By: Claire Tribble
It’s finally spring, and spring means it’s time for our favorite event of the year… the Earth Day Expo! This year, since the Carter Gymnasium is under construction, it will be held in the Sandridge Student Center and ballroom located just a little west of the gymnasium at 402 Pryor Street. We’ll be spread out inside and outside, you won’t miss it! Parking will be across the street at the Athens State KARES Library, and the Hobbs Street entry, which is handicapped accessible.
We have a fantastic lineup of shows, exhibits, vendors, and activities. Thanks to Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, we will be able to have two Steve Trash shows in McCandless Hall. We love his shows, and so do the kids! We’ll have Rise Raptors with all their amazing raptors on display. These birds are truly majestic. We even have some new things this year to shake things up a bit. We’ll have Wild Encounter’s Spider Monkeys roaming through the event, and Lash LaRoux, a caricature artist. Lash can draw a portrait in 3-4 minutes, but I would expect there will be a line! Athens State Biology Department will be leading historic tree tours and a scavenger hunt game.
We have a great lineup of vendors as well. Some of our amazing vendors will be returning, such as Lucas Ferry Flower Farm, Positive Vibrations Rocks & Gems, BluBailes Farms, and Greenhouse Candles. Our new vendors include Black Orchid Farm, Moonflower Bizarre, Deeded Oaks Farms, The Vintage Gourd, Make Like a Tree, Beautiful Alabama Honey, the Potter’s Hand, and Limestone County Master Gardeners will be back with Q&A and plants! We are so excited to offer such a varied group of local artists and artisans.
Our Education Station lineup is top tier this year. Damien Simbeck, a local TVA native plant and animal expert, will start off the day with a guided nature walk through Marbut Bend. He will kick off at 7:30 a.m. We’ve added several new stations and added to some of the staples. We have the new Limestone County Beekeepers Club with their awesome 3-D printed hive and bees, Forest Families of North Alabama exhibit, and Forest Bathing – a writing exercise with Wild Alabama. ASU Teach will be there with new games, as well as ASU Biology. North Alabama Zoological Society, Limestone County Recycling, AMSTI, and the Athens-Limestone Beautification Committee will be back. And you won’t miss our kid’s crafts tables – we have so many new crafts this year.
And don’t forget the TBAKI Earth Day Art Contest! It is open to all students within Limestone County. This year, the theme is “You Belong Among the Wildflowers.” So, get creative – we want to see it all! You don’t draw? No problem! Take a picture, sculpt, or make a collage – whatever you want! We have an amazing set of prizes this year; check out our Facebook page to see them all.
We hope to see you on April 25. We’ll be at the doors waiting!
By: Claire Tribble – Executive Director
Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful
