SolarFest celebrates 30 Years of music, education, and climate action
For three decades, SolarFest has been more than just a summer event; it has served as a gathering place for people committed to protecting the planet, one workshop, one conversation, and one connection at a time.“We’re in it more for the community, and our skill set says… what can we do?” said Event Coordinator Janice Kurkoski.The festival runs entirely on volunteers, many of whom return year after year not for the crowds but for the cause. Participants share their expertise on topics ranging from solar panels to green building, sustainable food, and alternative transportation, offering practical solutions to today’s environmental challenges.Erin Ballantine, SolarFest’s board secretary, said recent weather events have underscored the urgency of the festival’s mission. “It really hit me that this is going to happen every summer in Vermont, heavy rain, flooding. The weather is changing, and that reinforced exactly why we’re here,” Ballantine explained.Vermont has experienced three consecutive summers of flooding, a reminder of what is at stake as climate change becomes more visible. “Unfortunately, climate change is here, now it’s like, how do we best make everybody comfortable?” Ballantine added.Organizers see SolarFest as a place to build stronger, more resilient communities. This year’s event comes as the Trump administration announced plans to end a $7 billion program aimed at helping low-income households and communities gain access to affordable solar energy, a move advocates warn could limit opportunities for thousands of homes.“We’re going to have to swim and not sink,” Kurkoski said. “At the very least, we can talk and help each other get through whatever’s coming.”From dancing to live music to learning how to reduce one’s carbon footprint, SolarFest offers a space for education and inspiration. Volunteer Lisa Aiken hopes the movement continues to grow. There are a lot of people who have tried hard to make improvements over the last 50 years. And we need to see that’s still going on, and stop some of the backpedaling that’s happening in caring for the environment,” Aiken said.
For three decades, SolarFest has been more than just a summer event; it has served as a gathering place for people committed to protecting the planet, one workshop, one conversation, and one connection at a time.
“We’re in it more for the community, and our skill set says… what can we do?” said Event Coordinator Janice Kurkoski.
The festival runs entirely on volunteers, many of whom return year after year not for the crowds but for the cause.
Participants share their expertise on topics ranging from solar panels to green building, sustainable food, and alternative transportation, offering practical solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
Erin Ballantine, SolarFest’s board secretary, said recent weather events have underscored the urgency of the festival’s mission.
“It really hit me that this is going to happen every summer in Vermont, heavy rain, flooding. The weather is changing, and that reinforced exactly why we’re here,” Ballantine explained.
Vermont has experienced three consecutive summers of flooding, a reminder of what is at stake as climate change becomes more visible.
“Unfortunately, climate change is here, now it’s like, how do we best make everybody comfortable?” Ballantine added.
Organizers see SolarFest as a place to build stronger, more resilient communities.
This year’s event comes as the Trump administration announced plans to end a $7 billion program aimed at helping low-income households and communities gain access to affordable solar energy, a move advocates warn could limit opportunities for thousands of homes.
“We’re going to have to swim and not sink,” Kurkoski said. “At the very least, we can talk and help each other get through whatever’s coming.”
From dancing to live music to learning how to reduce one’s carbon footprint, SolarFest offers a space for education and inspiration.
Volunteer Lisa Aiken hopes the movement continues to grow. There are a lot of people who have tried hard to make improvements over the last 50 years. And we need to see that’s still going on, and stop some of the backpedaling that’s happening in caring for the environment,” Aiken said.