by KYW's John Ostapkovich

Thousands of people are expected to attend today's Green Fest at 2nd and South Streets in Philadelphia, and there are plans for a similar event next weekend in Bucks County.

Green Fest, 10 to 3 next Saturday at Silver Lake Nature Center on Bath Road in Bristol, has live animal shows and nature presentations. But event coordinator Loraine Skala says the larger purpose is to connect people with ways to live more sustainably:

"So we have geothermal and solar energy being represented that day. We have local businesses that use local organically-grown food. I think we need to connect these business and people in order to move this forward."

Skala says she found one solar vendor was from right down the road in Croydon and another business is specializing in green upgrades for homes in sprawling Levittown. The event and parking are free.

For more information about the Green Fest in Silver Lake, go to http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/grnfestmain.htm