Welcome to the backstage portal of Earth Fest! Thank you for helping us bring hyper-local climate adaptation education and engagement to this region. You are making a difference!
Presenters, vendors, volunteers, and venue team: please bookmark this page for all information needed on the day of the event. Use the navigation panel to hop where you need to go.
Andy and Kendra will be on call all day Friday for set up and Saturday for execution. Save our numbers! Andy is (608) 692-8830 / Kendra is (352) 316-5401. You can also submit any questions to hello@decarbondekalb.com.
Earth Fest Facts
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 11, 2026 11am - 3pm
LOCATION: Earth Fest is held in Founders Memorial Library, 217 Normal Road, DeKalb, IL 60115. We will also utilize Normal Road for food trucks and outdoor activities.
DESCRIPTION: DeKalb County Earth Fest is a collaboration between DeCarbon DeKalb, NIU Office of Sustainability, and NIU Founders Memorial Library. It is free and open to all students, staff, faculty, and local/regional community members. We anticipate 500-1000 attendees in waves across the event. The event includes seminars, a community resource expo, and outdoor activities including food trucks, Nettle Composting Worm Wagon, and the NIU Hail Hunter Truck.
PARKING: Attendees have been directed to the surface lot near the library as well as the parking garage. Parking has been advertised as ample, accessible, and free.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES: Three food trucks will be located on Normal Road near the library. They will arrive between 9:30-10:00am and will serve from 11-3pm. EA cash bar will be available during the expo 11-3pm (Campus Dining).
EXPO: 50+ community organizations and vendors will table during the resource expo 11-3pm. Expo participants have been directed to use the service drive and loading dock at Founders Memorial Library. Volunteers will be available to help unload so the drive can clear quickly.
Schedule Snapshot
10–11 AM: Vendor Meet & Greet (vendors only)
11–12:15 PM: Welcome + Keynote
12:15–1 PM: Expo, food, Science on the Sphere
1–3 PM: Concurrent Sessions + Youth Activities
Full Schedule
For Presenters
Thank you for bringing your expertise to DeKalb County Earth Fest! We are so grateful for your participation in this third annual communiversity engagement event.
Here is your presenter information:
Please check the schedule above for presentation locations. Schedules and maps will be available at the venue as well.
If using a presentation slide deck, please send the file in Power Point format by 5pm on Friday to kendra@decarbondekalb.com. Please bring a flash drive backup of the presentation on Saturday.
Presentation slide decks are not required - let us know if you don’t have one and we’ll supply a graphic for you.
Please specify if additional tech needs exist (playing video, audio, etc.).
No need for personal computers: our team will preset a device in each space preloaded with presentation slide decks.
Event leadership and AV support will be available in each presentation space to introduce you and remedy tech issues.
Personal computers are permitted; please let us know if you plan to use one so we can double check the adapter needs.
Please plan to arrive in your presentation location ten minutes prior to start.
Free, accessible parking is available adjacent the event venue at 121 Carroll Ave, DeKalb, IL. There is also a parking garage just south of the venue.
At the event, please visit the DeCarbon DeKalb booth in the lower level for your name badge.
Need help during the event? Reach out to Andy (608) 692-8830 or Kendra (352) 316-5401. Can’t find us? Look for the executive planning team or venue team wearing white Earth Fest t-shirts.
Have questions? Please reach out at hello@decarbondekalb.com.
Additional technical and space specifications
Amplification
Founders Gallery and Learning Commons have gooseneck handheld wireless microphones that can be mobile.
Founders Gallery has two microphones.
Space adjustments
All Earth Fest spaces will remain in the same configuration during the event.
For Expo Vendors
Thanks again for participating in the third annual DeKalb County Earth Fest. And to all of the new exhibitors - WELCOME!
As a reminder, Earth Fest is on Saturday, April 11. Seminars and events run from 11:00 - 3:00. The Expo portion runs from 12:15 - 3:00 on the Lower Level of Founders Memorial Library (same as last year).
Set-up starts at 9:30am. A sponsor is providing coffee, OJ, and bagels for you to fuel up while you set-up and network with other exhibitors! A table and chairs will be supplied. Volunteers will be in the expo space to help and make sure you have what you need.
Founders Memorial Library is at 217 Normal Road, DeKalb, and free parking is available at 121 Carroll Avenue, DeKalb. The loading dock can accommodate two vehicles at a time. Please queue in the service drive and wait for a space to clear. The service drive is one-way traffic moving east. You can leave your materials at the dock while you park (free) so that others may unload. The Expo is at the same floor level as the dock and carts will be available.
If you need the loading dock to drop off materials, it is located on the south side of the building and will be open from 9:30 - 11:00. Carts and volunteers will be available. Access to the loading dock is a one-way alley (see attached map). If you are setting up between 11-12, or if you don't need the loading dock, please walk your materials to the lower level entrance on the north side of the building. See attached map.
If you do not need a loading dock for direct drop-off, you can still use it as an entrance to carry your materials in. Or, you can enter at the lower-level entrance adjacent to Normal Road on the north side of the building. Tables in the lower level will be marked with your organization name.
We hope you will stay through the event! Your table can be set up and broken down any time of time to accommodate your participation in other Earth Fest events. Please plan to vacate the table by 3:30pm.
If you still need to pay for your table, a check can be sent to DeCarbon DeKalb, 413 Fairmont Drive, DeKalb, IL 60115 or pay the fee here electronically.
For cross promotion to your networks, here’s the Facebook event.
THANK YOU for joining us and please reach out to Andy or Kendra with any questions.
We’ll see you there!
Saturday, April 11, 2025
11 AM - 3 PM
NIU Founders Library
217 Normal Road
DeKalb, IL
Free, accessible parking!
