On Sunday, September 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Ballard Commons Park (5501 22nd Ave NW), Sustainable Ballard will be celebrating their 11th annual Sustainable Ballard Festival.

This year’s festival offers 75 exhibits under this year’s “Reuse and Recycling” theme.

Jenny Heins, organizer and president of Sustainable Ballard said this year is sure to bring people out “in droves.”

“Our attendance is really dependent on the weather - but our attendees continue to show up in droves and be enthusiastic learners. We try to bring people new information every year and though we have businesses exhibiting at the festival - we are all there to educate in a fun and inspiring way. Who wouldn't come back for that?” said Heins.

According to Heins, Sustainable Ballard Festival is an opportunity for people to learn together, get inspired and discover new ways to live more lightly on the earth. The festival is a reminder and celebration of simple sustainability practices citizens can use everyday to influence consumption.

“In Ballard, we have gotten pretty good at recycling and probably don't think much about it anymore, but we wanted to remind people that there is more you can do. Outside of the keeping up to date on the more and more waste that can now be diverted from landfill to compost and recycling, there are a lot more things that can now be recycled or reused to reduce consumption.”

New this year’s festival is a Kids Bike and Pet Parade, a Spirituality Space for people to discuss the role of spirituality in their sustainable lifestyle and the launch of Sustainable Ballard's Reusable Cups Campaign. The campaign collaborates with cafés around Ballard to offer discounts when customers use their Sustainable Ballard reusable aluminum mug.

In addition, this is year two for the Taste of Ballard, a food truck and beer garden area showcasing participating restaurants and breweries. This years food vendors are Biscuit Box, I Love My GFF, Streetzeria, Patty Pan Grill and Pop Up Bike Pops. For festivalgoers 21 and there are more than seven breweries offering their seasonal picks including Bad Jimmy’s, Hale’s Ales, Maritime Pacific, NW Peaks, Peddler, Populuxe and Stoup. For further details check out http://www.sustainableballard.org/a-taste-of-ballard/

Furthermore, Heinz said there are some other programs that lend to the Recycle and Reuse mantra.

“We're partnering with CoolMoms and Zero Waste Seattle to help folks give their car seats a second life, you can carry a personal coffee cup and save trees and water and fuel. We'll have demos about how to make your own personal care and green cleaning products from everyday ingredients found in your house. No more packaging! And there are lots of ways to reuse both recyclables and garbage until they are really worn out, particularly for art! Our Trash Fashion Show will feature lots of creative use for materials that are considered waste, our kids area will be stocked with all kinds of materials and projects for taking waste and creating things like masks and music makers and bubble wands.”

Heins elaborated on how Sustainable Ballard puts together a festival in a very cost effective and sustainable way.

“There are things we do behind the scenes that we try to tell our fans about too. All of our festival t-shirts are on their second life having been purchased from thrift stores and then silk-screened. Most of our decorations are hand-made from thrift store purchases. We even print our signs on paper, which we glue to vinyl boards that we've been re-using for eight to nine years. Many of those had a previous life as trade show signage.”

Heins said that this year Sustainable Ballard received two donations that have ensured the vitality of the festival. Swanson's Nursery has made contributions so that the first 220 attendees to the festival will receive a free Chinook Book or Chinook Mobile app. In addition, Electric and Folding Bikes NW has donated a Giant Twist Freedom electric bike (value $2200) that Sustainable Ballard will be raffling off. Tickets are $5 and the drawing will be at 5:45 p.m. Heins said she is very grateful for the their contributions this year.

“We are also incredibly grateful to two Ballard Commons neighbors - St. Luke's Church for donating space and supporting us in festival prep and American West Bank who continues to loan us their parking lot - this year for car seat recycling.”

In addition to the festivities, at 3:30 p.m., the Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhancement League (WHEEL) will dedicate Leaves of Remembrance at Ballard Commons Park. The new Leaves will honor Jeffrey Parker Bouck, Kenny Stoddard, Will Johnson, Cecil “Marty” White Face, Michael “Mike” Sheely, and Marvin “Marv” Hosking, Jr. WHEEL will also rededicate/place a pre-existing Leaf for Karen Lee Pedersen. Moreover, there’ll be a light reception after the Dedication at Bridge Care Center (at St Luke’s, 5710 NW 22nd).

The Homeless Remembrance Project is a collaborative community effort facilitated by WHEEL who has created places of hope, healing and beauty to honor and remember homeless people who've died in King County.

The Project has two parts: A beautiful "Tree of Life" sculpture and gathering place at Victor Steinbrueck Park (north of Pike Place Market), and "Leaves of Remembrance," with names, embedded in sidewalks throughout the City.

For more information go to www.fallenleaves.org

For more Sustainable Ballard Festival information go to www.sustainableballard.org/festival/

Information provided by Sustainable Ballard and WHEEL