By: Claire Tribble
Spring has sprung! We are getting ready to be busier than ever as we enter April. We have cleanups planned, the Earth Day Expo, Casino Night, and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection coming up. We are excited (and tired) just thinking about the 2025 Earth Day Expo! The Earth Day Expo is our favorite event every year, and we are excited for the new things in store for this year. While we work hard on this event, it would never be possible without the amazing sponsors that make this event happen. Athens State University is such an amazing sponsor, and they work as hard as we do to bring this fun, free event to Athens every year.
This year, we will be adding an art show to the Earth Day Expo! TBAKI of Athens is sponsoring an art contest for all Limestone County students. “Trees Root Our Community” is the theme, and all mediums are accepted. So grab a paintbrush, pencil, clay, or anything else you can think of and get busy! The K-5 prizes are a bicycle, a hoverboard, and a 3-D pen. The 6th-8th prizes are a microscope, an art set, and a bicycle. The 9th-12th prizes are a telescope, a Polaroid camera, and an art set. All entries are due at the KALB office on April 18 at 4 pm. Entries will be judged by TBAKI and announced at noon at the Earth Day Expo. All works will be displayed during the Expo as well. TBAKI isn’t stopping there, they will also be giving away FREE native tree seedlings!
Thanks to Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, we will have Steve Trash, Rockin’ Eco Hero again! Steve Trash’s show is a favorite of so many kids. His magic and music make learning fun, and kids love his interactive shows. We will have two different performances, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It’s always exciting to watch the kids when they see their favorite TV star in person! He truly makes learning fun and exciting!
Thanks to the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, we will have the Science Guys back! We will have two different booths, Catapults and Optical Illusions. At the Catapult booth, kids will learn the science behind the catapult and be able to make their own to take home. They will even get to have a try at the MEGA Catapult! At the Optical Illusions booth, kids will have a chance to learn how their brains are tricked through colors and patterns. The Science Guys are a hit every year, and we are excited to try out their new booths. Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is also sponsoring Beth Haney Face Painting — and we all know her beautiful designs!
Rise Raptors will be back again with their beautiful raptors. They will also have two shows, a morning and an afternoon show. Come learn about these majestic birds they will have on display. They are a rehabilitation facility for injured birds, so while they won’t fly, you can admire their beauty and learn how to help keep them safe. The Athens State Biology Department will also be there with their snakes, turtles, and other native amphibians. And they will be giving Tree Tours of the beautiful and historic trees around the Athens State Campus.
This year, we will have a Recycling Corner to help answer any questions you may have about recycling in Limestone County. Harmon Scrap Metal, Indorama, Phoenix Glass Recycling, Limestone County Recycling, and a Household Hazardous Waste expert will all be there to answer questions and get you on track to better recycling!
We also have an amazing vendor lineup. We have a little bit of everything from art to honey to flowers, we have something for everyone! BluBailes Farms, Lucas Ferry Flower Farm, Treetop Terrariums, Katie’s Creations, Greenehouse Candles, Green Books, Positive Vibrations (Alabama Rockhound), just to name a few! We will also have the Limestone County Master Gardeners on site to answer your plant and flower questions. And we can’t forget the Lion’s Club train will be back!
Don’t miss this amazing event! It’s fun, it’s free and we have something for everyone! From information to crafts to products, you’ll find something that interests you and your family. We even have a Guided Nature Walk with TVA’s Damien Simbeck at Marbut’s Bend that morning to kick off the day. You don’t want to miss any of this, or any of the other things that I didn’t have the space to write about! Join us on April 26 at 10 a.m. to get the party started!
By: Claire Tribble – Executive Director, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful
April 18, 2025
