Penn State Shenango prepares Earth Day event

Staff report

Sharon, Pa.

Penn State Shenango will celebrate Earth Fest on April 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the campus in downtown Sharon. The free event will include live music and entertainment, educational presentations, children’s activities, a local artists market, Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream, and information from sustainability-minded local organizations and businesses. Food and coffee from Haitian Sensation, The Bluegrass Kitchen and AVI will be available to purchase.

There will be entertainment all afternoon beginning at 11 a.m. in the Great Hall with a community drum circle. All are welcome, and drums will be provided, or, you can bring your own. At noon, local news editor Joe Wiercinski will give an educational presentation on identifying edible wild plants titled “Can I Eat That? I Found It In the Woods.”

Songwriter/puppeteer Christopher Rowlands will perform at 1:15 p.m., blending music, dance and comedy to teach children about animals and their habitats. The Greenville High School Steel Drum Band will bring its Caribbean-flavored music to the Great Hall stage at 2:45 p.m.

A variety of activities for children and family members of all ages include science- related activities from the Oh Wow! children’s science center; Shenango River-themed crafts and educational activities in the Habitat Room, courtesy of the Shenango River Watchers, the Hermitage Schools Green Team, and Penn State Shenango’s science department; face painting by First Presbyterian Church of Sharon; and a take-home seed planting activity with the Penn State Shenango Agriculture Club.

Other activities available throughout the day include an eco-friendly local artists market and information tables from environmentally conscious local businesses and organizations. New this year, there will be an exhibition of upcycled artwork created by local elementary school students on the second floor of Lecture Hall.