Press Release | October 8, 2019
Terlingua Community Garden and Big Bend Ranch State Park team up for 2019 GREEN SCENE Festival – October 26-27th.
The 11th annual sustainability festival in the Terlingua Ghost Town will include education and resources for preserving Dark Skies.
Terlingua, TX -- The Terlingua Community Garden (part of the Big Bend Citizens Alliance) is partnering with Big Bend Ranch State Park ahead of their 11th annual GREEN SCENE Festival. In addition to education and demonstrations related to sustainability, BBRSP is providing special content related to dark-sky preservation.
The Big Bend of Texas is widely recognized to have some of the darkest skies in the United States, which makes the area well-suited to astronomical study and astro-tourism. Big Bend National Park received recognition from the International Dark-sky Association (IDA) as an International Dark Sky Park in 2012, and Big Bend Ranch State Park received their designation in 2017. The communities of Terlingua and Study Butte lie between the two parks, and many astro-enthusiasts are working to get protections for surrounding communities.
Growing populations in the Big Bend, commercial and residential development, as well as gas flares from oilfields are starting to impact the dark skies of Far West Texas – our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of healthy night skies.
Demonstrations include solar power education, rainwater harvesting, wild edible plants of the Big Bend, Native American cooking methods, organic desert gardening, landscaping with native desert plants, and alternative building materials.
Dark-sky programs and information will be provided by staff from BBRSP, BBNP and local organizations. Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Sustainability Branch will be there to provide information and answer questions about sustainable living.
The festival will start at 11AM on Saturday and end on Sunday afternoon. Evening events for Saturday include dark-sky programs, live music performance by Strahan & the Good Neighbors, and a charity auction at the Starlight Theatre Restaurant & Bar. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Terlingua Community Garden and the newly-formed Terlingua Dark Sky Alliance.
Terlingua Stars mural (6’x8’ acrylic on plywood by Molly Finnerty, Matt Stevens, Kathleen Anna, Ben Towers, and Peter Clemente) will be auctioned for charity on Saturday night.
2019 Green Scene Festival poster by Lala Abaddon
Judge Jim Burr enjoys a taco plate made by the Big Bend High School Junior Class at the 2018 Green Scene Festival.
Terlingua musician and artist Collie Ryan plays for the crowds at the 2018 Green Scene Festival.
