St. George Day Festival – A local Earth Day and Arts Celebration

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    St. George Day Festival

    A local Earth Day and arts celebration

    Saturday, April 23, 2016
    from 11:00 am to 5:00pm

    Taking place in and around Tompkinsville Park in Staten Island

    This free, North Shore event–a community pageant, performing arts showcase, literary event and interactive science fair rolled into one–will include kids’ activities, family-oriented fun, outdoor art installations, live music, street performance, crafts and Earth Day demonstrations. Three of St. George Day’s signature offerings, the Earth Day Zone, the Festival Dragon Parade, and the giant puppet spectacle, “St. George & the Friendly Dragon,” will again be presented. An Earth Day event like no other, the festival invites visitors to imagine the possibilities of what their neighborhood can be when bonded by a deep commitment to the arts, humanities, and the environment. For more details, visit www.stgeorgedaysi.com.

    The following is from last year’s listing:

    Attractions at the 9th Annual St. George Day Festival:

    • “St. George & the Friendly Dragon,” –  A giant puppet theatre spectacle reinterpreting the story of St. George and the Dragon, starring a 35 ft. long  colorful dragon puppet.
    • Earth Day Zone –  A special area dedicated to green living and education,
    • Dragon Parade – A walking pageant of dragons, fairies, and people.
    • Art Around the Park – Park fences turn into galleries for the day.
    • Interactive Craft Fair – Check out makers’ wares AND learn new skills.
    • Kids’ Craft Stations –  Creative teachers with easy crafts kids can make and take.
    • Rock-climbing wall provided by The NYPD Community Affairs Department
    • Live Music Stage – Performances by some of Staten Island’s diverse musicians and dancers.
    • WORD! Stage – Poetry, performance, and storytelling from local writers, readings en espanol, and an Open Mic session
    • Kids’ Stage – Fun entertainment for a young audience.
    • Street Performance – Live “happening style” presentations throughout the day.
    • Flash Yoga – For 5 minutes the whole festival is encouraged to partake in a yoga practice supporting playfulness and community.
    • Free Store – Give and take free stuff: repurpose, recycle, reuse!
    • Community Quilt- we will create together, on the spot!

    The Community Association of Tompkinsville Park Promoting Arts and Whimsy, “CATPAW,” is the neighborhood organization behind St. George Day. Working in co-operation with the NYC Parks Department, CATPAW creates public programming in Tompkinsville Park, near Staten Island’s North Shore waterfront. CATPAW first initiated St. George Day as a local art and literary event in the late aughts, drawing connections to the international creative celebration of St. George Day commemorated on April 23. The group realized their festivities coincided with Earth Day (April 22), and expanded their programming to include environmentally-centered installations and demonstrations. Over the course of the past eight productions, St. George Day has become Staten Island’s premiere Earth Day and community arts celebration. Visitors from across the Island come to enjoy and engage with the many fabulous presenters and volunteers at a festival everyone can enjoy.

    Incorporating Earth Day themes into the creative extravaganza of art, music, literature  and performance that is St. George Day was a natural fit for CATPAW and their collaborating artists and volunteers. Their shared vision of park and neighborhood beautification is grounded in green tenets and practices. From the Earth Day Zone to children’s entertainment, the festival’s offerings encourage and inspire attendees to becomes stewards of the planet and creators of culture. The festival’s inspired retelling of the St. George and the Dragon myth transforms the story so that in the end, rather than slaying the dragon, human and creature become friends, eschewing violence in favor of peaceful, non-violent communication. St. George Day is a great way for neighbors of all ages to play together at a fun day in the park, experiencing all the pageantry, diversity, art and entertainment on hand, and becoming introduced to greener lifestyles and practices.