KINGSTON EARTH DAY Schedule of Events
SATURDAY, APRIL 21
EcoFest
11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stillwaters Environmental Center, 26059 Barber Cut Off Road
Kingston Farmers’ Market
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mike Wallace Park at the Port of Kingston Marina
Art Walk
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Various businesses throughout town
Kingston Friends of the Library Book Sale
Upstairs in the Kingston Community Center 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parking for all events is available downtown, at the marina, Gordon Elementary School and Bayside Community Church. Shuttle vans will pick up at these locations and provide transportation to all events.
Kingston makes Earth Day a celebration
With the habitat of polar bears decreasing at an alarming rate, traffic and gas prices increasing and the global climate changing at an exponential rate, North End residents will celebrate Earth Day a day early on April 21 by learning more about how to be good stewards of the planet and buying locally – all while having a great time with friends and neighbors.
After one of the wildest winters on record, there’s not a better time to shake off the gray sky, cabin fever doldrums and soak up community spirit and great music, buy some organic veggies and fresh-cut flowers, feast on the flavors of spring and take a walk around town to drop in at local businesses for an eyeful of art.
Everyone is invited to the annual Kingston Celebrates Earth Day festivities April 21. The community-wide event, inspired by Stillwaters Environmental Center’s EcoFest, also includes opening day at the Kingston Farmers’ Market, an Art Walk through downtown Kingston and the Kingston Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale.
Entry to all events is free and courtesy shuttle vans will provide rides to all events from designated parking areas at Richard Gordon Elementary, Bayside Community Church, the Port of Kingston and Kingston Community Center.
EcoFest
Stillwaters Environmental Education Center’s EcoFest, Kingston’s Earth Day ecology celebration, takes place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stillwaters is located at 26059 Barber Cut Off Road.
Great entertainment, resource booths and tasty food will be offered all day. This free community event features eclectic music and entertainment, and a huge selection of vendors and displays with all kinds of environmental education and eco-friendly products. This year, Spanish translators will also be available for assistance.
EcoFest is all about getting educated and connected to others who are working to make the earth a healthier place for everyone.
There is plenty of fun lined up for children, too, including crafts, water and nature activities and games. There will not be a eco-parade this year, but kids can enjoy exploring the pond and trails throughout the grounds.
Delicious food will be served up by J’aimes Les Crepes and Kingston Rotary Soup & Such, and other munchies will be available.
Shuttles will take festival-goers to Stillwaters from downtown, the Kingston Farmers’ Market, Gordon Elementary School or Bayside Church, where there is plenty of parking available.
Because Stillwaters is a wildlife reserve, dogs and other pets are not allowed.
Entertainment highlights on stage include:
• 11:30 a.m., Fiddle Tunes by
Nick & Hank Veenstra
• 12:30 p.m., Carpenter Creek
Chorus, the popular version of
the Indianola Choir
• 1:30 pm., Stillwaters’ Frog
Chorus, a nature drama troupe
performing children’s stories
• 2 p.m., Native American
drumming and storytelling led
by Tim Iisetowanohpatakiiwa
and his group The Gophers with
audience participation
Over 35 EcoFest resource booths and displays will cover topics pertinent to everyday “green” living for the environment. Here are a few of the offerings:
• Hybrid and biodiesel cars, plus
the amazing “Smart Car”
• Kingston’s own Olympic
Biofuel with the latest
information on alternative fuels
• Earthwise Media shares some
of its nature video productions
• Other local eco-friendly and
sustainable businesses also on
hand will include Olympic
Printer Resources, Grounds for
Change, Sensaria, Absolutely
Organic Clothing, Yes!
Magazine, Natural Floors and
more
• “Step It Up,” a climate change
organization
• Kitsap Public Utility District
with rain barrels for sale
• Kitsap Health District on the
care of septic tanks and details
on EnviroStars, stream teams
and water quality
• Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
& Puget Sound Action Team
• Lifeforms Farms and Kingston
Farmers’ Market with
information on how to eat
organic
• Master Gardeners can answer
questions and offer ways to
garden naturally
• Kitsap Public Works with litter
clean up support and directions
on how to deal with hazardous
waste
• National Wildlife Federation
& Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary
Program
• The Wild Bird store and Kitsap
Audubon for bird lovers
• Suquamish Tribal Fisheries
bring an aquarium with
Carpenter Creek fish
Citizen groups participating that support the environment include Common Threads, Friends of Miller Bay, Huxley College of the Environment, Olympic College, Great Peninsula Conservancy, Poulsbo Fish Park, Kingston Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee and Kingston Rotary.
For more information on EcoFest, contact Naomi Maasberg at (360) 297-2876 or info@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org., or go to www.stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org.
Kingston Farmers’ Market
The Kingston Farmers’ Market celebrates opening day of its 18th season from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Mike Wallace Park at the Port of Kingston marina.
Vendors will offer fresh, local fruits and vegetables, exotic and household plants, rhodies, trees, vegetable starts, garden art, baked goods, jam, honey, and freshly-prepared coffee and food that can be enjoyed at the picnic tables in the park.
Locust Street Taxi, a band of young guys will bring funny, upbeat, high energy “horn-happy rock and improv comedy” to the market.
Local artisans bring hand-made arts and crafts and WSU Master Gardeners will answer questions and provide information.
Kids will get a chance to plant their own seeds at the market booth.
The Kingston Farmers’ Market runs 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, April 22 through Oct. 13. Live music provided by talented local musicians and special events take place weekly.
The Hansville Market gets underway 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, May 2 through Sept. 26. For more information on the farmers’ market, becoming a vendor or other special events planned this year, go to www.kingstonfarmersmarket.com or e-mail kingstonfarm@earthlink.net.
Art Walk
Kingston Revitalization Association of the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce once again invites the community to come downtown for an Art Walk. Businesses and galleries will have artwork exhibited to celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21.
Art Walk locations are Earth Dance Pottery, Kingston Art Gallery (open until 6 p.m.), Coffee Exchange, Prudential Real Estate (in the old Kingston Hotel), Kingston Quilt Shop and Kingston Naturals.
At the Kingston Art Gallery, illustrator Ed Weston will share his tools and design with those who want to try drawing. For more information call (360) 297-5133 or go to www.kingstonartgallery.com.
Kingston Friends
of the Library
Book Sale
The Kingston Friends of the Library host the spring book sale upstairs in the Kingston Community Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 21. A members-only preview sale begins at 9 a.m. Membership is available at the door for $5.
Donations of books, tapes, CDs and videos are still needed and can be dropped off at the library during business hours.
