GreenDay Comes To Westport!

Dan Woog

12 years ago

Uh, no, not that Green Day.

Still, if we can’t have a 5-Grammy-winning, 75-million-album-selling punk band, we’ve got the next best thing: a 2-day, Staples-student-spearheaded, townwide event celebrating the environment, sustainability and related life-affirming causes.

It aims to counter (obligatory Green Day reference here) “21st Century Breakdown.”

GreenDay replaces EcoFest, the music, food and vendor-filled event. But the renovation of Levitt Pavilion meant EcoFest needed a new home, so the organizers — Staples’ Club Green — gave it a totally new spin.

Staples AP environmental studies teacher and Wakeman Town Farm steward Mike Aitkenhead says, “I’m always overcome by the fact that so many groups are doing amazing innovative work in town — but these groups rarely work together. And so few people outside of these circles know about the incredible work in sustainability that’s happening right here in Westport.”

Rather than a single, localized “festival,” GreenDay (this Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4) highlights innovative work being done all around town. Westporters can pick and choose among many family-oriented, free events.

They include:

Clean up Dead Man’s Brook (Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m.-noon). Park at the Westport Woman’s Club lower lot, 44 Imperial Avenue; wear hiking or rubber boots and work gloves. Sponsor: Westport Parks & Rec Department and Builders Beyond Borders. Click here to sign up.

Tour the water pollution control facility. (Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., 4 Elaine Road). Find out where Westport’s waste water ends up. See the process and technology, in a guided tour. Sponsor: Westport Public Works Department.

Nature walks and pond science. (Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane). Includes crafts and Long Island Sound touch tank. Guided nature walks at 10:30 a.m. and noon; animal encounters at 10 a.m., 11 a.m and 12:30 p.m. Sponsor: Earthplace.

Spring Fun at Wakeman Town Farm. (Saturday, May 3, 134 Cross Highway). 1-2:15 p.m.: farm tours of gardens and animals; square foot garden workshop; help plant vegetable and lower gardens; children’s activities and games. 2:15-2:45 p.m.: sheep shearing, goat grooming and wool spinning demo. 2:45-3:15 p.m.: Greenhouse dedication ceremony. 3:15-4 p.m.: Traditional Maypole dance and drum circle. Sponsor: Wakeman Town Farm.

“Chasing Ice” documentary and panel discussion on climate change. (Sunday, May 4, 4-6 p.m., Town Hall). The story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of our changing planet. Sponsor: Westport Cinema Initiative. Cost: $10 per ticket, available For more information, click here.

Aitkenhead says that many Westporters want to contribute to the town’s environmental movement, but don’t know how.

“Greenday is about letting the entire community learn about and share in the excitement of many different initiatives. It’s a day to take part in the great environmental work that Westporters are doing, and help us all work toward a better, more sustainable future.”

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