EcoFair is the City of Ames' annual sustainability-focused event. The event provides a broad array of conservation information featuring displays about the City of Ames’ Eco Smart programs, which include electricity, water, watersheds, and trash.

In addition to City departments and divisions, sustainability-focused vendors and organizations from around the community also participate in EcoFair.

EcoFair is free and educational, with activities for all ages.

EcoFair 2024

EcoFair 2024 will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in the west parking lot of City Hall.

The event is held outdoors to highlight the stormwater infrastructure in the west parking lot as well as to display the City's hybrid and electric fleet vehicles. Another exhibit will include privately owned all-electric vehicles.

EcoFair 2024 will also have live music from local artists.

City departments and divisions participating include Ames Parks and Recreation, Planning & Housing,  Public Works, Resource Recovery Plant, Water and Pollution Control, Police, Fire, Fleet, and the Ames Public Library’s Bookmobile.

Vendors

For information on having a booth at EcoFair, please contact Jake Moore, Stormwater Specialist, at 515.239.5287 or email jacob.moore@cityofames.org.

EcoFair History

The first annual Ames Electric Services Energy Fair was held on April 6, 2002. Its purpose was to provide information on energy efficient products and services to the citizens of Ames. More than a dozen local vendors participated. 

Public Works and WPC started hosting a Clean Water Festival in 2010 to educate about watersheds and water conservation.

In 2011, EcoFair combined the annual Ames Electric Services Energy Fair and Clean Water Festival, expanding the event to include all of the City's Eco Smart programs -- energy, water, watersheds, and trash.

With the exception of 2020 and 2021, when EcoFar was held as a virtual event on KHOI Community Radio due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EcoFair has been held annually since 2011. 

Additional Information

For more information about EcoFair, contact Liz Calhoun, Stormwater Resource Analyst, at 515.239.5575 or Liz.Calhoun@CityofAmes.org.