The first-ever New Orleans Earth Day Festival, presented by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, will take place Sunday, April 5, 2009 along the banks of Bayou St. John at Orleans Avenue from 10am to 6pm.

"Residents of New Orleans understand more than anyone the need for environmental protection," said Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, the group organizing the event.  "We will celebrate the good work of New Orleans' environmental groups, learn about alternative energy and make the case for a strong green economy and reduced pollution here in Louisiana."

The event features the Coastal Lines of Defense stage, a coalition including the Gulf Restoration Network, the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Foundation and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. 

"The culture of New Orleans is absolutely linked to its environment and our coast," said Aaron Viles of the Gulf Restoration Network.  "We're excited to partner on a festival that ties it all together."

The groups have organized great music, including:

• Big Sam's Funky Nation
• The Wild Mohicans
• Anders Osborne, Kirk Joseph and Friends
• Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys

The stage will be powered by solar power from the eco-entertainment company Sustainable Waves and is the first festival in Louisiana to feature a renewable energy stage. 

The Festival brings together environmental organizations from around the city to celebrate a Green Future for Louisiana and bring attention to the need to defend the state from threats to the state's environment and way of life.

Event highlights include:

• A city wide bicycle tour led by the Crescent City Cyclists.  The ride will tour green buildings and pollution hotspots
• A kids’ tent organized by Bayou Rebirth, which will include a wetland-building activity
  
• Two speakers’ tents: Louisiana's Green Future and Defending Louisiana
• A Patron Party crawfish boil (click here to read more!)
  
• Solar companies
• Craft vendors including used books and bikes, clocks made from vinyl recors, natural soaps and hand stitched aprons
  
• Jambalaya, hot sausage and beer in plentiful supply
  

Schedule:

9:00am	Green bike ride with Crescent City Cyclists
10:00am	Festival begins!  Food, beer, and kids' activities start
11:00am	Speakers' tent opens (click here for speaker details)
12:00pm	Patron Party crawfish boil begins (click here for tickets)
12:15pm	Country Fried
1:30pm	Wild Mohicans second line through crowd onto stage
2:45pm	Anders Osborne and Friends
4:00pm	Big Sam's Funky Nation
5:15pm	Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys

The New Orleans Earth Day Festival is presented by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and features the Coastal Lines of Defense Stage.   The music is brought to you by the Gulf Restoration Network, the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Foundation, and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.  Thank you to our sponsors 89.9WWNO, The DamSDT LLC, Crescent Crown Distributing, Phoenix Recycling, Mix 92.3, Sharper Imaging Signs and Graphics and Abita Beer. 

If you are interested in being a craft or food vendor, click here for more information.