About 2,000 visitors concerned about the future of the planet converged on Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero on Saturday to participate in the eighth annual Earth Day festival. Co-sponsored by The Sierra Club Calusa Group and the Happehatchee Center - an Indian word meaning "Happy River" - the day's events included live music, a raffle, art displays, plenty of food, kayak rides, a drum circle, meditation sessions, activities for the kids and much more. Audubon of Southwest FL was present and represented the Audubon family.

"This is our eighth year, and we have all the booths and educational presentations about protecting the planet," Gari Lewis, the festival's emcee, said from behind the pair of dark sunglasses she was wearing against the bright sunlight overhead. "It's about all of us celebrating this great world, Earth, that we all live on. No matter what your spirituality is, we're all on the same path. We all breathe the same air and share an interconnectedness." Audubon festival chairman Conny Spurfield agreed. "It's about getting out and meeting people and giving them a little kick to think about the environment," the Germany native said. "People like us are here with information about the local habitats, and we can affect a change, slowly but surely. It's like planting a seed - it takes a little bit of time to grow."