As any event planner knows, the best you can do is plan everything as meticulously as possible and then cross your fingers. Waking up on Sunday to a beautiful, sunny day, the prospects looked good for the inaugural Green Fair in Marion Square. There were a few jitters when it came time to announce the Sustainability Institute’s “Energy 101” presentation at noon and no one was sitting in the tent, but we walked around and recruited. That session, and every one that followed throughout the day, entertained near capacity crowds who learned all about staying healthy, saving money, and eating right, all in the most environmentally ways possible.
An estimated 5,000 people attended the Fair, and Marion Square stayed packed throughout the day. Most food vendors sold out, and the exhibitors reported great responses. Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, who piggybacked main sponsor Santee Cooper in their tent space, gave out what seemed like hundreds of “Clean Coal” t-shirts, hats, water bottles, and fans. It was a little odd at an environmentalist event to see hordes of people sporting this attire, but Director of the S.C. Sierra Club John Ramsburgh put it in good perspective when he announced from stage that the term “clean coal” was “intellectually dishonest.” When that’s the biggest controversy of the day, it’s fair to say you’ve done well.
Beginning with Sean Waterman, the bands attracted increasingly large crowds throughout the afternoon. By Sol Driven Train at 5 p.m., a few hundred onlookers sat on blankets or danced in front of the stage. The beer tent, obviously a huge attraction, raised around $5,000 alone for Lowcountry Earth Force. And an estimated 95 percent of the trash that could have been generated was recycled, composted, and otherwise diverted from the landfill and incinerator.
From the Birds of Prey Center demonstration to Hank the Pirate’s kids’ show, there was never a lack of entertainment to be had. I’m honored to have played a role in the planning, but am truly in awe of Suzie Webster, Anna Richardson, and Blair Barna for actually making it happen. After countless meetings, phone calls, and emails planning the details for half a year, it’s almost surreal to see it come to fruition. Hopefully more than a few people were inspired to make changes in their lives. And now that it’s really caught on, does anyone have any synonym suggestions we can use to replace ‘green’ in dialogue? —Stratton Lawrence
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