Earth Day Fair
Celebrate Earth Day with the Mercer Public Library!
The Mercer Public Library will host its 6th annual Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Mercer Community Center. The event will include activities for all ages, information tables from local organizations and businesses, a recycling station for a variety of materials, refreshments, door prizes, and more.
Kids’ Poster Contest
An annual feature of the Mercer Library Earth Day Fair is an art contest, and this year the Friends of the Mercer Public Library are sponsoring a children’s Earth Day poster contest. Cash prizes will be awarded in three age categories: preschool through second grade, third through sixth grade, and seventh through twelfth grade. Download a 11″ x 17″ poster entry form here or click here for a poster entry form that you can print on letter-sized paper. Artists may also create their poster on any paper or canvas up to 11″ wide by 17″ high or pick up a form from the library.
Confirmed fair participants
- Extension Iron County horticulture educator Bruce Spangenberg and community development educator Joseph Miller
- Flower Farm Girl – beeswax wraps
- Healthy Lakes & Rivers information
- Iron County Land & Water Conservation Department
- Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts (ICORE)
- MECCA Trails
- Mercer Seed Library
- North Country Trail Association, Heritage Chapter
- North Lakeland Discovery Center
- Northwoods Land Trust
- Northwoods Wildlife & Wetlands Club and Women’s Trap Shooting
- Penokee Rangers
- Range Master Gardeners
- Wisconsin DNR, Mercer field office
- Mercer Leos with refreshments by donation
- Walk for Water with the Mercer United Methodist Church
It’s not too late to register as an exhibitor for the fair. Any business or nonprofit organization that supports sustainability, green living, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, recycling, gardening, natural resources, wildlife and habitat preservation, silent sports, environmental education, or other environmental stewardship topics are invited to participate. There is no cost to reserve a table at the Earth Day Fair and all are welcome to share information, sell products, and recruit new members and volunteers.
Recycling
The Earth Day Fair includes several opportunities for free recycling! We are collecting the following items at the fair:
- Electronics, small appliances, and household batteries by courtesy of Trig’s Recycling Center in Minocqua. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept televisions or computer monitors, whether flat screen or CRT.
- Denim (at least 90% cotton) through the Blue Jeans Go Green program
- Shoes in gently worn condition for the Soles4Souls program
- Plastic film (grocery bags, bubble wrap, food storage bags, case overwrap, and other clean, “stretchy” plastic film) for the Springstead community’s NexTrex Recycling Challenge. PLEASE NOTE: This program cannot accept pet food bags, soil bags, or anything dirty or with food residue.
- Eyeglasses and printer cartridges for the Mercer Lions Club
Other activities
Mercer is recognized as a Bird City by Bird City Wisconsin. This means our community offers programs that educate residents and visitors about birds and sound conservation practices. As part of our community’s birding activities, John Bates will be offering a FREE program immediately following this year’s Earth Day Fair. Join us for “Birding in the Northwoods” with John Bates at 12:00 p.m. in the Mercer Library.
The Mercer United Methodist Church will sponsor a “Walk for Water” after the Earth Day Fair activities at 1:00 p.m. This event will raise funds to help bring safe water to people around the world through Water Mission, a nonprofit organization rated with 4 stars by Charity Navigator. Visit the Mercer Walk for Water website to register to participate or to make a donation, or view the event on Facebook for more information.
For more information about the Earth Day Fair or its associated events, or to register as an exhibitor, call the Mercer Library at (715)476-2366 or contact the library director.