Visitors walk at the top of Mount Trashmore during EcoFest 2018 in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — After cancelling in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and going virtual in 2021, the popular Earth Day celebration known as EcoFest is scheduled to return on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

The event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE.

See photos of the last in-person EcoFest in 2019.

The family-friendly festival includes interactive educational activities, local foods, arts, free live music, information on how to reduce our consumption of resources and ways to reduce and reuse household items.

Highlights include a sustainable art show in the courtyard behind the Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. SE, raptor programs and print your own T-shirt at the EduSkate Booth, with a shirt you bring from home.

A variety of organizations and nonprofits will offer hands-on activities and information, such as the Cedar Rapids School District’s Green Teams, which will offer a water pollution demonstration and other activities, and Save CR Heritage, which will offer examples of salvage treasures rescued from buildings before they are demolished, provide information on demolition debris that goes to our landfills and will have a petition to sign to give residents a voice on the closing of Garfield Elementary School.

The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency will have staff on-site to talk about the history of Mount Trashmore and provide information regarding garbage, recycling and compost.

See the full EcoFest 2022 schedule.

Yardy is expected to make a return visit to EcoFest this year. (photo/Cindy Hadish)