Westlake Rain and Garden Show helps celebrate, protect environment
The Westlake Rain and Garden Show, on March 25 at Crocker Park, will feature the popular Kid Zone again this year with face painting, a balloon clown and special guest, "Jungle Bob." Photo courtesy City of Westlake
The City of Westlake’s Engineering Department and the Westlake Watershed Group are sponsoring the 6th Annual Rain and Garden Show to bring together experts to help individuals, families and businesses take simple steps to help our environment stay healthy for generations to come and learn how to save money at the same time.
As part of the City’s “Go Green” Program, the Rain and Garden Show will be held on Saturday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to raise awareness on storm water quality and promote eco-friendly products and healthy living. Attendees can also enter a free raffle for a special prize.
The event is free and open to the public. After five years at the Westlake Recreation Center, this year’s show will be at the new Market Square at Crocker Park, located at the end of Market Street, west of Trader Joe's. Free parking is available nearby.
“The Rain and Garden Show’s theme this year is sustainability. It’s fun, educational and, of course, free,” said Robert P. Kelly, P.E, Director of Engineering for the City of Westlake. “It’s about a community coming together to celebrate the environment.”
With countless ways to both celebrate and incorporate simple steps into our daily lives that help protect the environment, 25 exhibitors will be on hand to answer questions, including employees from the City’s Engineering, Planning, and Service Departments, members of the Westlake Watershed Group, Westlake Garden Club, Westlake Historical Society and local vendors.
Attendees can learn practical steps for flood prevention, landscaping and lawn care, healthy eating, and much more. The healthy cooking demonstration at noon by a local chef has been one of the highlights of past shows and returns this year.
“Part of our goal with the Rain and Garden Show is to provide a fun atmosphere for families to discover eco-friendly products and services from our local vendors, as well as learn about Westlake’s environmentally green initiatives,” said Wesley M. Davis, P.E., city engineer for the City of Westlake Department of Engineering.
Davis also leads the Westlake Watershed Group, a volunteer group of residents, businesses and city employees that meets at least four times a year at City Hall to direct the City’s environmental education and involvement projects. The next meeting is on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 a.m. and is open to the public. New members are always welcome.
For the Whole Family and Kids of all Ages
Adopting eco-friendly habits in a family often starts with children finding ways to apply what they learned in school at home. New this year is the Creative Recycling Competition for students in grades 7-8. They are invited to submit a bird feeder/house, jewelry or a mini garden they made out of recyclable items. Attendees at the show will select three winners who each will receive Dave & Buster’s Power Cards.
For younger children, Kid Zone is back again with a face painter and balloon clown from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. New this year is special guest, “Jungle Bob,” who will impress and amaze kids of all ages when they see his creatures first hand and learn fun facts about what makes each of them unique!
Complete details about the event, including a downloadable flyer and the Creative Recycling Competition, can be found at www.cityofwestlake.org/Go-Green.