Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Recycled Arts Festival is back this month for a 14th year, offering free fun for the whole family in Esther Short Park. The popular two-day event showcases artwork made of recycled materials, and aims to educate and excite Clark County residents about waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

The festival, presented by McCord’s Vancouver Toyota, is 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 29 and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, June 30. Attendees who show their reusable mugs or water bottles at the information tent will be entered in a special drawing.

More than 130 artists will sell items, such as metal and glass garden art, sculptures, mosaics, jewelry, clothing, furniture, birdfeeders and wall art. Items are made of at least 75 percent recycled material and are sure to inspire everyone to see things they may consider as trash in a new way.

The family-friendly festival also will include:

• Music on the stage, beginning at 9:30 am Saturday and Sunday.
• Kids’ Activity Booth, hosted by Scrap PDX, with recycled materials to create art and masks for the Procession of the Species.
• Sculpture garden displaying large pieces of recycled art.
• Robot demonstrations by high school robotics teams.
• Tossed and Found display, showcasing items gleaned from the landfill that could be reused or repurposed.
• A deconstructed shipping container turned into a home.
• Free face painting 9 am to noon Saturday and Sunday.
• Planet Clark’s earthquake simulator.
• Food carts offering a variety of food, including frozen treats, coffee and sandwiches.

Additional festival features

The Falconer will bring live birds of prey to educate the public about wildlife conservation. Human habits, from toxic chemicals used in gardening to throwing litter on highways, directly affect the wellbeing and survival of these animals. The Falconer’s feathered friends and team of experts will be in the northeast section of the park on Saturday and Sunday.

The Procession of the Species is returning for a third year. The parade celebrates the natural world through art, with participants dressed in costumes and masks representing animals, plants and elements.

The parade begins at 11 am Sunday, June 30. Registration opens at 10:30 am. The free parade is open to people of any age. The cast of costumed characters will be led by The Beat Goes On, an all-adult marching band, and joined by dancers as they wind through Esther Short Park. The parade ends with a costume contest on the festival’s main stage.

Clark County Public Health and the Recycled Arts Festival have hosted free costume workshops throughout the month to help participants get ready for the parade. Those interested in joining the parade can make a costume or mask at one of the remaining workshops or bring their own on parade day. Here are the remaining workshops:

• 10 am to noon Thursday, June 27 at Salmon Creek Regional Park/Klineline Pond, Pondview Picnic Shelter, 1112 NE 117th St.
• 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 29 and 9-10:30 am Sunday, June 30, at Recycled Arts Festival Kids’ Activity Booth, Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St.

Register for the June 27 workshop on the Procession of the Species website. No registration required for workshops at the Recycled Arts Festival Kids’ Activity Booth.

Free parking will again be available in the Clark County Public Service Center parking garage, 1300 Franklin St. A shuttle bus will run regularly between the gazebo in the plaza at northeast 13th and Franklin streets and the south side of Esther Short Park (across the street from Vancouver City Hall). People who purchase heavy items that cannot be carried to a vehicle can be left at a secure loading area at the northeast corner of the park and picked up later.

For more information, visit the Recycled Arts Festival website.

CONTACT
Marissa Armstrong
Communications specialist
Public Health
564.397.7307
marissa.armstrong@clark.wa.gov