The Columbia Festival of the Arts is Going Green

MAY 30, 2019 -The Columbia Festival of the Arts attracts 20,000 people to Downtown Columbia during the FREE LakeFest Weekend. This year LakeFest will take place June 14-16 at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. Festival of the Arts is following the lead of long-time partner, Columbia Association, in reducing Columbia’s carbon footprint. They are calling on attendees, artists, and vendors to avoid single-use plastics (such as those found in most water bottles and plastic bags) and to compost and recycle whenever possible.

Karen Douglas, Festival board member and longtime community volunteer, is spearheading the festival’s environmental project. “Columbia forged new territory in bringing people from all backgrounds and incomes together to work, play, and dream together. To insure that future generations can enjoy these same opportunities, we need to conserve energy and reduce waste. I’m delighted that the Columbia Festival of the Arts is launching new efforts this summer to bring the community together to enjoy the arts while also protecting our beautiful environment,” said Douglas.

“Sustainability is important to us because our vision is to make the community better. Serving the community means taking steps to reduce the Festival’s negative impact on the environment. If it’s important to Columbia, it’s important to the Festival,” said Festival Director David Phillips.

THE PLAN

1. Recycling and compost bins will be placed throughout the Downtown Columbia Lakefront with signage instructing festival attendees on proper use of the bins.
2. A “green squad” of volunteers will set up and manage the bins, assist, and encourage attendees to use them.
3. Vendors who use recyclable and compostable materials will be recognized with a bright green banner naming them as a “certified sustainable” vendor.
4. Attendees who bring their own full, reusable water bottle from home can show their water bottle at the information booth to be entered into a raffle to win restaurant gift certificates, t-shirts, show tickets and more.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE GREEN SQUAD?

Contact:
Karen Douglas, douglasdouglas@verizon.net
Susan Boucher, susan@columbiafestival.com

About The Columbia Festival of the Arts:
The mission of the Columbia Festival of the Arts is to present a world class celebration of the arts and entertainment that attracts, engages, and inspires the broad and diverse community it serves. Now in its 32nd year, the CFA produces Columbia’s popular LakeFest every June at the downtown Columbia lakefront. LakeFest comprises 3 days of bands, a juried artists’ show, children’s activities, festive food and beverages,and spectacle entertainment. CFA presents enriching music, theatre and dance programming in and around Howard County, continuously strengthening the area’s reputation as one of America’s most desirable communities.

For more information about the Columbia Festival of the Arts event lineup, calendar and to purchase tickets, visit www.columbiafestival.org.