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The Piedmont Earth Day Fair celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year! The spring tradition, featuring kids’ activities, green homes, E-vehicles, music, food, and more, will return to the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 26, from 10am to 4pm. Hosted by local nonprofit organization Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA), it is the largest Earth Day celebration in North Carolina, attracting more than 8,000 people annually. The day will be filled with family-friendly activities and demonstrations, great food and music, artwork, and informative exhibits – all free to the public. “Earth Day is a great time for people of all ages to connect with our planet, build community, and learn how to take action locally to support the environment,” said Piedmont Environmental Alliance Executive Director Jamie Maier. “Folks will be inspired by the companies, nonprofits, and government agencies that keep our water and air safe, produce and share healthy food, install solar panels, and install emission-free electric vehicles. The fair is a fun and informative day that supports all of PEA’s work to create a more just, resilient, and environmentally sustainable community.”
What You Will Find At The Fair?
Throughout the day, live demonstrations will provide practical tips about living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, including backyard beekeeping, mending clothes, preparing healthy soil, and more. People can learn about “greening” their homes (and tax incentives that make it easier) with information about recycling/reuse, energy-efficient appliances, pollinator-friendly landscaping, solar panels, and more,
Hands-on activities for children are another highlight of the fair. This year’s Kid Zones include nature crafts, face painting, yoga, and obstacle courses. Kids will also have a blast drawing with chalk, making nature-based artwork, planting seeds, and more.
Two special youth competitions will take place during the fair. The Environmental Art Contest, judged by local artists, will award prizes for student art with an environmental theme. Students in grades K-12 are invited to participate. Create artwork about Earth Day and what it means to you. You must register before April 18. See the PEA Earth Day Fair Art Contest Page for details.
Watch the semifinalists of the PEA Environmental Debate Tournament compete for the championship trophy as they debate the pros and cons of organic farming. See the 2025 Program Schedule for a list and times of all activities.
What would a celebration be without great food and music? The fair has two stages featuring local musicians, courtesy of the North Carolina Songwriters Co-op. Music will continue throughout the day. Various food trucks and vendors will be available with delicious, tasty food.
Volunteer At The Fair
Volunteers are needed for the fair and will have fun setting up exhibits, selling popcorn, handing out programs, helping clean up, and more. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. Any volunteer under 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Shifts are a couple of hours long, and all volunteers get a cool t-shirt to keep. See the PEA’s Volunteer Page for more information and to register.
Sponsor The Earth Day Fair
Businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies can be a part of the biggest environmental event in the region, drawing over 8,000 people. Sponsors also benefit from a months-long advertising campaign on TV, radio, newspaper, and more. For more information, see the PEA Earth Day Fair Sponsor Page.
Who Is PEA?
Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to Educate and Empower people of all ages, Build Community, and Inspire Action to create a more environmentally sustainable community.
PEA designs and presents programs to local schools to help students understand and connect to key sustainability issues and solutions. They teach more than 3,500 students annually about energy use, water conservation, climate change, and civic leadership through in-classroom presentations, field trips, and events.
PEA builds community by hosting events like the Earth Day Fair to encourage people to learn more about sustainability and community action. They also sponsor PEA’s Green Home Tour, which showcases increased home efficiency and resiliency, and The Green Jobs Expo, bringing together job seekers and employers to build a more resilient, future-forward economy.
PEA inspires action by building partnerships with local and regional organizations, corporations, individuals, and communities to influence policy and practice. Their Environmental Action Coalition builds the local sustainability movement, and their Campaigns, including Solarize The Triad and Affordable, Healthy Homes, focus on vital ways to create a sustainable future. PEA also offers technical assistance to local decision-makers to navigate clean energy programs and participate in the green economy. PEA’s Green Business Network provides a sustainability roadmap and one-on-one counseling for local businesses that want to take action. For more information, visit the Piedmont Environmental Alliance Website.
Appreciate This World
Take the time to appreciate the beauty of this world and why it is worth the effort to save it. A nature walk reminds us of all that is wonderful about the earth. The flowers, plants, trees, birds, brooks, and wildlife – all bring us back to a simpler, more peaceful state of mind. Winston-Salem has many walking trails that are the perfect place to return to nature.
Have you been to the Piedmont Earth Day Fair? Tell us about it in the comments.
