View of Hickory Nut Gorge from Eagle Rock

UNC Asheville will host EarthFest, a day-long celebration honoring Earth Day, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, April 15, on UNC Asheville’s Quad. EarthFest will feature a variety of events including environmental information booths, workshops, speakers, a rummage sale, art auction and music by local and regional bands. Proceeds from EarthFest will benefit Nature Conservancy projects to protect the Peruvian rainforest and conserve land at Hickory Nut Gorge in Rutherford County. The event is free and open to the public. A complete listing of activities is available at http://orgs.unca.edu/earthfest.

Highlights of the day include a forum on Asheville transportation featuring City Council members Brownie Newman, Robin Cape and Brian Freeborn; a talk on land conservation featuring Mike Horak of The Nature Conservancy; a talk on genetically modified foods and a workshop on organic gardening by local food activist Patryk Battle; “Bringing Down the Mountain,” a documentary on mountaintop removal; a series of environmental short films; and a dinner social.

Environmental workshops, including building bat houses and solar ovens, bike repairs, a wildflower walk and crafting with kudzu, will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. A $10 donation is suggested to participate in the workshops.

Live music performances range from hip-hop to rock and roll and include popular groups Granola Funk Express, Pure Energy, the Asheville Hoofers, the Hitmen and Kellin Watson.

For more information, call Brian Evans, Earth Fest Coordinator, at 828/301-4836.