Dan's Papers - July 24, 2009 - Go To The North Fork GreenFest

A one of a kind festival is about to rock the North Fork. This two day celebration is sure to get your hips moving, and can help you save cash, and the planet, all at the same time. Next weekend about a dozen bands will jam out on a solar powered stage at the Mattituck Strawberry Fields Fairgrounds. It is part of the East End GreenFest. Organizers say it's the first concert of its kind on Long Island, and you can be part of it for just $3 dollars.

The music is just part of the festivities planned. The festival is showcasing all things Green on the North Fork. More than a hundred exhibitors will be here including renewable energy exhibits. East End companies will be showing off their geo-thermal services as well as solar, and wind powered products. There will also be local wines and produce in a Farmer's Market type atmosphere as well as hand crafted natural and organic goodies. "This is not a trade show...... this is fun and entertaining...... we want people to be like wow, this is awesome," said Syd Dufton of Cutchogue. He organized the eco-friendly event with his wife Deborah.

So who's playing here? One of the headlining acts slated to take the solar stage include the girls of "Jaden South." The Nashville-based up and coming southern rock dou will be joined by "The Mondays", "Reality Addiction" and ''Yukari Roja." The sounds range from progressive rock to reggae and a little bit of funk. "We want people to bring a blanket and a lounge chair and hang out for the weekend," said Dufton. "If nothing else, people are going to see this solar stage and be like "wow" maybe I should at least get a panel on my house."

What else will we SEE at the festival? Dufton says the unique attractions will include African dancers, a Guinness Book record holding contortionist, a POI arts dancer, and hands on interactive exhibits from Atlantis Marine World aquarium and The Riverhead Foundation. You can also expect to see face painting and pony rides. "There's going to be lots of stuff for the kids too...it's something we call edu-tainment, learning through having fun," said Dufton. "The GreenFest will be very similar to the Green Fairs in Europe and San Francisco where there is a fun atmosphere filled with live music, unique performers, and lots of energy as people learn about ways to go Green," said Deborah Dufton.

Being that Green is the new black, there will be several earth friendly fashion designers selling everything from T-shirts, to makeup, to organic face cleansers. What about the wine? As many as ten local wineries, including Osprey's Dominion and Martha Clara will be here serving up their award winning wines according to Syd Dufton. "The only people here who will need any kind of electric are the wineries to keep their wine cold, and they are going to use electric generated by biodiesel...... there's no waste here," said Dufton.

There's already a lot of buzz about the GreenFest on the North Fork from Love Lane in Mattituck to Main Street in Greenport. That's why Dufton says the North Fork was the perfect place for this event. "Everybody here is already kind of "Green" we all shop at local farm stands, and everybody out here cares about the environment."

Right now there are a handful of wind turbines on the North Fork in Southold and Riverhead and countless people in the area are turning to solar power and geothermal heating and water systems. And both Southold and Riverhead Towns have taken progressive steps to help encourage and promote alternative and renewable energy.

If you're thinking of converting to some sort of renewable energy at your home, or want to learn more about how this stuff works, several local and national non-profit organizations including the Sierra Club and Nature Conservancy, and Greenpeace, will have information booths set up.

The East End GreenFest is Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Tickets are $3 at the gate for adults and children 12 and under are free. You can find directions and more detailed information at eastendgreenfest.com. 631-734-5894.