DeKalb County Earth Fest 2025
DeKalb County Earth Fest is a FREE, festive, family-friendly day of learning how decarbonizing our homes and towns can make us wealthier, healthier, and happier. Experts and community partners come from our region and beyond to introduce meaningful next steps in DeKalb County climate adaptation.
The first annual Earth Fest started conversations that ignited meaningful impact across the county. We return in 2025 to focus on energy and rewilding, with two questions in mind:
What can we do better? What can we do next?
Earth Fest is an all-day event open to the public, and it’s bigger than last year!
Expect morning and afternoon learning/networking sessions, a midday community expo with food trucks and a cash bar, all followed by a social and networking hour with a cash bar and sustainable fashion show.
Tailor the day to your interests! Full schedule will be available soon. Some events will have limited capacity.
See the agenda at a glance here, and register here.
Sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and presenters, more info is available here.
Read all about it! We’ll see you April 5!
Walk and Roll DeKalb!
Join us for an evening of fun, food, and fresh air as we explore the beautiful trails of Dekalb! Hop on and off the trail between Hopkins Park and Prairie Park where it’s convenient for you, and stop by the NIU Lagoon for food trucks, live music, and outdoor activity resources. Grab your bike, skates, skateboard, wheels, and a friend and get outside with NIU and DeCarbon DeKalb!
DeKalb Sustainable Garden Tour
Curious about sustainable gardening in DeKalb County? Learn more about native design & landscaping on this local garden tour with DeCarbon DeKalb members.
Prairie Walk and Picnic Social
Join us in July for a guided prairie walk with a master naturalist at beautiful Walnut Grove Vocational Farm!
Family Fun Fest
The 17th annual Family Fun Fest is FREE! We’ll have the photo booth set up - join hundreds of DeKalb families and come say hi!
Home Decarbonization 101: Clean, Healthy, and Affordable Buildings
Join the Citizens Utility Board for a presentation about home decarbonization. Residents can learn about how to decrease their carbon emissions, electric alternatives such as heat pumps and induction stoves, financial incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and more! Sponsored by DeCarbon DeKalb.
DeKalb County Earth Fest and “Common Ground” Screening
Join us for a FREE, family-friendly Earth Day social with eco-resources and give-aways followed by screening of the documentary Common Ground and a Q&A with local experts.
4:30p.m. - EVs, E-bikes, kid zone, food truck, music, cash bar, local environmental resources, eco-themed community art project, eco-market, and give-aways!
6:30p.m. - the Northern Illinois premiere screening of Common Ground, a documentary about regenerative farming, followed by a panel discussion with farmers and soil experts.
Sponsored by DeCarbon Dekalb, NIU, DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, 350Kishwaukee, the League of Women Voters, and OC Creative.
More activities to be announced!