Archived News Release: February 28, 2017 - The Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival Planning Committee invites all to celebrate our natural world at the annual Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 23 from noon to 4 p.m. at Leslie Science & Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road in Ann Arbor. This free, family-friendly event features displays from over 30 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.
- A performance by local singer, songwriter and educator Joe Reilly at 2:30 p.m.
- Live animal experiences with Leslie Science & Nature Center's amphibians, reptiles and birds of prey.
- Earth Day learning presentations, featured in the DTE Energy House:
- 12:30 p.m. — Hat DOGS with Earthworm Eggs by Project Grow Community Gardens
- 1:15 p.m. — Put a Price on it! by Citizens Climate Lobby
- Naturalist-led hikes through Black Pond Woods.
- Wind energy activities by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
Delicious on-site concessions and refreshments will be available for purchase from food trucks including Shimmy Shack, Hero or Villain and Ray's Red Hots.
In the true spirit of Earth Day, this festival will be a zero-waste event with the help of Recycle Ann Arbor. 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.
Parking can also be limited at the event, so visitors are strongly encouraged to "go green" and carpool, bus, bike or walk to the festival, if any of those options are available.
Ann Arbor's Earth Day Festival is a free event thanks to local donors and sponsors including the ACS – Huron Valley Local Section, Big George's, City of Ann Arbor, Dollar Bill Copying, Ecology Center, Leslie Science & Nature Center, NSF International, Natural Awakenings, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation and Washtenaw Community College.
Additional details and information about the event are available online at www.a2earthday.org. For information about volunteer opportunities available at the event, please email the GIVE 365 program at [email protected].
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