The third annual Green Apple Festival, produced in partnership with Earth Day Network and presented by Chase, announces "America's largest Earth Day celebration" – a weekend of music and environmental awareness culminating on Sunday, April 20th with eight free festivals occurring simultaneously at landmark locations across the U.S.

 

Approximately 500,000 people are expected to attend the all-inclusive, interactive and free public events in New York City (Central Park), Washington, DC (The National Mall), Chicago IL (Lincoln Park Zoo), Miami FL (Bicentennial Park), Denver CO (City Park), Dallas TX (Fair Park), San Francisco CA (Golden Gate Park) and Los Angeles CA (Santa Monica Pier).

 

Earth Day Network, the non-profit organization created by the original founders of Earth Day in 1970, and Green Apple Festival are proud to announce that the National Mall event in Washington, DC alone will bring together world environmental leaders, community activists, A-list talent and crowds in the hundreds of thousands to make this one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in U.S. history.

 

THE 2008 GREEN APPLE FESTIVAL

*   Is one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in U.S. history

*   Presents eight, simultaneous events at landmark parks across the country on April 20, 2008

*   Is located in parks, rather than concrete venues, chosen with eco-considerations such as easy foot/bike access and public transportation

*   Will "green" over 150 music venues over Earth Day Weekend in each Green Apple city

*   Is produced in partnership with Earth Day Network, founders of the original "Earth Day" in 1970

*   Kicks off a Green Schools pilot program in three Green Apple cities

 

"Our 2008 events come at a time of extraordinary, unprecedented interest in Earth Day globally," said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. "Around the world, people are recognizing that environmental problems are monumental and that the need for solutions is urgent. Individuals from all walks of life want to express their concern."

 

Peter Shapiro, Founder & Executive Producer of the Green Apple Festival notes, "The Green Apple Festival is about highlighting solutions to help overcome the significant environmental challenges we face today. By bringing together live music, education, and a wide range of non-profit organizations in America's most prominent parks, we hope to draw significant attention to the most important issue of our time."

 

With a "small footprint, large impact" ethos, Green Apple Festival organizers have selected concert sites based on eco-considerations such as the cities' public transportation infrastructures, the locations' pedestrian and/or bicycle accessibility, and the presence of an organic atmosphere – i.e. green parks rather than concrete stadiums. Volunteer activities in each city, including park spring clean-ups, planting and mulching, will extend the Festival�s impact on the ground.

 

In addition to Sunday's simultaneous events, over 150 venues will become "Green Apple Venues" over Earth Day Weekend (4/18 thru 4/20), as Festival organizers introduce environmentally-friendly practices and products at participating concert halls, clubs and theaters. as a new way of doing business. Performers will make their shows "Green Apple Concerts" conveying environmental messages from the stage. In all, over 1,000 acts will participate and venues will be greened with recyclable, non-toxic, sustainable products and CFL light bulbs. With the help of Native Energy, a leader in the space of offsets, the entire Green Apple Festival will be made carbon neutral.

 

In three markets, in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods, Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Network will carry out school greening projects. "Green schools" have good air quality, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, safe outdoor play areas and teach students environmental awareness. This program will create a model for healthy schools that is suitable for nationwide replication. Results will be presented to the Clinton Climate Initiative, GreenBuild and the North American Association for Environmental Education. For over ten years, Earth Day Network has been an established leader in green schools.

 

Working together, Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Network are helping to give voice to the urgent need for solutions to the environmental dilemma. Already this year, Earth Day Network – with 19,000 partners in 175 countries — has registered over 1,000 community-based Earth Day events, taking place in Bejing, Tokyo, Caracas, Montreal, Paris, Budapest, Moscow. Mallorca and in many other cities across the globe. Additionally, on college campuses throughout the U.S., Earth Day Network will help create over 1,000 events focusing on voter registration and climate education. Organizations such as Step it Up, Energy Action, Focus the Nation and other national campus and community organizations are working as partners to create these events.

 

Background: Now entering its third year, The Green Apple Festival was founded by producer Peter Shapiro and Zenbu Media, a music media company that publishes Relix Magazine, Global Rhythm, Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs and co-produces the Jammy Awards.

 

Since 2006, when The Green Apple Festival began in New York City, the event has galvanized music fans, environmentalists, progressive consumers and families in a growing number of cities on Earth Day by providing "something for everyone" events with music performances, family entertainment and interactive exhibits at public locations. In 2007, capacity crowds attended Green Apple events in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, setting a one-day attendance record at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, IL, for example, with over 40,000 people present. Lending weight to the Festival's endeavors is their partnership with Earth Day Network – the non-profit organization founded by the creators of the first Earth Day in 1970.