Dandelion Day is very nearly upon us. This Carbondale festival, now in its 27th year, is a celebration of sustainability and responsible Earth stewardship. It began in 1998 in concert with efforts to ban the use of herbicides in public parks, safeguarding the health of people, pets, pollinators and entire ecosystems. The dandelion became Carbondale’s town flower, symbolizing reverence for wild and resilient beauty.
Considered by some a weed, dandelions are important early-season food for crucial pollinators and offer many health benefits for humans too, a fact well understood by Dandelion Day’s founder, Doc Philip.
This year, lead organizer Kat Hardy carries on the tradition with a fresh theme: “Mother Earth is calling… Will you answer?” Hardy has helped produce the event for several years with support from Carbondale’s Environmental Board.
During a recent interview, she explained that the day is now structured to begin with a “kids fest” from 10am to noon. “Stewardship of the Earth is the message, and having children be a big part of this is how we prepare the future generations for Earth stewardship,” Hardy explained.
As always, the Parade of Species, led by African dancers and drummers, will begin the day. All are welcome to participate by meeting at 2nd and Main around 9:45am dressed as any “flora, fauna, funga, animal, creepy-crawly, interdimensional being,” Hardy listed with a smile. The procession will lead to Sopris Park, where close to 100 vendors are poised to sell a variety of artisanal goods. Bonedale Ballet kids will then perform at the gazebo, followed by Sopris Soarers.
At high noon, KDNK will open the beer garden as the Jazzmonauts, a local seven-piece jazz band, takes the stage.“I like to say that we party with a purpose at Dandelion Day,” Hardy said. Down Valley Sound will serenade the park next, but first there will be a panel discussion on stage featuring Madeline Werner, Delia Malone and Harper Kaufman, three local women embracing Earth stewardship, sustainability and regenerative practices. After the panel, a lifetime achievement award will be bestowed upon a secret guest of honor.
Live t-shirt printing with Inkswell, a popular activity introduced last year, will also return. This go-around, four designs were created by Heather Quinn and each will be available to print on any washed, natural fabric. There will be shirts for sale, but attendees are encouraged to reduce waste by bringing their own.
“Mother Earth’s not playing around. It’s time to step up and be good stewards of the Earth and pay attention,” Hardy said. “These images are meant to impart that emotion of the theme.”
Funds raised above the event costs will benefit Casey’s Fund for Farmers, connecting people who work in agriculture with wellness benefits. “This is the first year that it is not just a festival, but a fundraiser,” Hardy said. “My vision is that Dandelion Day will remain a fundraiser for perpetuity. So every year, the excess funds that are gathered will be put toward sustainability efforts.”
She concluded, “I want people to feel like they can be part of this revolution, because I really do believe that’s what this is. The elders in this community were ahead of their time in many ways.”
In a nutshell:
Date: May 10
Time: 10am to 5pm
Place: Sopris Park
Cost: Free! Prospective volunteers can contact dandelionday81623@gmail.com