
The SOKY Earth Day Festival will begin Saturday morning with the Try Anything Rhino Project Pancake Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m at the Franklin Presbyterian Church Cornerstone building at 201 N. College St. Tickets are $5 and proceeds will benefit the Rhino Project. Habitat for Humanity will als
o be sponsoring the Aluminum Can Challenge Competition. Save your cans at work or home and bring them for the weigh-in at the festival.
The Square-to-Square Ride will also take place at this year’s event. This charity bicycle ride benefits Simpson County Literacy Center, an adult basic education center in Franklin. Routes through Simpson and Logan counties feature beautiful country roads with great pavement and rolling hills. The ride offers
a 62-mile route and a 46-mile “square to square” route between Franklin and Adairville. Shorter 22- and 12-mile routes are also available. Register online for $30 by April 9, or for $40 the day of the ride. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. at the Franklin Courthouse Square in front of Franklin First United Methodist Church, rain or shine. View route maps, get more info, and register at www.square2squareride.com.
The SOKY Earth Day Festival and the Cherry Blossom Art & Music Festival will feature live music, artists doing demonstrations, kids activities, local vendors, and lots of fun. Upon arriving, stop by the Information Booth for your free SOKY Earth Day Festival reusable bag. Vendor donated door prizes will be given away throughout the day.
Clean out the closets, attic, and garage – it is time for spring cleaning! You may want to donate clothes, toys, books or other items that are no longer useful to you. There are those who may be able benefit from your generosity.
Chaney’s Moo Wagon will be on the square ready to sell their newest and most popular Kentucky Proud ice cream flavors. Other food vendors include C&D Concessions and more.
Visit The Gallery on the Square for the say “Yes to the Dress” exhibit. All dresses displayed are made locally and contain 85% recycled materials with only 15% of connectable items. For more information visit www.galleryonthesquare.org
What would an Earth Day celebration be without trees? Look no further than the Simpson County Conservation District booth. They are giving away 700 FREE trees. There are many to choose from, so come take your pick!
Spring is in the air! Therefore, as your thoughts go to spring, they also go to spring planting. Make this year’s garden magical with Fehrle’s Perennials with trees and shrubs offered for sale, or take advantage of the Garden Spot Produce and Little Bent Farms who will have vegetable slips, heirloom seeds and herbs for sale. Little Bent Farms will also offer information on growing vegetables in an environmentally sustainable manner with no synthetic chemicals. F-S Farmer’s Market will be accepting registration for the 2018 Farmer’s Market Loyalty Club. Franklin-Simpson High School will have beautiful plants for sale. We have your entire floral, herb, and veggie garden needs taken care of.
Got alpacas? We do! The Golden Fleece 4-H Club will be there. Julia and Larry Brown, owners of Feathers and Friends, will have their alpacas on sight for petting and observing. They will also be selling dryer balls made by club members, selling natural fertilizer for houseplants and educational information about these earth friendly animals. Locally produced yarn, fiber samples and products will be available.
Shop local in the marketplace! You will find plenty of homegrown produce, healthy living products, and handmade craft items. Shop Little Bent Farms for vegetables, McClain Farms for homemade bread and crafts, The Macedonia Homestead for fresh eggs, Garden Spot Produce for herbs and The Air Plant Patch & the Blooming Tea Batch for air plants and seasonings. Many of the items will be Kentucky Proud certified.
New to the marketplace will be Mabarker’s BowWow Biscuits. Grab some homemade dog treats for that special canine in your life! Handmade items and pet crafts will also be available. Donate to the Simpson County Dog Shelter and receive a pet bandana.
Heartland Chia, producer of the only chia seed grown in the US, will be at this year’s event. So what can chia do for you? Come to the SOKY Earth Day Festival and find out.
Over 20 information booths and exhibitors will provide demonstrations and information on all things green and Earth friendly in Kentucky. Check out Chaney’s Moo Wagon for some KY Proud Ice Cream along with other food vendors. The Franklin Lions Club will be collecting eyeglasses and gently used children’s books. Franklin Elementary will be providing information about Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten Readiness. The Simpson County Extension Homemakers, a strong supporter of the SOKY Earth Day Festival, will be giving away recipes for earth-friendly cleaning products that you can make at home. Visit WRECC’s booth for energy saving tips and renewables. There will be something for everyone at the festival!
Come join the activities on April 21 to learn more about protecting our environment and identify steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.
The local committee planning the activities is a grassroots group organized to promote awareness of environmental topics with activities coordinated by Simpson County Schools, Community Education and the Simpson County Extension Service.
For more information contact Christy Ramey at 270-586-4484 or email chramey@uky.edu.
