PITTSBORO - The 2011 Celebrate Green Central kicks off Friday, Oct. 14, at Central Carolina Community College's Chatham County Campus and runs through Saturday, Oct.15.

CCCC is nicknamed "Green Central" because green programs have been front-and-center in its planning for a long time. This free, fun, family-friendly event, hosted by the college's Green Building and Sustainable Technologies program, highlights that program, local green businesses, and area green homes.

Everyone is invited to the free kickoff reception, which runs from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Oct. 14, at the Chatham Community Library, 197 Highway 87 North, on the campus. The kickoff's Celebrating the Season will feature tastings of regional foods from the college's Natural Chef program's kitchen and the Sustainable Agriculture program's pizza oven.

The event's Green Trade Show runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and continues from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. It features local businesses that contribute to Chatham's green, sustainable community through green building, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green products for the home.

Celebrate Green Central also offers tours of the Sustainable Technology Center's labs and presentations by college instructors and local experts from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday in the Center. Topics include solar thermal and solar electric for the homeowner, do-it-yourself weatherization. No registration is necessary.

Self-guided tours of green homes in the area can be made between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday only. The homes feature green design, water saving strategies, renewable energy applications and creative re-use of materials.

Tour-goers can pick up maps and see a description of each home at the Green Trade Show or find them online. The tour stops feature food and beverage tastings from local farmers, vineyards and breweries.

The kickoff launches the Sustainable Student Awards, featuring art and essays from Chatham County students. The theme for the contest is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." Entrant groups are ages 3-8, 9-13, 14 and up, and group. Prizes will be awarded for Best Artwork and Best Writing; as well as first, second and third places in Art and Writing.

All submissions are due by Tuesday, Oct. 4, and are to be dropped off in Room 144 at the Chatham Campus, or picked up from Chatham County schools by arrangement. For more information about the contest, contact Adrienne Bashista at adrienne@homeperformancenc.com or (919) 360-7073.

For more information about Celebrate Green Central 2011, visit www.cccc.edu/green/celebration or call Sustainability Coordinator Laura Lauffer at (919) 545-8032.