If you’re a Green Child reader in the Windy City, mark your calendar for America’s largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event, returning to Chicago on October 24-26. And we’re offering a special 50% discount on tickets with code GREENCHILD14.
Now in its 9th year in Chicago, Green Festival is attended by more than 25,000 area attendees. At the festival, Chicagoans will have an opportunity to learn from innovative green brands, national and local businesses, and pioneering thinkers about how to live healthier, more sustainable lives – and experience the latest in sustainability and green living. Green Festival Chicago will be held at the Navy Pier Hall A.
With more than 200 sponsors and exhibitors participating, Green Festival Chicago will include products and services from categories like food, sustainable beer and wine, fashion, pets, kids, yoga and health, to energy, home construction and design. Festival attendees can taste organic, vegan/vegetarian foods, take part in hands-on cooking and fitness demos, educational activities and learn from inspirational speakers. For the first time, in addition to consumer attendees, the Green Festival will also be open on Friday for businesses, companies, retailers, wholesale buyers and professionals in the sustainability field.
Green Festival Chicago will feature unique stages and pavilions for people of all ages including:
- Sustainable Beer and Wine Garden;
- Yoga Pavilion, featuring free yoga instruction and classes;
- Family Fun Stage with interactive and educational activities for young eco-warriors;
- Vegan/Vegetarian Food Court, featuring local artisanal cuisine; and
- The Lifestyle Stage, featuring experts on the green business and technology sector and a special section focusing on how neighborhoods in Chicago are finding their own way to promote green living.
Green Festival’s three-day event will also include talks and workshops with pioneering and innovative leaders in the sustainability and green living community, such as:
- Cassie Carroll, Illinois Green Business Association Executive Director
- John Leary, Executive Director of Trees for the Future
- Katherine Bissell Cordova, Executive Director of Chicago Fair Trade
- Kevin Danaher, Co-Founder of Global Exchange
- Leslie Durso, Vegan Chef, Appeared on The Food Network, Discovery Channel
- Lisa Lubin, Three-time Emmy Winning Producer and Travel Expert
- Sylvia Washington, Founder and Executive Director for Sustainability at Green Buddha Life Sustainability Center
Green Festival will introduce the Green Festival-Saves-Lives Campaign and the following new 2014 awards, which will be given away at Green Festival Chicago:
- The Green Festival-Saves-Lives Campaign –Green Festival is providing opportunities for people to adopt homeless pets onsite at Green Festival events around the country.
- The Green Festival Community Award – This award will provide $5,000 to a deserving regional non-profit for its sustainability-focused project aimed at improving the local community. The call for applications will close on October 13.
- The Green Festival Brand Award – This award will honor Green Festival exhibitors that are making a significant impact on the lives of consumers and the planet. Consumers can vote for their favorite brand online until October 23.
- The Super Green Shopper Prize – In addition, consumers who vote for their favorite green brands in each city are eligible for the chance to win the Super Green Shopper Prize, a gift basket of premium green products donated by exhibitors at Green Festival.
Green Festival kicks off on Friday, October 24 and doors open at 12 p.m. until 6.p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the Green Festival opens at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Ave., Festival Hall A. The East and West indoor parking garages are located on Navy Pier and are accessible from Illinois Street and Lake Shore Drive. Tickets purchased online are $10 for a one-day admission or $15 at the gate. There is also a 50% discount on day passes for groups of 10 or more. Children aged 16 years and under and attendees arriving by bicycle are granted free admission. Discounts are also available at the gate for seniors, students and veterans. All tickets provide access to exhibit floor, workshops, speakers and films.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://greenfestivals.org/chi/admission.
As the show will take place the weekend before Halloween, Green Festival attendees are invited to celebrate HalloGreen with exhibitors. Families in costume will receive free entry to Green Festival and kids and adults can safely trick-or-treat and enjoy organic, non-GMO, vegan and vegetarian HalloGreen candy samples in the Family Fun Area.
More information about Green Festival can be found at www.greenfestivals.org. For news and updates, follow Green Festival on Facebook and Twitter @GreenFestival.
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