The annual celebration of Earth Day in Fayette County is around the corner. This year’s event will be held in Tyrone April 17 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Shamrock Park on Senoia Road.

The widely-attended annual event will include educational exhibits and presentations, a green market with eco-friendly products and services, entertainment and special awards for schools and organizations.

Event Coordinator Rawls Whittlesey said educators, mentors and area leaders are needed to participate in learning and community education areas such as solar building, vermiculture, recycling, composting, energy conservation, rain barrel conservation, river clean-up projects and hands-on science.

Educational exhibitors can share their knowledge with the community while making a positive impact in their home county and educating future Fayette generations, Whittlesey said. There will no charge for educational exhibitors affiliated with schools, non-profits or government agencies, she said.

A big part of Earth Day involves kids and the special awards they will receive for creating new uses for non-biodegradable materials and stimulating eco-creativity that relates to growing green in Fayette County, said Whittlesey. Organizers expect to have final entries on display at the event.

Eco-friendly businesses are also encouraged to get in on the act. Those include organic foods, fair trade products, natural health and beauty, energy conservation, recycled products, natural pet products, green building products and eco-fashion and art. The cost for vendors is $30 per exhibit space.

Earth Day organizers are also looking for dancers, bands, food and beverage vendors, water sponsors, games and eco-crafts, lifestyle demonstrators and face painters.

Sponsorship is a specific need of this year’s Earth Day event. Whittlesey said becoming a sponsor promotes a countywide effort to educate and entertain residents on matters relating to the environment while promoting the sponsor’s business. Sponsorships will be available on three levels, ranging from $5-300, $301-500 and $501 and up.

Tyrone is hosting Earth Day 2010. Sponsors include Fayette County and all its municipalities. The event is being coordinated by the Environmental Institute of Georgia.

For more information on Earth Day activities, exhibits, presentations and sponsorships call Rawls Whittlesey at 678-848-3319, email her at info@fayettecountyearthday.org or visit www.fayettecountyearthday.org .

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