Note: This story has been updated to include additional information not available when the story first published April 19.   

WOOSTER – The Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair will return to the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Wooster on Saturday.

The free event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in and around the Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center, off Secrest Road near U.S. Route 250, and will feature “a variety of items, food vendors and a Green Car Cruise-in,” according to the event’s website.

Fred Michel, a professor at the college and president of  Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network, said this will be the first fair since 2018 after the 2020 event was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After missing the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, Michel said they are excited to be able bring back the fair this year with activities for adults and children, and a focus on recycling.

Starting at 10 a.m., visitors can catch presentations about recycling, climate action and local food production at the Miller Pavilion. The presentations will run until about 12:15 p.m. and will be led by professors and local groups such as Citizen’s Climate Lobby and Local Roots.

Several exhibitors and nonprofit groups will be set up inside the Secrest Center offering displays and information about solar energy and other sustainable resources. Michel said there also will be exhibits tailored toward children with craft, face painting and an animal education exhibit.

In front of the Secrest Center will be a Green Car Cruise-In event, which Michel said will be similar to the event held in Wooster last weekend, with hybrid and completely electronic vehicles featured. Some of the vehicles signed up include a Tesla, electric motorcycle, a Chevy Bolt and a Nissan LEAF, Michel said.

Various items will be accepted at a recycling station set up on Pounden Road, off Secrest Road, including:

• Sensitive document shredding, office paper and cardboard
• Fluorescent tube and CFL lights, batteries
• Small electronics, computers, LCD/LED monitors
• Scrap metal
• Bicycles, locks, helmets

Items such as expired or old medication can be dropped off at a separate location set up in the Secrest Center, with further information listed on the website.

Tours of the LEED Science Building and Bug Zoo, Secrest Arboretum and Composting Center will happen throughout the afternoon with times and locations listed on the website.

Three zero-waste food trucks will be featured, including Linn Enterprises, Korasada and Hartzlers. Michel said what makes them zero-waste is all their products are either recyclable or compostable, and they will not use any gasoline to power the trucks.

With all the different exhibits and information that will be shared Saturday, Michel said he hopes to see people not only enjoying themselves, but also hopes they learn a thing or two about helping planet Earth.

“I hope they (visitors) can take away an appreciation of ways that maybe they can contribute to preserving the Earth and its resources,” Michel said. “And also possibly addressing some of the big problems we’re facing related to things like climate change and natural resource use and animal extinction.”

CORRECTION: The LEED Science Building and Bug Zoo, Secrest Arboretum and Composting Center are the three locations offering tours during the Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair on April 23. A fourth location was listed when the story was first published April 19. 

Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com   

On Twitter: @RachelKaras3