Live green, think fresh

COEUR d'ALENE - This year, WoodsTalk will be wearing a splash of green.

The eighth annual WoodsTalk Music and Arts Festival is this weekend, providing a family-friendly environment where people of all ages can listen to music, check out vendor booths and learn about living green through sustainability.

The free festival will take place at Unity Spiritual Center of North Idaho from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It will feature food booths, workshops, artistic offerings and music by artists and groups such as Robin Bessler, Sonic Boom, Julie Croteau and the Unity Choir, Pamela Van Kirk and The Michaels. Kids' entertainment will include a bouncy house, face painting and crafts.

"The WoodsTalk 'Living Green' festival is about celebrating the artist in everyone as well as focusing on caring for our planet," said Croteau, who is the Unity music director and event coordinator.

Unity Spiritual Center Reverend Deidre Ashmore said WoodsTalk is one of her favorite events of the year.

"I love the music," Ashmore said. "Where else in North Idaho can you go for free and listen to life-affirming, positive, uplifting music for eight hours? And this year, we've added Sunday. I'm excited about the sustainability aspect of our festival that has been added."

An outside service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, with a full band and Bessler as the guest singer/songwriter. Bessler's diverse musical background includes singing in Afro-Cuban drumming ensembles, a cappella groups, Latin big bands, jazz ensembles, gospel choirs, classical and folk groups and musical theater. Ashmore will give a talk, titled "How Our Outer Lives Reflect Our Inner Lives."

Attendees are encouraged to bring sunscreen, hats and lawn chairs. WoodsTalk is a drug-free, alcohol-free and smoke-free event. Unity Spiritual Center is located at 4465 N. 15th St., Coeur d'Alene.

Info: 664-1125 or www.unitycenter.org.