By Ella Kozlowski
Outgoing Features Editor
On April 26, Chestertown hosted its annual Earth Day Festival, which featured music, interactive stalls, stickers, and so much more. The Earth Day event happened the weekend after the official Earth Day on April 22. The event has plenty to do with many shops open and a variety of activities for anyone.
Close to Nearly New there was a collection of electric vehicles parked to allow visitors to sit in the high-tech cars and ask questions to the owners, who were standing nearby. The event also included a variety of musicians performing with many still meandering through the stalls or the farmers market before and after their performance.
One such performer even had a stall of her own selling pottery. Her name is Laurel Dispenza, and she set up near the stage so she could go back to selling ceramics once she finished performing. She was selling a wide variety of pottery and made it clear that all her pieces are not meant to just be admired but used every day. From small mugs that act as shot glasses, to planters, she had a wide variety to offer. She was thrilled to be a part of the Earth Day Festival and shared her art along with support of the environment.
“[The festival] is great; my brother and I performed earlier today. It is an honor to be a part of it. Everyone is bringing great energy, and it cool to see the community come together for the sake of the earth and hopefully encourage more to value it,” Dispenza said.
Dispenza is only one of a few art stalls at the festival, but the majority were for educational purposes. Environmental groups from across Maryland came together to give knowledge to young children and adults alike. Unity Churchill Nursery raffled off planting trays that had native species in them. Representative Joan Stirling sold plants to contractors, landscape designers, and others wanting a more native approach to landscaping.
“We try to keep everything native as much as possible with everything grown as organically as possible. Meeting people and being a part of a community even while strengthening partnerships is the best part of the festival,” Stirling said.
The festival was jam-packed with many other stalls, including some from our own campus such as the Center of Environment and Society and the Compost Club. Other stands had live animals for people to hold and stickers and temporary tattoos that allowed everyone to walk away with at least a little memento. The focus was on spreading awareness to the larger community of the Eastern Shore.
There were also representatives from larger communities, such as Annapolis, that had toys for children to take and play with. Maryland Environmental Service runs the recycling system out on the Eastern Shore. Representative Kristen Shavatt handed out foam toy garbage and recycling trucks, which were mainly wiped clean by children at the end of the festival.
“Being out here in such a small town is nice since I am from across the bridge. It is beautiful out here and I am doing a source reduction survey while here,” Shavatt said.
Earth Day is not only a love for the Earth as a whole, but for the environment in local communities as well. Anything can connect art and nature, and everyone has a part to play to aid the environment. The festival is set to continue around Earth Day next year so be sure to stop by on the way to the farmer’s market.
Photo courtesy of Chestertown Environment.
Photo Caption: Many clubs on campus partake in the Earth Day Festival such as the Compost Club.