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Rochester Welcomes Return of Green Living Festival

ROCHESTER -- Rochester will again host one of the nation's largest green and wellness events. The Green Living Festival will move from spring to the first weekend of summer but will be staying at its downtown location during road construction that will close Main Street.

City Manager, Jaymes Vettraino, welcomes the event's return during the "Main Street Makeover."

"A green-living event downtown has become one of the highlights of the spring in Rochester and we are very happy to have it return for a fourth year," Vettraino said. "It is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to come downtown to enjoy the event and check out the Makeover project."   The planned construction detour borders the festival site, a 100,000 square foot vacant lot at Water and Third Streets, and will bring thousands of vehicles past the festival each day.

"We expect to gain a great deal of local awareness of the event," said John Batdorf, general manager of Michigan Green Team. "Four years ago we moved the event from Oakland University to Main Street and ended up a block away. This year Main Street is coming to us."

The three-day festival will highlight the green and wellness efforts of local business, government and non-profits. It will feature moer than 200 exhibits, more than 50 presentations, entertainment, concessions, activities, and many special events. Admission is free and open to all ages. Event information is available on-line at www.MIGLF.com.

With the promise of warmer weather and more exposure, as well as improvements in layout and programming, MI Green Team is planning for the return of crowds of over 50,000 which attended the event prior to last year's weather-affected numbers.

"It is an honor to welcome back to Downtown Rochester the Green Living Festival," said Marilyn Trent, Rochester DDA Board Member and Chair of its Green City Committee. "It's more important than ever to work together to help solve today's environmental and economic problems through education, innovation and long term sustainability strategies. This festival combines all three and it is a wonderful community event."

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