Every year since 1974, Skidmore has welcomed musical acts, artists, and vendors to celebrate Earth Day and support the College’s sustainability initiatives. Lively Lucy’s, Skidmore’s live music event club, student radio station WSPN, and the student government, among other campus clubs, lend their hand in organizing one of the largest events at Skidmore: a day-long festival celebrating the Saratoga community. Skidmore’s Earth Day festival combines the outdoors, music, art, and community, something that is particularly important in the second year after the COVID-19 shutdowns.
On Saturday April 22, musical performances, sustainable activities, and an artists’ bazaar will take place on the Library Green. According to First-Year Class President, Madison Situ, and the Earth Day Planning Committee, the festival “is a tribute not only to our Earth, but also a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity for all students at Skidmore College,” showcasing students’ artistic (and sustainable) talents, many of which support mutual aid funds.
Known to be a popular musical event, Earth Day boasts performances by a student-selected headliner, local artists, and two student bands – the winners of Lively Lucy’s Battle of the Bands: LLC and Konvenients. Lively Lucy’s President, Maddie Aiken, describes the event as a “springtime celebration for the community where we can enjoy the beauty of the community, the outdoors, and music all at once.” Though she and others have worked endlessly to organize musical artists for the event, she emphasizes that all members of the Saratoga community are crucial: “The person making homemade buttons is just as important as the person who signs the contract for the headliner.”
The 2023 festival differs from past Earth Days because this year’s planners are attempting to incorporate as many organizations and artists as possible while still remaining sustainable. Lou Spandoni, WPSN Radio Event Coordinator, says the committee strived to prioritize close-by artists to lessen travel-based pollution. They hope to encourage artists to sell wares from recycled wares or to donate to charities. WSPN, who is responsible for social media promotion, merch, and helping to bring in musical artists, have been involved in the festival for “as long as it's been around,” according to Spadoni.
All in all, Situ, Aiken, and Spadoni agree that students should look forward to the headliner, as well as the warm weather and the Artist’s Bazaar. The Earth Day festival not only showcases students’ talents and passions, but also the surrounding community’s commitment to protecting the Earth.
For more information regarding Saturday’s events, visit the festival's Instagram page for a detailed itinerary..
Image courtesy of @suco_skidmore on Instagram