(Posted April 18, 2005)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Conservation Club is staging an Earth and Folk Festival featuring music, food, activities for children and adults, and educational information booths from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 23 on Founders Hall Lawn on the Juniata campus.

The event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the lounge of Tussey-Terrace residence hall.

"We began this tradition two years ago with an Earth day celebration event and decided to try a festival format last year," says Lauren Forster, Conservation Club president and a junior from Camp Hill, Pa. "We hope to sponsor understanding of environmentally friendly ways of life with the Huntingdon and campus communities."

Among the music performers are Larry Mutti, professor of geology and folk musician who plays Celtic and other folk music with a band comprised of family members, and Juniata students Brittany Barbera, a junior from Bethlehem, and Lisa Detweiler, a sophomore from Berwyn, a duo that performs country and folk music.

The Conservation Club also has organized activities throughout the day, including free yoga lessons, henna tattoos, a solar cooking demonstration, papermaking, face painting and a story-reading area. The Juniata Geology Club will also be selling refreshments and offering tie-dye demonstrations

Several state agencies and other organizations will be on hand to answer questions and hand out educational information, including Pennsylvania Cleanways, the Juniata Clean Water Partnership and several local organic farms.

"We are trying to help people be more aware of local organizations with environmentally friendly practices," Forster says. "An Earth Festival celebration is the best way to get the community involved."

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.