Austin will continue a positive tradition this weekend.

RE-Fest returns from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday at a new location: The Mower County Fairgrounds. We encourage residents to take advantage of the rare chance to celebrate and learn about recycling, renewable energy and saving money by energy conservation.

Plus, free electronic recycling will return this year, after taking a hiatus last year. The service has been popular with local residents in the past, offering a chance to rid houses of old TVs and computers. Donations are accepted and will go toward a solar project at Austin High School.

The RE-Fest ride, which was new to the festival last year, will be here again. Participants can choose from a 5-, 10-, or 50- mile bike ride. Money raised will generate scholarship funds for Riverland’s wind turbine program. The cost is $25 per person and $50 per family up to four people.

RE-Fest sets a good example for the community, and residents don’t have to be an environmentalists to learn something positive at RE-Fest.

Schedule by stage:

Solar stage

11:30 a.m. Welcome to RE-fest

Noon. Austin Big Band

12:30 p.m. Cooking demo No. 1

1 p.m. Hudson Bay bound with Natalie Warren

1:15 p.m. Music: Austin Big Band

1:45 p.m. Cooking demo No. 2

2:15 p.m. Re-Fashion show

2:45 p.m. Cooking demo No. 3

3:15 p.m. Music: Austin Big Band

Children’s stage

11:15 a.m. Larry Dolphin: snake and owl Expo

11:45 a.m. Jim Jayes: magic and puppet show

12:15 p.m. David Stokes: naturalist and humorist

1:15 p.m. Interactive story with a librarian

2 p.m. Jim Jayes: magic and puppet show

2:30 p.m. David Stokes: naturalist and humorist

3 p.m. Jim Jayes: magic and puppet show

3:30 p.m. David Stokes: naturalist and humorist

Indoors/workshops

11 a.m. Refreshed dining — Mower Refreshed

11:15 a.m. Easy way to solar — Greenman’s

11:30 a.m. Daisy Blue Naturals

11:45 a.m. CRWD river restoration projects

1:30 p.m. Hudson Bay bound with Natalie Warren