Local Scoop
The 10th Annual Greenfest Philly Returns with Eco Fun – Edible Bugs, Sustainably Brewed Beer Garden and over 20 Food Vendors
Clean Air Council’s 10th Annual Greenfest Philly returns to Headhouse Square (2nd and South Streets) on Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The tri-state region’s largest environmental festival is bigger than ever with live music, free demos, an outdoor beer garden, organic food and drinks, handmade and green shopping, MOM’s Organic Market Kids’ Corner, a twenty-five foot rock wall, and even edible bugs. Admission is free. Festival “Green Cards” are also on sale at www.greenfestphilly.org for $35 that includes food and drink discounts, a free t-shirt, and eco-friendly swag. For more information, visit the website, call 215-567-4004, and follow @greenfestphilly on Twitter.
Now in its tenth year, this popular event will provide a unique opportunity for 10,000-20,000 attendees to learn how to live life a little greener and healthier. Festivities will include live music from popular local bands, MOM’s Organic Market kid’s corner with eco-friendly crafts and music, organic food and drinks, a beer garden, handmade goods, innovative green businesses and products, a celebration of local sustainability innovators, ways to take action for clean air, and much more. Alongside that fun, 150+ sponsors, local businesses, supporters and vendors will help transform Headhouse Square into a festive, fun and educational outdoor marketplace.
Sample delicious, healthy, local and organic food from popular food trucks and local eateries – plus enjoy free giveaways and some edible bug surprises.
* Enjoy a tasty surprise as you sample edible bugs from Bug Yum including crickets on crackers and chocolate brownies made with flour made from ground bugs.* Healthy Snacks from MOM’s Organic Market – Kids and parents are welcome to stop by MOM’s Organic Market’s booth for free samples and healthy snacks.
ECO FRIENDLY FOOD TRUCKS AND OPTIONS
* Farm Truck was built around knowing what is in your food and where it comes from. All produce comes from local farms, all bread from a local bakery, and the coffee is organic, fairly traded and locally roasted.* Kung Fu Hoagies is an all vegetarian and vegan friendly food cart serving South and West Philadelphia. Hoagies, noodles and sides creatively inspired by traditional vegetarian Vietnamese food, served by friendly local Kung Fu addicts.
* Little Baby’s is a hand-made, small-batch, super-premium Ice Cream and non-dairy frozen dessert company based in East Kensington, Philadelphia.
* Lil’ Pop Shop’s unique ice pops are hand-crafted in small batches from a seasonal assortment of fresh, natural, locally-sourced ingredients. No neon or artificial ingredients or dyes are ever used in their ice pops.
* Local 215 is committed to sourcing as many ingredients locally as possible while still providing you with high quality affordable food options year round. It is their mission to extend only the freshest, most natural and unprocessed foods to their customers. Buying from local farmers not only makes their dishes delicious; it also supports our neighbors’ livelihoods.
* Mompops makes vegan, allergen friendly ice-pops that are gluten free, nut free, dairy free and low calorie.
* Soy Cafe is hand crafted vegan baked goods, including cupcakes, donuts, cookies and whoopie pies.
* Weckerly’s is Philadelphia’s Micro-Creamery specializing in local seasonal flavors and transcendent ice cream sandwiches.
* What’s In This specializes in empanadas, pierogies, and other tasty dumpling goodness using local sourcing.
Other vendors for the eco-foodie will include:
* Anita’s Guacamole – Guacamole that is all natural and gluten free with no preservatives.
* Baba’s Brew – Kombuchaw made using local seasonal produce.
* Bill’s Best Organic BBQ Sauces – Sauces made with natural and USDA certified organic ingredients that are gluten free with no high fructose corn syrup or soy.
* Cherry Grove Farm – Diversified, sustainable farm located on 480 acres of woodland, wetland and certified organic pasture in Lawrenceville, New Jersey that uses grass-based dairy to make award-winning farmstead cheeses.
* Follow Your Heart – Vegan cheese and vegenaise.
* Inspired Brews – Kombucha made with fruit/herbs/spices from local farms.
* Mamma Chia – Chia Squeezes and Chia vitality beverages
* Philly Homebrew Outlet – We sell supplies and teach the everlasting art of brewing beer, making wine, and making cheese.
* Spruce Hill Preserves – Small batch and sustainable fruit spread company that locally grows and sources from Beechwood Orchards in Biglerville, PA and Taproot Farms.
* Twisted Tail – Headhouse restaurant to serve local and seasonal food (and drinks) in extended outdoor cafe space
BEER GARDEN
BRU Craft & Wurst and U-Bahn will be providing the beer for the Greenfest Philly Sustainably Brewed Beer Garden with selections from Philadelphia Brewing Company.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
* Kinetic Sculpture – The Climate & Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP) at The Franklin Institute fabricated this unique performance art-piece using an old surrey-style bicycle. Four pilots provide
the power to the undulating umbrella choreography. Eighteen royal blue umbrellas open and close in concert.* Outdoor yoga with DIG Yoga by Alison Mungan from 10:00am to 11:00am at 2nd and South streets stage.
* Shop for eco-friendly fashion, beauty, and home goods – including Soapbox Holistic soaps and Glad Dog Nation recycled dog toys.
* Purchase one of a kind handmade art and crafts from eco-artisans such as Beaucycled upcycled jewelry and accessories, EcoJarz make and sell reusable containers to replace disposable plastic bottles and to-go cups, Little Chair Printing screen printing shop on a bicycle.
* Delaware Valley BMW Centers will offer test drives of the all-electric BMW i3. With its sustainable design and undeniable BMW agility, here’s an EV that’s bound to change the way you think about driving. Using extremely strong yet lightweight Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) as its foundation, this vehicle is as innovative as the technology and renewable materials it’s built with. Test drives of the ActiveHybrid 3 and ActiveHybrid 5 will also be available for guests. Visit www.bmwdelawarevalley.
* Win exciting prizes like a Trek bike from Philadelphia Insurance Companies to make commuting greener AND more fun.
* Become educated and take action on critical environmental issues from leading advocacy groups.
* Leave your ‘wheels’ with the complimentary bike valet courtesy of Philadelphia Insurance Companies.
* Unlimited bike parking for those taking Indego bike share to the Festival.
* Clean out your closets and bring your clothing, accessories, toys, books and more to the Philly Swap at Greenfest Philly. Bring gently used clothing, toys and books for free entry into the swap area, or make a $5 donation (includes a free Philly Swap bag). Upon entry in the swap, you are free to roam and take what you’d like. Philly AIDS Thrift is donating the starting items for the swap, and will also be on hand with items from their retail space.
* Enjoy a rest and recharge station with refurbished chairs and furniture, free iced tea from Runa, free iced coffee from Joe Coffee and solar powered chargers.
* Pamper yourself with chair massage and natural organic treatments from Eviama Life Green Spa and Boutique, the region’s green designed and operated all natural spa in the city.
FAMILY FUN
IN MOM’S Organic Market Kids’ Corner
* Recycling and Trash Dash game for free prizes for children and their parents. It’s important to recycle but how do you know which items are considered trash, compost, or recyclable? Play the SCA Trash Dash and race against the clock to sort your waste into the correct bins. Win prizes for showing your mad recycling skills!* Rock Climb from 10:00am to 4:00pm – Kids and adults can catch climbing fever and try their hand at scaling a 25 foot rock wall.
* Climate City – CUSP, a network of local organizations who engage the public on climate change issues, will create a special area called Climate City, where visitors can learn about the local impacts of climate change and what they can do about them. The area will feature hands-on activities and resources for visitors young and old to learn how to prepare for a hotter, wetter Philadelphia.
* PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) will feature dogs and cats available for adoption, as well as give away information on volunteering.
LIVE MUSIC
Everyone knows the most sustainable music is grown right in your own backyard. Hitting the GreenFest Philly stage on Sunday, September 13, 2015 11:00am to 4:00pm is Philly’s best emerging bands.
The Lawsuits: Recognized as the City of Brotherly Love’s ‘crown jewel,’ The Lawsuits have secured their place in Philadelphia’s vibrant music scene. With a fearless approach to music, the group doesn’t follow traditional rules of genre, pulling inspiration from blues to reggae, Americana to gospel, to make a sound that is effortless and beautiful.
TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb: TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb are a throwback to the swinging, dancing memories of jump blues and roadhouse rock. Also big band leaders and The Rolling Stones and Tom Waits and Elvis.
Levee Drivers: Levee Drivers’ music embodies the sounds of old country souls being reborn into tomorrow’s rock. Their music is a modern take on the story-telling of Johnny Cash, driven by early country and blues roots with a startling vocal rendition likened to a cross of Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Adams. Levee Drivers embrace an eclectic mix of sound that engages listeners of all ages and across many genres.
Nathan Earl and Rachel Joy: Somewhere sweet between olden gospel-styled harmonies and modern folk song structuring, you’ll hear new Philly-based duo, Nathan Earl and Rachel Joy. Drenched in rich history as childhood church friends, the two quickly found their sound in 2013 through sharing drastically different story lines woven from the same fabric.
SPONSORS
Greenfest Philly is presented by Clean Air Council, with support from MOM’s Organic Market, BMW, Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), Zip Car, My MilkCrate, Green Philly, Amtrak, Aversa PR & Events, Sustainable Business Network, SCA, South Street Headhouse District, ConsolidatedSolar.net, AVRS and Yelp.
ADMISSION
Admission to Greenfest Philly is free. Attendees must be 21 and older to drink. A festival package “Green Card” is available for $35 (valued at over $55) and includes discounts on food and drink, a free Greenfest t-shirt, and other eco-friendly swag. Green Cards are on sale now at www.greenfestphilly.org. For more information visit the website, call call 215-567-4004 (ext. 102) or follow @greenfestphilly on Twitter.
