DeKalb County Earth Fest
April 11 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
DeKalb County Earth Fest is a free, family-friendly community festival celebrating local climate action. Hosted by DeCarbon DeKalb and co-presented by NIU Sustainability, Earth Fest brings together neighbors, local experts, youth voices, food, art, and practical solutions for a healthier, more resilient DeKalb County. 11–12:15 PM: Welcome + Keynote | 12:15–1 PM: Expo, food, Science on the Sphere | 1–3 PM: Concurrent Sessions + Youth Activities
Keynote: Post Landfill Action Network: A national leader connecting waste, climate, and justice, PLAN will explore why waste is a climate issue — and what individuals and communities can do about it, from everyday choices to collective action.
Hands-On Learning: Edible Campus: Learn how to get started with food gardening and hydroponics through NIU’s Edible Campus initiative, bringing practical, accessible growing techniques to campus and community.
Community Spotlight: Sag Moraine Native Plant Community – Locally loved educators and creators focused on restoring life-supporting habitat one native plant at a time, Sag Moraine is inspiring a grassroots movement toward healthier urban ecosystems across Northern Illinois.
Meet the NIU Huskie Hail Hunter: See the real research truck used by NIU scientists to study extreme hailstorms. This modified Ford F-150 helps researchers collect data during severe weather events, giving our region better insight into changing storm patterns and climate impacts. Interactive. Up close. Very cool.
Meet Mission Pup: The beloved NIU huskie will be at the DeCarbon DeKalb selfie station 12:30-1:30!
NIU STEAM: Bringing Sustainability to Life: Learn how to incorporate hands-on sustainability programming into your classroom, organization, nonprofit, or business. NIU STEAM educators will share practical tools, lesson ideas, and real-world examples that make climate learning interactive, accessible, and action-oriented. If you work with youth, community groups, or teams, this session is not to be missed.
Free Trees, Free Native Plants, & an Introduction to Microforests
Mitigating the Rising Cost of Energy
City of DeKalb Citizens Environmental Commission STARR Awards
Environmental Art Installations
Community Resource Expo with 50+ community orgs
Food Trucks, Cash Bar, Free Parking & Live DJ
https://www.decarbondekalb.com/earth-fest
