In 2007, after attending green festivals organized at the national level, Evanston Environmental Association Board members decided that a local green festival in Evanston would be a great event for the community. 

The Evanston Green Living Festival was begun with a goal of promoting green products and practices that would help local residents reduce their carbon footprint.

The decision to hold the first festival was made just a few months before the event was to be held.  As the festival date approached, there was lots of scrambling as the organizers had to contend with the challenges of holding the event for the first time.  Exhibitors, speakers, and sponsors were secured up to the last minute.  The logistics associated with providing tents, ordering food, creating festival signage, distributing posters, and numerous other tasks was overwhelming. 

But ultimately on October 6, 2007, the Evanston Green Living Festival was born!  This first festival was attended by 800 people.  

By 2009, the attendance had grown to 1800 with 75 exhibitors participating.  In that year, we created this web site to communicate with the community about the festival.  We also presented the eco-musical "Parker in the Park" for the first time.  

In 2010, we added the "Ready, Set, Recycle!" electronics recycling event to the festival, which resulted in the recycling of tons of older electronics gear.  ("Ready, Set, Recycle!" will not be held in 2011 because the City of Evanston will offer its own recycling event on July 23, 2011.)       

The 2011 festival will be the fifth annual version of the Evanston Green Living Festival.  The festival committee is working hard to make it a great event for this year's attendees.  Please take a few hours on an autumn Saturday to come visit this year's festival and help us make it the best festival yet!