When this year’s Sustainability Fest takes place Nov. 17 in Lynn Eusan Park, it will include a few additions designed to make the event a better overall experience for everyone involved.

The annual gathering, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will for the first time this year culminate with a social bike ride around and near the campus. UH students, faculty and staff are being invited to take part in the ride, which will be an informal way for those interested in sustainability issues to meet up with others who share the same passion.

“The social ride will be a wonderful way to end this year’s Sustainability Fest,” said Sarah Kelly, program manager for the Office of Sustainability, which is organizing the event. “We hope everyone will get a chance to join us.”

Another addition for this year will be a bike maintenance workshop at 12:50 p.m., during which students and others can learn how to change a flat or fix a faulty brake. They can even bring their bicycle to the event and get assistance with a problem.

Sustainability Fest offers the UH community practical information about how to live more sustainably in a fun and entertaining setting, while also highlighting sustainability initiatives across campus and the city.

Like last year, the event will feature different zones to better showcase the multifaceted areas within the field of sustainability and to educate people about living more sustainably. Different groups and organizations will man tables within the zones. In addition, many vendors from around the city will have a presence at the festival.

This year, the event will have a zero-waste focus. The goal is to prevent at least 90 percent of the materials generated at the event from being disposed of in a landfill by having it either composted, recycled or re-used. There will be a waste station manned by volunteers to help direct people on where their materials should be placed.

Kelly said the event this year will include an acrobatic yoga demonstration on the Lynn Eusan Park stage, as well as cooking demonstrations. A weather balloon launch also is planned.

There will also be an expanded creative expressions contest this year. The deadline to enter is Nov. 6. Students, faculty and staff can submit written pieces or visual works that relate back to an aspect of sustainability. Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place winners in both categories. More details can be found here.

Attendees who present their Cougar Card at the check-in booth will receive a tote bag as well as a ticket they can fill out for drawings to win prizes donated by sponsors, including a B-Cycle one-year membership, T-shirts and hats.

“This year’s event is promising to be bigger and better than ever before,” Kelly said. “We hope everyone who comes to it will have a good time, while also learning valuable information that they can use to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.”

Visit www.uh.edu/sustainfest for more information about Sustainablity Fest. Click here to view photos from last year’s event.