Eno fest: A message runs through it An undercurrent of River awareness

BY SARAH MUENCH ghi@heraldsun.com; 419-6650
The Herald-Sun
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Final Edition
Durham Section
Page B1

Nearly 10,000 people tried on tie-dye tank tops, ate corn dogs, listened to bands and splashed around in the River Saturday at the 25th annual Festival for the Eno.

But festival coordinator Greg Bell knows they learned something too.

"We try to make it a fun, family event while not making it seem like you're learning something," Bell said. "It's not in your face, but it's underneath everything."

Peppered throughout all the arts and crafts booths, sound stages and food venues at West Point on the Eno park were tables promoting different environmental causes, complementing the festival's purpose -- to generate awareness about preserving the Eno River and the land surrounding it.

Between acts on the main stage, an announcer promoted organizations and told the crowd how to get involved.

And instead of throwing their garbage into trashcans, festival goers took it to recycling stations located throughout the area.

"It's great," said Josie Owen, 48, an Eno River rafting guide who attended the festival Saturday. "With all the displays and bringing everyone together, it really shows off the effort made by different groups to help preserve the River."

In addition to the Eno River Association, which organized the festival, a handful of other organizations such as the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, the Sierra Club and the Conservation Council of North Carolina were drawing people to their booths.

The Eno River Association, which works with landowners to keep the land near the River free of development, currently helps preserve more than 400,000 acres.

Things as simple as nearby roads and sidewalks can harm the River by not absorbing rainwater and allowing it to create excess runoff and erosion, said Wade Shelton, a land protection specialist with the Association.

"[The festival] first and foremost brings people out to learn about this because most don't know," Shelton said. "People come see the River and see how it can be protected."

Durham resident Barry Varela, 41, stood on the Eno River bank Saturday and watched as his daughters splashed and played in the River a few feet away.

Varela, who said he lived within walking distance of the River, said he was happy to see the River preserved and without too much nearby development.

"I come out here every year with my kids," he said. "It's sort of a family tradition and if it weren't for the efforts of the Eno River Association, there would be much more development in the area."

The Festival for the Eno hosts numerous musical acts and promotes arts, crafts and grassroots organizations during a three-day festival.

"I think being in a crowd like this, it's hard not to come away with a sense of community," Bell said. "It forms bonds that help preserve natural resources as well."

Bell expected 37,000 people to attend the three-day festival.