Just as the daffodils are blooming, local volunteers announce this year's plans for the ninth annual Newtown Earth Day Festival: Saturday, April 23, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street.The Newtown Bee and WPKN again to promote our festival as the one place to learn how easy it is to be green."newtownearthday.org.

A flyer recently e-mailed states, "We don't know about you, but with temperatures warming up," organizers are "eagerly" looking forward to spring and the Earth Day celebration. The event promises "a full day of family fun and learning."

The annual event is designed "to highlight Newtown's abundant natural resources, help our community become greener, and continue to raise funds for our High School Graduate Scholarship." To date, the festival has provided $8,000 in the last five years to high school graduates.

The celebration includes kids' activities, live music, food vendors, a silent auction, vendors fair, the Lions Club Loose the Litter effort to clear streets and sidewalks of trash, and more.

Volunteers are reaching out to those interested in exhibiting or becoming an underwriter for a day that "has become an eagerly anticipated event with over 4,000 attendees and more than 100 local vendors. To further promote Earth Day and our vendors, we will be working with

To sign up as a vendor, and learn more about exhibiting or becoming an event underwriter, visit

Residents or businesses can also join the silent auction. "Consider donating one of your products or services to our silent auction. Proceeds will help support our annual Newtown High School Graduate Scholarship," the flyer states. Learn more at newtownearthday.org.

The website provides updates on activities, entertainment, and contact numbers for residents who want to join efforts such as Loose The Litter. Links are also available to Newtown's Sustainable Energy Commission, Newtown Forest Association, Pootatuck Watershed Association, Transition Network, and more.