ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival Planning Committee invites all to celebrate our natural world at the annual Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Leslie Science & Nature Center located at 1831 Traver Road in Ann Arbor.
This free, family-friendly event features displays from over 20 local environmental, non-profit, and governmental organizations; live animal demonstrations; learning presentations around sustainable living; hands-on activities; live entertainment; crafts; green building and commuting solutions; energy topics; water awareness; recycling topics; sustainable agriculture; and much more.
The Earth Day Festival will be full of entertainment and engaging activities for visitors of all ages including:
· All-Species Parade, where children are encouraged to wear a costume celebrating their favorite plant or animal as they parade throughout the site at 2 p.m.
· Performances by local singer Marsha Mumm at 1:15 p.m. the Pontiac Trail Blazers at 2:15 and Milan & The Ellipsis at 3:15
· Live animal experiences with Leslie Science & Nature Center’s amphibians, reptiles, and birds of prey
· Activities and take-home items for both kids and adults from area non-profits and businesses focused on sustainability and our planet
· Water Quality exploration with Huron River Watershed Council
· Tree ID, A2Zero Hero and more with the City of Ann Arbor
Delicious on-site concessions and refreshments will be available for purchase from Washtenaw Dairy, visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic as well. Trails and grounds will be open for self-guided exploration.
In the true spirit of Earth Day, this festival will be a zero-waste event. Visitors can help keep up the average of 90 percent waste diverted from the landfill during the Earth Day event by bringing a reusable water bottle and putting their waste in the proper receptacles.
Visitors are strongly encouraged to “go green” and carpool, bus, bike, or walk to the festival, if any of those options are available. Parking is limited
Ann Arbor’s Earth Day Festival is a free event thanks to a planning committee, including the City of Ann Arbor – Parks & Recreation and Sustainability departments, A2Zero, Huron River Watershed Council, Legacy Land Conservancy, Leslie Science & Nature Center, and Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Additional details and information about the event are available online at discoverscienceandnature.org/a2earthday.
Ann Arbor has 114,000 residents, spans 28.6 square miles, and is frequently recognized as a foremost place to live, learn, work, thrive and visit (www.a2gov.org/news). To keep up with City of Ann Arbor information, subscribe for email updates (www.a2gov.org/subscribe), follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/a2gov) or become a city fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thecityofannarbor). The city’s mission statement reads: The City of Ann Arbor is committed to providing excellent municipal services that enhance the quality of life for all through the intelligent use of resources while valuing an open environment that fosters fair, sensitive and respectful treatment of all employees and the community we serve.
Leslie Science & Nature Center and Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum create moments of discovery that inspire curiosity, exploration and respect for STEM and the natural world. Together we envision a world where curiosity today leads to more purposeful lives tomorrow. You can read more about our work on www.discoverscienceandnature.org
Source: Leslie Science & Nature Center