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Get your hands dirty building a community garden, learn about green living and see cooking demonstrations at this year’s EcoFest. The event is free and will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 28 on the TCC Northeast Campus, 3727 East Apache Street.

Besides starting the community garden, organizers have added a one-mile family fun run/walk. The first 50 people who sign-up for the fun run/walk will be given a free t-shirt. The fun run/walk starts at 9:30 a.m. Applications are available online.

Live music, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, exhibits and presentations about living a greener and healthier life are part of the day-long event. This year’s theme is Keeping Communities Green and Vibrant. The presentations begin at 9:30 a.m. and feature topics such as gardening, composting, alternative energy use from geothermal heating and cooling to electric vehicles, and low impact development.

“EcoFest is a celebration of the best of green living and ecofriendly practices where you can learn how small changes lead to big differences in your life,” said TCC Northeast Campus Director of Academic & Campus Services Mike Limas. “This year’s addition of the community garden to the event is exciting. We believe it creates a strong foundation for sustainable living for our community by having young children working side-by-side with their parents and community leaders to build the new garden.”

A special celebration marking Arbor Day will take place at 10:45 a.m. in front of the Engineering Technology Building. EcoFest organizers, TCC leaders and Oklahoma State Representative Seneca Scott will plant a tree donated by Up With Trees. Families will be able to take home a free tree provided by Up With Trees.

There are plenty of activities designed for children from the EcoKids Zone to the camel rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, face painting and petting zoo. The EcoKids Zone will introduce green concepts to children in an easy to understand format covering such topics as recycling, being earth-friendly, healthy eating, fitness and how to turn trash into treasure. The EcoKids Zone will be in the Engineering Technology Building.

2015EcoFest sponsors are AEP-PSO, Oklahoma Farm and Food Alliance, Oklahoma State University Extension Office, R&G Family Grocers, Reasor’s, Up With Trees and Whole Foods.

Additional information is available at http://www.tulsacc.edu/ecofest.