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Green Festival, The Nation's Premier Sustainability Event, Returns to Los Angeles, November 17 & 18; Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons Amongst Keynote Speakers

The Second Year Brings Renowned Speakers, Celebrated Ashtanga Teacher Shiva Rea, and the Largest Green Holiday Marketplace

Green Festival, The Nation's Premier Sustainability Event, Returns to Los Angeles, November 17 & 18; Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons Amongst Keynote Speakers

The Second Year Brings Renowned Speakers, Celebrated Ashtanga Teacher Shiva Rea, and the Largest Green Holiday Marketplace

Published 10-10-12

Submitted by Green Festival

Green Festival, the nation’s largest and most trusted environmental consumer event, makes its return to Los Angeles on November 17-18, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event will host eco-innovators, over 100 renowned speakers including hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and eco-pioneer Ed Begley, Jr., artists, community leaders, green business experts, over 300 green and socially responsible exhibitors, health & wellness influencers, and cultural and bilingual programming. Green Festival is widely recognized as the largest marketplace of conscious businesses as well as a great place to find the latest in sustainable products and Fair Trade gifts perfect for holiday shopping.

In addition to Russell Simmons, keynote speakers include leading environmental, healthy lifestyle and social justice advocates: Ed Begley Jr.; John Robbins of Food Revolution; Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!; Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times best-selling fiction writer; Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa; Greg Palast, New York Times best-selling author and BBC freelance journalist; Esai Morales; actress/activist Q'orianka Kilcher and actor Edward James Olmos.

The event includes activities and workshops aimed at educating consumers on making healthy, greener choices such as a highly anticipated Tadasana Yoga & Movement Pavilion, a DIY Stage, a dedicated Green Kids Zone, the Good Food Stage featuring delicious vegetarian cuisine, organic beer and wine garden and the Green Business Stage where attendees will experience what’s trending in green jobs and businesses. Expanded Spanish language programming will also be featured throughout. 

A joint venture between Green America and Global Exchange, Green Festival is a non-profit event that celebrates an 11 year milestone hosting over one million attendees in eight cities. Green Festival is the largest sustainability event and is the only event that screens exhibitors for their commitment to social justice and ecological balance using Green America’s Green Business Certification Standards.

Green Festival continues to be the backdrop for the FORD Motor Community Green Grant program. Green Festival attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite non-profit project at the FORD Community Green Grants Booth during show hours. A $5,000 grant will be awarded on Sunday, November 18.

“It is so exciting to be back in Los Angeles,” said Denise Hamler, Green Festival Director. “Green Festival is a celebration of what is working in our communities and showing the healthy choices we can all make in our communities and in our lives that will make a difference – from the food we consume to the technology we use.”

Program highlights include:

  • Green Marketplace
  • Ford Ride and Drive in all-electric and hybrid cars
  • Green Kids Zone
  • Do-It-Yourself Workshops
  • Green Living Stage
  • Good Food Stage
  • Yoga & Movement Pavilion
  • Green Business Stage
  • Beer and Wine Garden
  • Bilingual Programming
  • Eco-Fashion Show
  • Organic Local Food
  • Fair Trade Stage
  • Community Action Stage
  • Sierra Club Green Cinema
  • Live music
  • Bike Valet
  • Keynote speakers include: Russell Simmons, Ed Begley Jr., John Robbins, Amy Goodman, Mary Alice Munroe, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Edward James Olmos, Greg Palast, Esai Morales, Q'orianka Kilcher

As a new Green Festival partner, Trash Cancer, started by Fran Drescher, kicked off  its incredible campaign at the Washington, DC Green Festival on Saturday, September 29, 2012 and across the nation with 1000+ events. Trash Cancer empowers women to become medical consumers by listening to their bodies and detecting cancer early to have the best chance for survival.

Other key partners and sponsors include: Ford Motor Company, Ford Community Green Grants, NAACP, Yoga Month, SustainU, Tadasana Festival, Earth Balance, Yelp LA, HUB LA, Liberty Hill, Raaw Juice, Clif Bar and LA City Farm.

The 2012 Green Festival will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Kentia Hall, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Doors open Saturday, November 17, 10 am – 7 pm and Sunday, November 18, 11 am-6 pm.

Tickets are $10 for a one day pass and $20 for a full weekend pass when purchased online at www.greenfestivals.org, or $15 and $25 at the door. (All tickets provide access to exhibit floor, all workshops/yoga classes, speakers and films.) Discounted admission at the door for seniors (over 65) and students with student ID. Free admission for anyone who rides a bike to the event and parks with the bike valet, youth under eighteen, union members, Green Festival volunteers and Green America and Global Exchange members.

For more information, please visit www.GreenFestivals.org. To exhibit, please call: 828-333-9403 x 300.

For partnership information, visit www.greenfestivals.org/become-a-partner.

About Green America
Green America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility.

About Global Exchange
Global Exchange is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change.

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Green Festival

Green Festival

Green Festival is a celebration of what is working in our communities and what is possible today. It's a gathering of more than 30,000 people with a passion for social justice, ecological balance and a sustainable economy. Whether you want to learn something new from one of our 125 visionary speakers, shop the Green Marketplace for new eco-friendly products, sample local food and wine or introduce your kids to the fun of a green lifestyle in the Green Kids Zone, Green Festival has something for everyone. www.greenfestivals.org

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