Living Green Festival, Sunday October 1

This is free day of fun for the whole family is not just another environmental expo.

This is a festival that focuses equally on sustainability and compassion.

It will be showcasing green ideas and solutions that work for the planet, for humans and for other animals. 

What makes this event different is that you might find a stall about lounge-shaped water tanks right next to a stall about the plight of orangutans in Indonesia or deaf dogs in Australia.

Sustainability is a big theme of the event. Not just in the range of stalls and services showcased, but how the event runs itself.

The organisers are justifiably proud of the whole event’s green credentials.

All of the food and drink served at the event is plant-based, which has a much lower carbon footprint than animal products such as meat and dairy.

It also means that all of the food waste created at the event will be composted.

Not just the food either; all servingware used at the event is also compostable, meaning very little waste from the event ends up in landfill or needing to be recycled.

So, while nibbling a delicious plant-based cheesecake made by a local Canberra bakery, or sampling a tasty Malaysian vegetable curry from a local haute cuisine restaurant, you can learn about energy efficiency measures for your home at the many eco-friendly market stalls.

Retro-fitted double-glazing solutions for existing windows is always one of the most popular exhibits, offering festival attendees the chance to see how it works in practice.

Kids are spoilt for choice as well. This year there will be an entire free Kidzone, with an eight metre rockclimbing wall that kids (and kids-at-heart) can scale to get the best view of the festival.

The Kidzone will also offer free face painting, games and art and craft activities.

Festival-goers will also be able to chill out in the grounds of the Albert Hall while listening to live music and entertainment including Petrichor, Hope Street, Monique Lewis, and even a spot of swing dancing.

The festival will also offer a range of free workshops, talks and some cooking demonstrations.

Oh, and finally, the Living Green Festival has a dog café. That’s right, dogs are welcome at the event.

Carson’s Café (Carson is a lovely poodle and the face of the café), will be right in the middle of the 2017 Living Green Festival serving treats for people and dogs alike.

So come and experience a kinder shade of green at the Living Green Festival.

For further information visit www.lgf.org.au or the LGF Facebook page.