Over the centuries, people of many cultures have centered festivals and celebration around that glowing celestial orb, the sun. This Saturday, Sustainable Bowdoin and the Evergreens are holding SolarFest on the quad from noon to 5:00 p.m., with dance performances and lessons from 11:00a.m.-2:00 p.m. sponsored by FUZION. The festivities are open to Bowdoin students and staff as well as members of the Brunswick community.

This is the second SolarFest event, brought back because of the success of the first and the dedication of the groups involved. This year, instead of Greenpeace's solar bus, Sunweaver will be used and the Portland-based reggae band Stream will return to perform. Bowdoin duo Munny and Jonah (Margaret Munford '07 and Jonah Gabry '07) will also play a solar-fueled set, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

There will also be a variety of venders, SolarFest t-shirts for sale, Indian food from Shere Punjab, information booths about renewable energy and environmental issues, face painting, a moonbounce, volleyball, and other games. Provided that the weather cooperates, the coordinators hope the event to be twice as big as last year's.

"The most basic goal of SolarFest is to educate home owners, kids and students about renewable energy options, such as solar and biofuel. The event, including the concert is run off of solar energy provided by a bus; SolarFest is really an occasion to get together, appreciate music and the sun, and learn a little something in the process about how we can live more sustainably," said Cotton Estes '07. "Whether people come to have their face painted, learn about heating their home with biodiesel, listen to live music, or just sit in the sun, SolarFest is a reason to come together for an afternoon."

Keisha Payson, Coordinator for Sustainable Bowdoin, explained that if it should be a cloudy day, the solar-powered bus will still be able to provide some energy, since it stores energy in a power bank. She said, "It is impressive to see how much the solar panels can power." Payson credited the event to the diligence of the group of students who have remained involved with the project, spearheaded this year by Jonna McKone '07.

FUZION is holding its dance celebration on the quad at the same time. The combination of two events should appeal to a greater audience. The dance performances will start at 11:00 a.m., followed by lessons, taught by members of Bowdoin groups ANOHKA, LASO, Swing Dancing, Belly Dancing, and Taiko Drumming in their various arts.

"As a club on campus that wishes to bring groups together, FUZION hopes to create an atmosphere in which students and the community can learn from each other, and appreciate the many different backgrounds that we all come from," said Lisa Guthrey '07. "We hope that as a part of breaking barriers on campus, this event will allow people to come together, have fun, and learn from others. We also hope to create connections between different clubs on campus, as well as the Brunswick community, so that we can all begin working together in order to create a cohesive community."

SolarFest and the Summer Dance Celebration should be a fun and enlightening event (no pun intended).