Eastern to celebrate Earth Day with environmental market featuring local vendors
Willimantic, CT (04/15/2025) — In celebration of Earth Day 2025, Eastern Connecticut State University will host its annual Earth Day Market on April 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside at the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC) amphitheater. The event is free and open to the public and will feature nearly two dozen vendors, including local farms, small businesses, and campus organizations - all gathered in the spirit of environmental stewardship.
Sponsored by the University's Center for Sustainability Studies, the event will showcase locally sourced products, educational outreach, and interactive activities aimed at promoting sustainability, community engagement, and environmental awareness. Visitors can enjoy live jazz music by Eastern musicians, watch a composting demonstration, and take part in other activities throughout the afternoon.
"Earth Day 2025 is a celebration of our planet and the importance for all of us at Eastern to actively contribute to its stewardship," said Stephen Nathan, environmental earth science professor and Earth Day Market coordinator. "Student clubs, local farmers, and environmental groups will be on hand to raise awareness and spur action to help the environment and promote sustainability. There will be games, activities, locally sourced products for sale, and music for all."
Featured Vendors Include:
- Sweet Heal - Farm-to-bottle CBD and hemp products (New England-based)
- Blue Iris Farm - Animal rescue and sanctuary (Lebanon, CT)
- Garden Club of Windham - Town beautification and civic pride initiatives
- Spiral Arts - Art and pottery studio founded by Eastern lecturer Daniela de Sousa (Willimantic, CT)
- Mountain Dairy Farm - Family-owned dairy farm (Storrs, CT)
- Grow Windham - Community and school garden programs in the Windham region
- Humming Grove Farm - Beeswax candle producers (Broad Brook, CT)
- Dragon's Blood Elixir - Locally sourced artisan hot sauces and condiments (Willimantic, CT)
- Wilkinson Farm - 7th-generation family farm producing maple syrup and fresh goods (Columbia, CT)
- The Last Green Valley - Eastern Connecticut-based National Heritage Corridor stewardship organization
- Willimantic Food Co-op - Free wellness samples, information on cooperative markets, and local goods
Participating Eastern Student Organizations:
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Campus Activity Board (CAB)
- Biology Club
- Garden Club
- Environmental Club
- Anthropology Club
- Philosophy Club
- Women's Weightlifting Club
- J. Eugene Smith Library
Eastern Connecticut State University invites the community to join in this vibrant celebration of Earth Day, where sustainability meets community in a fun and educational setting.
Rain Location: In the event of rain, the market will move indoors to the Student Center Cafe.
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
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