Street chalk drawing will be available, as well as face painting, free to all festival-goers. For the kid who likes wild animals, Carlton Burke of Carolina Mountain Naturalist will once again bring his collection of creatures including possums, groundhog, flying squirrels and more to the festival. Pony rides and petting zoo will round out the animal nature of the festival. A highlight of this year's festival will be the 1 p.m. Clean Air Rally sponsored by the Canary Coalition in its continued effort to make the mountains of WNC a healthier place to live and breath. Winners of the organization's first-ever poetry contest will be invited to read their work, while others will be encouraged to join the fight for cleaner air.
Poetry is only one of several contests open to festival-goers.
CSA will once again sponsor its heritage contest, with prizes to be awarded in categories such as canned vegetables, pickles and relishes, jams and jellies, canned fruits and juices, baked goods, quilting and handcrafts. Recyclable receptacles will be available during the day in several locations. For more information about Greening Up the Mountains, call McHargue at 586-1577.