Celebrate Sustainable Living Sunday, May 1st at the Wilton Go Green Festival

The 6th annual Wilton Go Green Festival, presented by Ross Solar Group and Emerald Sponsor Gardel Home Improvement, returns on May 1st with an exciting array of exhibits, activities and hand-crafted goods for young and old alike. Wildlife ambassadors, electric cars, children’s activities, delicious food, and more than 80 craftsmen, exhibitors, farmers, and purveyors of handmade goods will gather around the Town Green and Library from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for what promises to be an exciting day of discovery, learning, entertainment, and family fun hosted by Wilton Go Green and the Wilton Library, with support from Emerald Dog Parade Sponsor Blue Buffalo, Gold Sponsor, Nod Hill Soap, Silver Sponsors, Stop&Shop and Realty Seven, and Dog Parade Sponsor South Wilton Veterinary Group.

“This event has become an important feature of Wilton’s intrinsic values and goals,” said Wilton Go Green president Peg Koellmer. “Sustainability is now practiced in all kinds of ways, and WGG helps to make it simple, rewarding and economically viable.”

Festivities begin Sunday morning with the Norwalk River Valley Trail May Day 5K Run. The race begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Wilton Go Green Festival / Wilton Library parking lot, continues through Merwin Meadows Park and onto the Norwalk River Valley Trail. Registration is $25 (proceeds benefit the NRVT) and all runners receive a T-shirt. Awards will be presented at the festival at 11:30 to the top five male and female finishers. Runners must register by April 30th at outdoorsports.com and can pick up their registration packets Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at Outdoor Sports Center in Wilton. And don’t forget to bring your old sneaks to be recycled at the Library parking lot anytime during the day, courtesy of Bay State Textiles.

Later that morning, follow the strains of music, laughter and joyful chatter to Wilton Town Green and the Library parking lot as First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice officially opens the Festival. Silk’n Sounds Chorus – Greater New Haven’s premier women's a cappella chorus specializing in the barbershop harmony style – kick off the live entertainment with their unique repertoire of playful jazz accented by cool chord progressions and sweet rhythms. Live music continues throughout the day with performances by Wilton Steel, Joni Wallace & Friends, The Acoustic Wilton Family, and Open Road.

Children’s activities abound with face painting, creative crafts and activities and a bounce house. Cyril the Sorcerer also will be on hand from noon-1:30 p.m., illuminating the wonders of our planet and the powers we have to protect it. And Woodcock Nature Center’s professional naturalists will introduce festival-goers to several of the center’s native and exotic wildlife, such as frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes.

Enjoy fabulous green shopping and learn from exhibitors eager to share their knowledge of energy conservation, building, transportation, recycling and sustainable living throughout the day. Visitors can even explore what life might be like living in a Tiny House! And be sure to bring your outdated, sensitive files and documents to the Shredding Truck at the Library parking lot between 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., sponsored by Winter Bros. Waste Systems.

Cheer on your favorite canine conservationists at 2:00 p.m. at the much-loved dog parade, courtesy of Emerald Dog Sponsor, Blue Buffalo and Dog Parade Sponsor, South Wilton Veterinary Group. Register your pooch anytime between 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. for this fun and furry promenade through town center, which begins at the Library parking lot. Pets enjoy prizes and free treats, courtesy of Pet Pantry!

Stroll over to the Library parking lot at 3:00 p.m. to watch the Westport Electric Car Club Rally finish and check out dozens of gleaming, energy efficient vehicles, including Teslas. If aviation’s more your thing, don’t miss the extraordinary replica of Gustav Whitehead’s plane, purported to be the first in flight. And be sure to peruse WGG’s fabulous silent auction, featuring a terrific variety of goods to help you live a healthier, more sustainable life.

Take a break from the festivities and recharge with one of Skinny Pines Pizza’s tempting, wood-fired brick oven pies made from seasonally sourced ingredients. Or try the Melt Mobile’s version of America’s classic comfort food, the grilled cheese – such as the Insanewich with Angus beef, or the Svelt Melt made with low-fat jarlsberg, grilled veggies and homemade pesto aioli.

Yearning for something a bit more decadent? Wander over to Wilton’s student-run College Creamery and indulge in mouth-watering ice cream and shaved ice. And be sure visit The Farmer’s Cow for refreshing summer beverages.

Join us at the Wilton Go Green Festival and discover the joys and benefits of living sustainably.

Thanks in great part to the support of our wonderful sponsors, this year’s Wilton Go Green Festival promises to be our very best yet.

Title Sponsor: Ross Solar Group

Emerald Sponsor: Gardel Home Improvement

Emerald Dog Parade Sponsor: Blue Buffalo

Gold Sponsor: Nod Hill Soap

Silver Sponsor: Stop&Shop

Silver Sponsor: Realty Seven

Dog Parade Sponsor: South Wilton Veterinary Group

Cyril the Sorcerer Sponsored by: Paragon Management Group

Shred Truck Sponsored by: Winter Bros. Waste Systems

Sneaker Recycling Sponsored by: Bay State Textiles

Green Music Stage Sponsored by: Wilton Congregational Church

May Day 5K Run Community Partner: Outdoor Sports Center

Westport Electric Car Club Road Rally Community Partner: Westport Electric Car Club

Media Sponsors: News 12 Connecticut

Star 99.9

GoodMorningWilton.com

KidsOutandAbout.com

95.9Foxonline.com

Incorporated in 2010, WGG is a 501(c)(3) created by a group of citizens to engage the community in conservation and sustainability practices. The group complements the work of the Wilton Energy Commission, in collaboration with Town officials and staff, local schools and also with kindred nonprofits across the state. To learn more about WGG and to get the most enjoyment from the festival, visit wiltongogreen.org.

What’s Happening When & Where

10:30 a.m. NRVT May Day 5K Run begins at Library parking lot

11:00 a.m. Festival officially opens at the Wilton Town Green and the Wilton
Library with a welcome message by First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice

11:00 a.m.-noon Silk’n Sounds perform at the Town Green

11:30 a.m. May Day 5K Run awards presented at the Town Green

Noon-1:00 p.m. Wilton Steel performs at the Bank of America parking lot

Noon-1:30 p.m. Cyril the Sorcerer conjures up some green magic in the Town Green gazebo

1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Joni Wallace & Friends, The Acoustic Wilton Family and Open Road perform at the Bank of America parking lot

2:00 p.m. The Dog Parade! (Register from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) Parade begins

at the Library parking lot

3:00 p.m. Westport Electric Car Club Rally Finish and Awards Presentation in the Library parking lot

All-Day Activities

Face painting Bank of America front lawn

Silent auction Town Green

Winter Bros. Shredding Truck Library parking lot

Gustave Whilehead Replica Plane Library parking lot

Bay State Textile Sneaker Recycling Library parking lot

Tiny house Library parking lot

Bites & Beverages

Melt Mobile Bank of America drive-through and parking lot

College Creamery Bank of America drive-through and parking lot

The Farmer’s Cow Bank of America drive-through and parking lot