The rain held off just enough Saturday to allow visitors to the EarthFest Celebration at Oak Mountain State Park enjoy being outdoors without pounds of rain gear.

&8220;It was a phenomenal closing ceremony with Earthbound performing, and given the weather, I&8217;m not disappointed in the crowd of people we had,&8221; Elizabeth Elgin, director and founder, said.

The day began with a 7.2 mile and 5K Race for the Crest. Approximately 30 people participated in the opportunity to run through the woods, but only four won the rose bush prizes. Susan E. Spiller and Jeff Binkley

took home first place in the Women&8217;s 5K and Callie Swaid and Tim McCauley won first places in the 7.2 mile race.

Other participants got the chance to enjoy the outdoors and listen to live music by the lakeside. The benefit for EarthFest included acts from the New School Jazz Ensemble, the Pounders, Earthbound and the Devyani tribal-style belly dancers.

Elgin said the event was important to sparking change in the public&8217;s minds about the way they view the earth and its resources.

&8220;What kind of changes occur is up to us,&8221; Elgin said. &8220;The solution is inward, one moment at a time. Choosing to focus on the positive aspects of life would soon create more of that which we are focusing on.&8221;

To learn more about EarthFest visit, alabamaearthfest.org