Whether you're into living the green life or interested in learning how to make that transition into healthier living, or just looking for something totally fun and interesting to do over the weekend, East End GreenFest is the place to be. On Saturday July 24th and Sunday July 25th, East End GreenFest returns to Strawberry Fields Fairgrounds in Mattituck for a second year to entertain, feed, and spread the good word on living green on Long Island.
In 2008 Syd and Deborah Dufton came up with the idea of GreenFest. Both committed to a more natural and organic way of life, they wanted to do something good for their community as well as for their five young children. Syd is a technology entrepreneur who cofounded a company called Raw Energy, LLC which partners with commercial building owners to set up solar systems on their roof tops. "Deborah is all about living organically. She makes her own soap, dish soap and laundry soap. She makes her own skin products and pretty much anything else you can imagine. It really does work better than the chemical products on the shelves. We have five little kids and they have all been raised with natural products," says Syd. Festivals like East End GreenFest have been done in other places such as Europe and San Francisco but this would be the first of its kind really on the east coast. It was a substantial undertaking, for sure, but it was something to which the couple was whole-heartedly dedicated. The idea was to educate the local public on ways to live a healthier lifestyle but also to make it a fun environment in which to do so…something the couple refers to as "edutainment." This little idea turned into a smashing success and now its second year promises to be bigger and better than the first.
Word of the festival spread like wildfire and the Dufton's began getting calls back in March of this year from green businesses looking to be a part of GreenFest. This year bands and promoters were approaching the festival to be a part of the event as opposed to last year where Syd and Deborah had to advertise on Craig's List to find talent. Live music is a huge part of the weekend with performances from Caroline Doctorow, RBC, The Mondays, Big River Ransom, If, But, When, and Black Suit Youth among others. By the way, this will all take place on a solar powered concert stage. The crowd will also be treated to fire dancers, dance troupes, hula hoop performers, POI arts instruction, and a fire eater.
All of this will be going on while close to 200 exhibitors bring their green, natural and local products to the East End masses. With renewable energy exhibits and hands-on demonstrations, green builders, beauty and health care products, healthy and organic foods, children's products, green cleaning products, a farmer's market, local artists, and natural and hand-crafted products, there is truly something for everyone. GreenFest-goers will also enjoy free wine tasting from local wineries including Lieb Cellars and Borghese Vineyards, great food such as pizza made with organic and local ingredients from Rolling in Dough, which uses a wood burning stove on the back of a truck, organic cotton candy, Cabot cheese, local roasted corn, all natural lemonade, healthy kettle corn, Honest Tea, and much more.
To try and attract as many people as possible, admission to this fabulous event is a mere $3 for adults while children 12 and under are free. GreenFest requests that all attendees bring a non-perishable food item, household item, or personal care product to support the local food bank, CAST. As an added bonus this year the first 200 ticket holders each day that bring something for the food bank will receive a free East End GreenFest tee shirt donated by GotApparel.com.
The beauty of this festival is really that people come for different reasons, which is the intention of the founders. Obviously many come due to their interest in green living, while others come simply to enjoy the entertainment and food, which is great too. The Dufton's strongly believe in the concept of "paying it forward." "If we can get just ten people at GreenFest to learn something new that can help them live healthier and/or help the planet and those ten people each tell ten more, it is a wonderful thing," says Syd. When asked if there is one small thing that people can do to be a little "greener" Syd quickly responds, "Eat locally. My family eats with the seasons. This spring we ate a lot of asparagus, in June it was strawberries, and my kids already know coming up is tomato season. We are lucky to have the ability to do so on the East End. Once people start a commitment to eating locally grown food you hear that they then begin composting or starting their own herb and vegetable gardens." Syd and Deborah drink locally as well thanks to our fine Long Island wineries and vineyards.
Syd and Deborah Dufton have made quite an effort to bring something terrific to the East End. So, make your way to GreenFest, you will definitely not be disappointed, and you may just learn something new to bring a little more green into your life!
