TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama community is invited to the 16th annual Earth Fest celebration with a variety of events planned on campus during “Green Week” April 17-22.

The UA student chapter of the Alabama Environmental Council, the Student Government Association, and Creative Campus will sponsor activities relating to environmental issues during the Earth Fest celebration.

Individuals will also be able to participate in a range of events during Green Week, including an organic food contest, a recycling art project and an outdoor festival.

To kick off Green Week, participants can enter an organic food contest in Riverside’s activity room at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17. A nutritionist will discuss the benefits of eating organic food and stores where organic products can be purchased. After the presentation, various organic food samples will be provided.

On Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m.- noon, Green Week representatives will pass out flyers and promotional items on the Quad and at Maxwell Hall before the A-Day football game. There will be bins located at Maxwell Hall to collect cans and plastic bottles for the recycling art project.

The Earth Fest Extravaganza will take place on Sunday, April 22 at 11 a.m. on the UA Quad. The main event for the Extravaganza is the recycling art project that will culminate as UA artist Jenna Hastreiter oversees the creative process of the artwork. Children who collected the materials, as well as UA students and Tuscaloosa community members will actually produce it. The project stresses the importance of recycling and reducing our consumption through environmental education.

The Extravaganza will also feature organic cooking exhibits, live music from Plato Jones and The Great Big No and various child-friendly activities. UA student artists will have their artwork on sale during the festival.

For more information about Green Week events, contact Jennifer Kitt at 989/430-6320 or kitt001@bama.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.