The Friends of Molly Hollar Wildscape will be part of the Arlington Conservation's Council's 'Fix It Green' demonstration tent during the 6th annual Ecofest Arlington on Sept. 20. Photos by Karl Thibodeaux.

Sept. 17, 2014 

A line up of green festivals is coming your way – starting this weekend. On Saturday, while the city of Dallas revives its Green Fest on the Continental Avenue Bridge, the city of Arlington gears up for its 6th annual Ecofest in downtown Arlington, at Center and Abram Streets.

The popular environmentally themed fair features green vendors, master gardeners and composters, classes, demos and as well as kids’ activities and live music. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Some of the highlights include: 

The Arlington Conservation Council’s ‘“Fix it Green” Tent

Last year, ACC assembled one of the most innovative booths we’ve seen at local green fairs. They created more than a dozen displays showing homeowners how to make their homes more sustainable with cheap and easy do-it-yourself fixes. They also calculated how much money they’d save doing it. 

Right, ACC president Danny  Kocurek.

The models showed how to reduce  “phantom” energy load, use the trickle valve on your shower head and explained the difference between LEDs and CFLs. Meanwhile, an army of ACC members was on hand to answer questions. 

Plus, they made the exhibit almost entirely out of salvaged and borrowed materials. 

Danny Kocurek, an Arlington emergency room doctor and president of the Arlington Conservation Council, was the mastermind behind the exhibit. 

“Our target audience is not the sustainably minded but the other 99 percent,” said Kocurek. “Most people don’t care about the planet but they want to save 50 bucks a year.”   

This year, the ACC is setting up an expanded display, which includes some new water saving tips. In addition, the Friends of the Molly Hollar Wildscape will join in to promote the benefits of replacing traditional turf with native plants. 

Free Trees

The city of Arlington is giving away 2,000 free trees starting at 10 a.m. Last year, they gave away 1,500 trees in five hours. They’re offering a variety of Texas native trees, including desert willow, eastern red cedar, bur oak and redbud. See complete list of trees. 

Make a Rain Barrel Class

Attendees can build a 55-gallon rain barrel to take one home from 10 a.m. to noon at the Arlington City Hall Council Chambers. Cost to Arlington residents is only $10. If space is available, nonresidents can attend for $40. Info: Dustan Compton at Dustan.Compton@ArlingtonTx.gov or 817-459-6628.

Other Eco Classes

Event-goers can learn about managing turf in a drought, efficient irrigation, drought-tolerant plants, edible landscaping and take a City Hall Landscape Tour. See complete schedule of classes. 

See what else is coming up this fall in North Texas.


Stay up to date on everything green in North Texas, including the latest news and events! Sign up for the weekly Green Source DFW Newsletter! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.