Waste Warriors Assemble!

What’s a party without waste? Awesome, that’s what. Take the challenge this Saturday, April 19th to find out how to have a good time without waste at Des Moines’ first ever waste-free festival: the Recycle Revolution.

Photo cred: www.woolysdm.com

 

RecycleMe Iowa was founded after Chief Recycling Officer Ciji Mitrisin saw a lack of opportunity for apartment residents and local businesses to live waste-free. A few conversations, brainstorming sessions and nine months of hard work later, the Recycle Revolution was born.

Get to the festival for free: VOLUNTEER!

“It’s an Earth Day event that also immediately implements an earthly solution,” says Mitrisin. “Music and arts are two great ways to inspire the community. Recycle Revolution is our grassroots way of exhibiting just how much the community wants to become more eco-friendly, given the right tools.”

Photo cred: newschool.tikly.co

 

Don’t be confused, this is no ordinary revolution. The family-friendly event begins with a block party – completely waste free (yep, you heard that right). The fun starts at noon on East 5th Street between Grand and Locust in the East Village. Special perks to those who bring a hard-to-recycle item to donate: $5 off concert admission, 1 free food or drink token, 1 raffle ticket, or five free UP/DOWN tickets.

Designing your very own recycled tee is just one of the many fun and innovative ways Recycle Revolution is keeping the community waste free. A local screen printer will be onsite to print your designs on recycled tees from Goodwill. Committee members even did some experimenting to come up with a recycled spinning paint machine to make spin art. Recycled paint is used on you guessed it, recycled paper, with a repurposed fan. Get in the groove by heading over to the Jam station with some instruments made from recycled materials.

Photo cred: www.recyclemeiowa.com

Recycle Revolution leaves no waste. Nothing. None. Not only will activities be waste-free, but vendors like Local Yocals and Mo’ Rub will serve up delicious menu items using only compostable and recyclable materials. Through innovative ideas, Recycling Revolution is out to create Zero Waste Warriors.

“Zero Waste Warriors are our volunteers who manage zero waste stations at Recycle Revolution, but they are so much more,” says Mitrisin. “Your title and work connection becomes who you are; how you view trash. For our cause, it’s saving the planet through teaching the difference between compostable and recyclable items.”

At 6:00 p.m. the block party moves off the street for a concert at Wooly’s featuring: SHEL, Dustin Smith and the Sunday Silos, James Biehn Band and River Glen. Tickets for the concert can be purchased on Tikly for $15.00 prior or $20.00 the day of the event.

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Hy-Vee Road Races

Photo cred: Des Moines Register

The second annual Hy-Vee Road Races at the Drake Relays combines three major distance competitions, a 5K race, a 10K race and a Half Marathon – all in one day.

On Sunday, April 27th, Hy-Vee Road Race runners will storm the streets of downtown Des Moines (earning this event it’s namesake). Runners will start and finish their respective courses at the Drake Stadium, home of the Drake Relays. The Hy-Vee Road Races Half Marathon boasts the largest prize-purse in the world, $80,000, with a total prize-purse of $120,000 for all three races combined.

Photo cred: Hy-Vee Road Races

What makes this event truly special, however, is the impact it has on the Greater Des Moines community. “The Hy-Vee Road Races puts Des Moines on the map,” says Michael Zimmerman, a Hy-Vee Road Races Organizer. “We are fortunate to have a company like Hy-Vee that’s willing to offer a huge prize purse, and willing to work with Drake to bring in this great talent to Des Moines.”

The Hy-Vee Road Races brings together athletes of all types. “There isn’t a separate race for the pros,” says Zimmerman. “Everyone stands at the start-line together, and everybody crosses the same finish line.” In addition to the notoriously large prize-purse for the top finishers of each race, this event offers a lot of good prizes for mini-categories, which Zimmerman believes helps to invigorate the local running community. “Des Moines is really a health-centric community,” he says. “And not just in the way that encourages everybody to healthy, but to make the city itself this mecca of fitness.”

The Hy-Vee Road Races is powered by a rock solid volunteer force. “That’s another great thing about putting on events in Des Moines,” Zimmerman adds. “You get so many people who might not be able to participate in the event – but still look to get involved through volunteering.” Whether it’s distributing medals at the finish line, holding it down as a course marshal or working the gear bag station – volunteers make it all happen for the Hy-Vee Road Races.

There are plenty of volunteer spots available – sign up today and get involved in this spring’s biggest, boldest celebration of athleticism!

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