Creation:

2008 (1st Annual)

Slogan:

The world is going green. You coming?

Bottom Line:

The Green Street Fair is a great idea for a festival. It manages to be innovative, educational and entertaining. It also managed a pretty big first impression with over 100 exhibitors.

What does it mean to be green?

The “green” was obvious in several exhibits, including those promoting alternative fuel sources such as wind and solar energy.


Toyota, Bosch and Ford exhibited green-friendly cars, like the Toyota Prius. Organic and/or natural products were also featured, as were companies with recycled products such as Play It Again Sports and Schupan Recycling.

Other exhibits were less obviously green, such as those showcasing basement refinishing and window replacement. Even more of a stretch, Tupperware, Starbucks and the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra had tents.

In general, eligibility was determined by the Green Street Fair, Inc. based upon an applicant’s social justice and/or environmental mission, as well as their argument as to how their service or product was “green.”. In some cases, the “green” was simply about showcasing locally-produced products, such as Handmade Detroit, that eliminate the need to expend fuel for transportation.

As might be expected, Whole Foods figured prominently at the Fair, occupying the Plymouth Gathering and providing free samples of natural and organic products.

Future Directions:

While it was important for the first year to make a good showing regarding the number of exhibitors, future years should be more discerning.

The fair should borrow from the section in the Ann Arbor Art Fairs devoted to “causes” and nonprofit organizations and increase the number of tents/booths devoted to non-profit causes and political points of view -- always a fun and interesting venue.

Highlights:

• Politics – The Green Street Fair makes for some interesting tent partners and a place where petitions promoting the use of stem-cell research circulate freely.
• Yoga classes in Kellogg Park
• Cooking demonstrations
• Green education, demonstrations and samples
• Live music on the Eco-Beats stage