MEP Caribbean Publishers: Mark your calendars: Red Earth Eco Festival returns May 31

The Red Earth Eco Festival returns this year in commemoration of World Environment Day (June 5), with activities running May 29 to 31, culminating on the final day with a concert scheduled for 3pm.

The Festival is run by the Red Earth nonprofit organisation, founded by environmentally concerned citizens who saw an opportunity to raise awareness about conservation through the arts. The Festival presents performances that are staged with as small a carbon footprint as possible. Instead, most acts perform unplugged, in the exquisite natural environment of Tucker Valley in the Chaguaramas National Park.

This year's programme will feature an eclectic mix of Aboriginal and contemporary performances by local and regional artists, outdoor cinema, beach clean-ups, a farmers' market, stargazing, picnicking, hiking, and more. Here's the tentative programme:

Friday 29 May

8.30am-11am: Nature tours for schools, hike to Edith Falls (free for schools, by reservation only: 868-633-6992)
10.00am-12:00pm: Working with the Earth – clay & craft workshops, storytelling (free for schools, by reservation only: 868-633-6992)
1:00pm: First Citizens Series: aboriginal dance & rituals of Australia & Trinidad (free for schools, by reservation only: 868-633-6992)
6.30pm: A Night Under the Stars ($30) – open air cinema (all ages), star-gazing camping

Saturday 30 May

7.30am: Nature Tour ($40/$30) – Covigne River Trail (by reservation only – CDA: 868-634-4346)
8.00am: Beach clean up, Chacachacare (by reservation only: 868-389-6623)
8.00am–4.00pm: Dream Time: Mystic Intervention (free) – interactive art experience
10.00am–12:00pm: Working with the Earth ($20) – clay & craft workshops, storytelling (by reservation only: 868-633-6992)
11.00am: Workshops ($50) – didgeridoo playing, body painting, traditional song & dance (by reservation only: 868-389-6623)
1.00pm: Survival Training in the Bush (free, by reservation only: 868-685-3213)
4.00pm: Ritual Blessing of the Performance Space (free)
5:00pm: Red Earth, Fire Words (free) – spoken word performances
7.00pm: Dream Time ($150)– Descendance -(aboriginal dance company from Australia), 3canal and other local performers, unplugged

Sunday 31 May

9.00am: Nature Tours – Gasparee Caves ($95/$65) and hike to Macqueripe ($40/$30). By reservation only – CDA: 868-634-4346
9:00am–1:00pm: Farmers Market – organically grown food
9:30am–10:15am & 12:30am–1:15pm: Permaculture Workshop (free)
11.00am: The Screening Room (free) – all day screenings of films/documentaries
3.00pm: Healing From the Earth – medicinal plants trek, Mt St Catherine (free, by reservation only: 868-685-3213)
5.00pm: Picnic & poetry (free) – performance poetry, open mic performances
7.00pm: Rock The River Bed ($150) – local performers unplugged; Descendance (aboriginal dance from Australia)