For the first time since the pandemic hit, a free day of family fun and festivities will be held at Baldwin Middle School, as the annual Earth Fest makes its return on Saturday, April 23. This year’s event, according to Park & Recreation members, aims to out do past events with a line-up of food, music, eco-education, farmers market, and more.

The event will be held in conjunction with another eco-minded program at Town Hall, sponsored in partnership with the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG). The event is a pick-up for composters and rain barrels and other environmentally friendly gear at a steep discount. These devices are great ways to protect your yard and reduce your family’s impact on the environment, according to SCRCOG.

Park & Recreation Program Coordinator Taryn Erb said this year’s fest will have something for every age and the events are completely free to all.

“This is a great community event, there are going to be so many things for folks to do,” Erb said. “There will be a Touch-a-Truck event, vendors, educational forums, and a farmers market portion with items for sale as well. Everything is totally free, and a lot more, too. There will be a Naples pizza truck giving away free pizza and also CT Fun co will have several inflatables for kids as well. This is going to be a full, free, family event.”

According to Erb, the School of Rock house band from Madison will provide music and a touch-a-truck event will feature more than 15 vehicles and include, police, fire, public works, and sanitation trucks, and the organizers expect even more the day of the event. There will be free paper shredding available at the event, and vendors are still being added, according to Erb.

Sustainable Guilford Task Force (SGTF) Chair Terri Cain said every effort is critical to protecting the environment. The SGTF is partnering with SCRCOG to provide steeply discounted composters and rain barrels for all shoreline residents to promote a full day of focus on the town’s fragile shore ecosystems.

“This is part of our Earth Day celebration in Guilford. We encourage everyone to compost to reduce waste in our landfills and incinerators, recapture essential nutrients from food scraps that can be returned to our landscapes and gardens for healthy soil and plants, and to protect our environment. Learn how to compost with our video, “Dive Into Compost”, which can be found on the SGTF website sustainableguilford.org,” Cain said.

SCRCOG has arranged discounted prices on composters, rain barrels, and accessories for residents through Brand Builders, LLC. Those who are interested must order equipment via the SCRCOG site and pick up of items will be after the Earth Fest in the parking lot behind Town Hall at 31 Park Street on April 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit SCRCOG’s website scrcog.compostersale.com for a complete list of all available products and to order. Orders must be placed by Thursday, April 21.

According to First Selectman Matt Hoey, these types of events are important to the community and benefit the environment in the short and long term.

“Guilford, as a coastal community, faces uncertainty related to sustainability, sea level rise, climate change, and the impending crisis related to solid waste management. Awareness of how small changes in thinking and behavior can make for big impacts,” Hoey said.

Erb stressed the importance of the eco-awareness factor for residents, but said the focus of the fest will be on fun and celebration.

“This is really such a great community event. It is going to be a totally free and fun way to spend the day. There’s something for families, and something for everybody,” said Erb.

Earth Fest will be held at the Baldwin Middle School Saturday, April 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pickup of the eco-equipment will be at Guilford Town Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. on the same day. For more information on the Earth Fest at Baldwin, call the Parks & Recreation Department at 203-453-8068.