Boulevardia aims to be zero-waste
Last year, about 35,000 guests visited Boulevardia, said Krystal Anton, who is involved with planning Greenville.
But Greenville isn’t the only sustainability-focused feature of the festival. This year, the Boulevardia Sustainability Committee set a goal of being zero-waste to landfill by 2018 and has introduced water stations to refill reusable bottles. The committee is also encouraging food trucks to use compostable plates and cups, and will make it mandatory for the 2016 festival.
Bridging the Gap is managing 20 recycling/waste stations to separate recyclables, compost and landfill material. All beverage containers sold at the festival are in recyclable cups and bottles. Volunteers can still sign up to work the stations at www.bridgingthegap.org/blvdia/.
“We’re looking at the whole big picture of Boulevardia,” Peal said. “A lot of people come to this, and a lot of waste is created. Our goal is to look to where we can reduce our footprint — using less energy, reducing waste.”
Last year, the festival recycled 8,289 pounds of plastics cups, bottles, cans and food utensils, Anton said. Volunteers collected 13,360 pounds of compost.
Explore more Boulevardia activities
The committee also created a Green Star award this year, which will be given to the food truck voted “most sustainable” during the festival. The truck will be able to display the award on the side of its vehicle for the next year and its admissions fee will be waived for next year’s Boulevardia.
Other features of this year’s festival, include:
Ride2Boulevardia on Saturday, June 20. The 60-mile and 100-mile rides begin at 7 a.m.; the 32-mile ride begins at 8 a.m.; and the 15-mile ride begins at 9 a.m. Registration costs between $50 and $60 and can be completed online at boulevardia.com/explore/cycling/.- BikeWalkKC will have a Bike Valet, offering spaces throughout the weekend. Riders must bring their own locks. Last year the Bike Valet parked about 500 bikes, Anton said.
- Protected cycling and pedestrian lanes along 12th Street from Downtown Kansas City to Boulevardia.
- A generator-powered Ferris wheel and teacup rides.
- A Makers Market & Vintage Village will feature independent, local crafts people and their wares.
- All festival information will be available on a Boulevardia app for smart phones, reducing the need for paper fliers. Download the app at boulevardia.com/apps/.
Ride2Boulevardia on Saturday, June 20. The 60-mile and 100-mile rides begin at 7 a.m.; the 32-mile ride begins at 8 a.m.; and the 15-mile ride begins at 9 a.m. Registration costs between $50 and $60 and can be completed online at Greenville & Family Carnival will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21.
Boulevardia will be open 5 – 11 p.m., Friday, June 19; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday, June 20 and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, June 21 in the West Bottoms, near 1427 W. 9th St. in Kansas City. One-day admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.boulevardia.com/tickets/.
Win two free tickets
Win two free single-day tickets to Boulevardia from Greenability. To enter, post a comment below on this story. Promotion ends noon on Thursday, June 11. Tickets can be picked up during business hours on Friday, at a midtown location given only to the winner. Post your comment now to enter.
I hope to go to Boulevardia this weekend, I went last year and it was a lot of fun!
I’m looking forward to biking to this event.