As we prepare for this year’s event, we find it more pertinent than ever to seek out vendors who share an environmentally conscientious attitude. Your sales will reach a community that is well aware of the plight facing our planet – customers who are actively seeking alternative ways to conserve, reuse, and recycle the goods and services they utilize on a daily basis.

The Grey to Green Festival is annually visited by upwards of 500 people and receives heavy television, radio, and print media coverage. Past guests have included Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, representatives from Congressman Tim Ryan’s office, House Representative Bob Hagan, members of Youngstown City Council, local and regional politicians, clergy, and community leaders, and Macarthur “Genius” Award recipient Will Allen, who spoke to last year’s crowd about urban farming.

New this year will be “Three Songs for Grey to Green,” a music festival featuring performances by dozens of local performing groups. Through innovative, collaborative efforts, we will be utilizing solar and wind energy sources to power this year’s new and improved entertainment area. The Grey to Green Festival also boasts a new collaborative partner this year in the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, which will add new focus and impact to the day’s events, with hopes for long-term community opportunities.

Live entertainment, children’s activities, natural and organic food choices, arts, crafts, and educational opportunities are only a few highlights of one of Northeast Ohio’s most unique and quickly growing earth-friendly festival.

Now is the time to get involved in the only festival in Ohio to celebrate the earth when it’s not Earth Month! We are dedicated to the belief that together, we can initiate positive change for our planet. Please refer to the attached Vendor and Exhibitor’s Form to pledge your participation in this year’s event. Note that there is a non-refundable $25 fee for all for-profit organizations participating.

We appreciate your support and loyalty, and we look forward to welcoming new participants! Please do not hesitate to contact Vendor Coordinator Debra Weaver (330-744-1748) or Festival Coordinator Brooke Slanina (330-718-5515) with any questions, concerns, or comments!

Thank you so much for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,
Brooke Slanina, Festival Coordinator
Debra Weaver, Vendor Coordinator

Download vendor form here

It’s no great secret that local foods and local economy represent one of the great opportunities for our city and region. Exciting work is developing at a rapid pace in this domain, not just in Cleveland but throughout our entire region. A great example of educating, advocating, and advancing collaborative ways of driving grassroots economic development was made transparent to hundreds who gathered at last month’s Grey to Green festival in Youngstown. I was honored to participate and meet a living legend, MacArthur award recipient and urban foods pioneer Will Allen, there. For decades Will has worked to lead Growing Power in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a champion of social entrepreneurship and social justice.

At most festivals, the large number of attendees might raise a common problem: a large volume of trash left behind and headed to a landfill. Something remarkable happened at Grey to Green, though.

At the end of the day, as the grounds were cleaned up, a solitary garbage bag was all that was needed. Everything else was gathered for composting or separated for recycling. If there’s a more appropriate testament to the significance of the day, I can’t think of one.