Living Smart Festival coming soon

Date Posted: 17 August 2012

Speers Point Park will become Lake Macquarie's big backyard at this year's Living Smart Festival on Saturday 15 September.

The Living Smart Festival is a low-waste, climate-friendly event with a focus on the community and current sustainability issues.  This year's theme is "Your sustainable home and garden".

Council's Manager Sustainability, Alice Howe, said the Festival will feature live music, art, fashion, food, market stalls, free workshops, and a native plant giveaway. 

"It is the third Living Smart Festival and the event has been getting bigger and bigger.  This year we expect more than 7,000 people will visit and enjoy the occasion," Dr Howe said.

"In 2012, the Festival coincides with Council's annual native plant giveaway, so Lake Macquarie residents can pick up some free plants and chat to gardening experts while enjoying the other festivities.

"We hope our community will come away informed and inspired to make some changes that increase the sustainability of their home and garden, and save them money."

2012 Living Smart Festival

When: Saturday 15 September

Time: 9am – 3pm

Where: Speers Point Park

Cost: Free

Festival highlights:

  • dirtgirlworld live show
  • Shannon Lush – green cleaning expert and author of Spotless
  • Lish Fejer – green it yourself expert as seen on ABC TV's Carbon Cops
  • Ask an Expert – get answers to all your gardening, water, energy, green building, bike maintenance, renovating and green cleaning questions
  • ABC 1233 Planet Kids – activities and entertainment
  • Lake Aboriginal cultural cruise – free trips on the Solar Sailorone of the only boats in the world powered purely by solar energy
  • Music – live local music
  • Market stalls – handmade eco and designer wares
  • Workshops – for sustainability and wellbeing
  • Museum 2 You – the Australian Museum's mini exhibition with real specimens and objects
  • Pedal Power Smoothie Making – make a delicious smoothie using your own pedal power
  • Reverse Vending Machine – recycle your cans and get a prize
  • Eco displays and demonstrations
  • Organic wine tasting
  • Food and fair trade coffee 

Hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council, this year's festival is supported by Newcastle Herald, 1233 ABC Newcastle, NBN, Hunter Resource Recovery, Hunter Water and NSW Bike Week.

Getting there:

This year we're offering an even more sustainable event, with free shuttle buses and ferries running all day to get you to and from the festival.  Or you can ride your bike, enjoy the spring weather and take advantage of the free valet bicycle parking.