July 18-20 — TINMOUTH — This summer, on July 18, 19 and 20, SolarFest will celebrate its twentieth year with three days of inspirational workshops on a variety of sustainability focused topics, creative performances and music across two stages powered entirely with renewable energy, and more than 60 exhibitors, craft and fantastic food vendors.
SolarFest is an ideal event for anyone interested in sustainability, or looking to attend a family-friendly festival this summer. Over its twenty years, it has several times been voted as a Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Event, and this year it garnered the Editors’ Choice from Yankee Magazine as one of New England’s top events.
SolarFest will host over eighty workshops on renewable energy, green building, sustainable living, and agricultural topics, and for the second year it will also be holding a Mini Maker Faire® as part of the festival. SolarFest is also inviting professional installers and homeowners to compete in its racking challenge, for the seriously solar.
Festival partners include the Wonderfeet Kid’s Museum of Rutland, which promises to add excitement to the festival’s children-focused programming. Other partners, including the Green Mountain College Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production Division, Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Vermont (NOFA), 350.org, and Transition Town, will bring in-depth, informative, hands-on and fun workshops to attendees.
Since its inception in 1995, SolarFest has promoted sustainability and the arts, and built a tremendous community concerned about what it terms “thriving locally.” Managing Director Patty Kenyon says, “Over the years, I have seen SolarFest be a true inspiration to many of its attendees. In a world where more and more people are witnessing the real effects on our communities from climate change, SolarFest is more relevant than ever. We give people access to skills and information necessary to thrive in our world’s future, and we do so in a positive and encouraging way.”
SolarFest is hosted by Forget-Me-Not Farm, which is itself powered by a grid-intertied solar system and GMP’s Cowpower.
For more info, including tickets and a full schedule of events, visit www.solarfest.org.
