This year, the Whole Earth Festival promises to challenge your thinking about how you can "feel whole with the Earth."

The 39-year-old celebration today through Sunday is a zero-waste event that features live entertainment, great food, arts and crafts, and educational workshops. Each year, 400 volunteers help promote social and environmental awareness, as well as strengthen community ties.

The celebration started in 1969 as an "art happening" led by Jose Arguelles, who taught an art class that provided an alternative medium for education.

Since then, it has evolved into a weekend of "green fun." The festival now attracts about 30,000 people who come to celebrate the Mother's Day weekend and spend time with family and friends. This year's theme is "Mending Our Web."

You might be thinking to yourself, "What is there to do at the Whole Earth Festival? Isn't it just for hippies?"

You might be surprised.

In response to the question about this being a hippie attraction, the festival organizers say the event is for anybody open to preserving the environment, learning something new, challenging their pre-existing way of thinking, and having some plain-old fun.

"There just happens to be a bunch of hippies because this is the one weekend where it's cool to be one," said Bessie Chu, a senior in international relations and Asian American Studies.

Beyond hippies, there is much more to the festival than food — just look around and release your inhibitions.

Daniel Ng, a staff member in the Department of Viticulture and Enology and festival volunteer, said his favorite thing about the festival is "being on the middle of the UC Davis Quad and realizing that you're in a totally different world than before when you were on the Quad a few days ago….

"I love to see familiar faces that are current UCDers, but in a different context than I'm used to seeing them, such as that aloof TA who is now dancing at one of the stages or that quiet student who is now performing on the Soular Dance Stage."

Festival Co-director Lindi Houser enjoys how the event brings together so many eclectic individuals to the event. "It is truly amazing [to see] people from all walks of life who are connected on a single path," says Houser.

Chu, on the other hand, appreciates the festival's exclusiveness, especially since it happens only once a year, and you can only find it at UC Davis.

Workshops, speakers and performances at the Dynamic Education Station and Experiential Space address topics such as art, spirituality, environmental and political activism. For example, you could learn how to make your own compost and produce less waste in your own home.

If you're looking for other ways to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle, be sure to look into some of the talks. The "Building the Green Economy" lecture with Kevin Danaher will be held at the Memorial Union Coffee House at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the "Sustainable Transportation Imagineering" discussion will be held at the MU South Patio 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Afterward, you can lighten the mood and have some fun at the Play Space. Here you can play with different toys, and staff will be on hand to instruct you on these gadgets.

Recycling rules

In cooperation with the R4 recycling program, the festival is a zero-waste event, which means that everything will be recycled or composted.

To avoid using bottled water, there will be a station that allows you to fill up your reusable cups or water bottles. In the past, 97 percent of the festival waste was recycled or composted. The remaining 3 percent comprised diapers and plastic bags. Because the celebration reinforces sustainability, all merchants and vendors are expected to follow the rules as well.

As Houser states, "You can expect to leave the Whole Earth Festival feeling whole with the Earth."

Plenty of activities

Unlike Picnic Day, the Whole Earth Festival occurs over three days, providing more opportunities to participate in activities and explore vendor booths.

It is also more centralized on the Quad and nearby lawns, so you don't have to walk all over campus searching for activities. Admission to the event is free.

Schedule

• Friday, May 9: Noon to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, May 10: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, May 11: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closing hours will be strictly enforced)

People are expected to rush the Quad during lunch time for the various vegetarian entrees, especially on opening day, so get there early if you do not want to wait in long lines.

Traffic and routes

People are encouraged to walk, bike, ride the bus or car pool to the event in order to reduce pollution.

If you're driving from out of town, avoid taking the Richards Boulevard entrance because it will be packed with cars.

Instead, use the route you would take if you were going back to the residential halls: From San Francisco or Sacramento, take Interstate 80 to Highway 113 traveling north to Russell Boulevard. Exit east (right) on Russell and continue to Howard Way, where you will turn south (right) and park in the parking facility, the first building on the left.

The $6 parking fee will be enforced on Friday (with free parking on the weekends, of course).

Weather prediction

The weather report calls for a sunny weekend (knock on wood), so Houser advises to "bring lots of sunscreen and water, disposable income and a smile on your face." Also, pack a sweater in case it gets chilly at night.

Phat 'Andy' Dang is a student writing intern in News Service.