UNION SQUARE — Union Square is going green in a major way Wednesday, playing host to what organizers said is the city’s largest annual eco-friendly event.
New Green City is a free, daylong festival featuring more than 40 interactive exhibits, lectures, workshops and a solar-powered cook-off to expose New Yorkers to environmentally friendly practices and services.
The event is run by GrowNYC, a nonprofit organization that manages the Union Square Greenmarket. And judging from attendance in previous years, organizers said they expect more than 100,000 people to attend the event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“New Yorkers coming out to New Green City will interact with artists, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and city agencies at the forefront of sustainability,” Marcel Van Ooyen, executive director of GrowNYC, said in a statement. “Not only will they leave with ideas and opportunities to help improve their environment, but residents of all ages will have a great time doing it.”
Visitors are welcome to donate used or unwanted plastic bags, which a design team from the Pratt Institute will help form into a large-scale, decorative Mandala (a circular sculpture).
Children can enjoy a vegetable puppet show from Super Sprowtz, a media company focused on kids' nutrition.
A solar-powered cook-off will take place starting at 11 a.m., with healthy cooking expert Jennifer Iserloh and chef Dan Obusan from the catering company Great Performances whipping up dishes using appliances powered by solar panels.
And free lectures and workshops will cover a range of topics, from cycling in the city to paperless banking. Those sessions will be held every half hour, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
