From Green Right Now Reports
Thousands of events will commemorate this 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. In the U.S., many gatherings will focus on making environmental progress by cleaning up a wildlife area or prepping a community garden. Some cities will host festivals, with info booths and giveaways, live music and food.
In Washington D.C., The Climate Rally on the National Mall on April 25 aims to show broad support for climate legislation, which has been stalled in the Senate. Speakers will include the Image may be NSFW.
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Reverend Jesse Jackson; film director James Cameron; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong; producer Trudie Styler; author Margaret Atwood and others. Headline performers will include Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Q-Tip and Booker T.
The Earth Day Network is offering free buses to the event from Baltimore, Columbus, Pittsburg and selected other cities; those coming in cars are encouraged to park at RFK Stadium and take mass transit into the district for the rally. Organizers are not projecting how many will attend, but hope for a strong showing to send a signal that the U.S. populace wants climate and clean energy legislation.
Those who can’t make the rally — which will be carbon neutral — can find events in their immediate area via the tool at Earth Day Network events page, searching by city or zip code. We have included a sampling of events from around the country below:
- Austin – Texas’ greenest city offers several events include Eat=Earth at Republic Square Park, a food-focused event, and a more wide-ranging festival with music and activities at the Triangle on April 21. The Slow Money movement will have a “showcase” at City Hall on April 21 featuring Slow Money Alliance founder Woody Tasch. See Slow Money Austin for details.
- Chicago – Several green fairs are planned in communities and on college campuses (DePaul and the University of Chicago). A 5K run and Green/Health Expo is planned at Humboldt Park.
The Nerds at Heart’s “Earth Date”, a two-day event for gay and hetero couples with a green fashion show and garden plantings is certainly among the best-named events. Partial proceeds benefit Northside Collge Prep’s Joy Garden, a multi-use wildlife-friendly site.
- Denver/Boulder – Wild Earth Saturday in Boulder looks to be a good way to kick off Earth Day week, on April 17, with drumming, experiential activities in environmental education and astronomy lessons. Later, on April 24, Colorado College hosts a Pikes Peak Earth Day Fair with workshops, activities , enternatianment and art.
- Houston – Houston got a jump start on Earth Day with a festival and 5 K run at Discovery Green Park in downtown on April 3. There are scattered other events.
- Los Angeles – Events include an “Earth Day” with Avatar director James Cameron at the Nokia Theater, which benefits The Los Angeles Partnership Schools and will provide scholarships for at-risk youth. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. And there’s a celebration at Loyola Marymount University, with a day of film screenings and a farmer’s market, among other events.
- New York City – “Be the E” – EDAY40 campaign centered at Grand Central Station will be a week of events, including indoor displays in Vanderbilt Hall from April 19-24th and a two-day outdoor festival or art, entertainment and advocacy along Vanderbilt Avenue on April 23-24. Earth Day New York, a nonprofit, also provides an interactive website where you can register your contributions to reducing carbon greenhouse gas emissions. It’s called Count Down Your Carbon.
- Philadelphia –Various event including the Earth Day Festival and Flea Market, on April 17 at Clark Park, sponsored for the African Village Surval Initiative. And the Earth Day celebration April 24 at the Philadelphia Zoo, in coordination with the EPA, City of Philly, the Mayor’s Office and others.
- San Francisco / Berkeley– Several events, including a month-long Nature in the City series of projects to help restore biodiversity and wildlife habitats in the city. Berkeley also has several events planned, including the Berkeley Shoreline Cleanup, set for April 17.
- Washington D.C. — Climate Rally on the National Mall, April 25.