2015 Earth Day Celebrations Roundup

April 22nd, 2015 is the 45th anniversary of Earth Day! First held in 1970, this annual event features celebrations held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection of the earth and its resources, and Michigan is no exception. Here are a few upcoming highlights.

PETOSKEY

Each year during Earth Day week, the Outdoor Lighting Forum recognizes effective outdoor lighting choices by residents, towns, and business owners at a celebration luncheon, featuring guest speakers in astronomy and the lighting industry. This year, they’re adding a new award – the Dark Sky Advocate Award – given to those who work to promote the protection of the night sky throughout Northern Michigan. This year’s luncheon is set for Tuesday, April 21 at Petoskey’s City Park Grill. The public is invited to attend for the cost of lunch; for more info, visit emmetcounty.org.

BOYNE CITY

Got trees? Boyne City does! To celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day, Boyne City’s City Hall will be giving away a selection of tree seedlings for free starting on April 23 at 8:00 am. Quantities are limited, so be sure to show up early – but all you need to get a celebratory Earth Day tree is to ask. This year’s tree options include White Pine, White Oak, Highbush Cranberry, and Colorado Blue Spruce. For more info, call 231-582-0338.

CHARLEVOIX

Celebrate Earth Day the farming way at the Charlevoix Library on April 23rd, as they welcome Jimmy Spencer of Pond Hill Farm. Spencer will give a special talk about organic farming and gardening, and how to achieve pesticide and herbicide free produce, plus he’ll pass along info about his own farm, cafe, and winery. This is a great chance to snag plenty of tips about organic gardening for the individual gardener. For more info, call 231-237-7340.

GRAYLING

Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling is the place you’ll want to be if you want to celebrate Earth Day in the heart of the woods. The park’s Earth Day Celebration will take place on April 25 11 am – 2 pm, beginning with a birding hike led by Naturalist Craig Kasmer along the park’s Old Growth Trail. A birdhouse building clinic and a second guided hike along the scene AuSable Trail will complete the day. The park is located at 4126 Ranger Road in Grayling, call 989-348-7068 for more info.

BELLAIRE

The Grass River Natural Area is the location for the free Earth Walk 5K and Earth Day celebration, an event for all ages that will kick off at the park’s Big Green Barn at the entrance on Alden Highway starting at noon. The walk will start at 1 pm and will highlight the GRNA’s nature trails for 5 kilometers/3.1 miles (shorter walk options are also available), and a wide range of family-friendly activities will also be happening on-site. For more info, visit grassriver.org.

TRAVERSE CITY

It’s a great gift to the Earth to do something responsible with your trash, which is why Michigan Green Consortium officials moved their free, community-wide cleanup event to the weekend after Earth Day. Almost two dozen organizations partner with the consortium at American Waste’s facility at 280 Hughes Drive to collect everything from batteries and household goods to appliances. Some items even get reused by Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. So keep your waste out of the landfill, and take it to Clean Up Green Up on April 26. Also in Traverse City, TART is hosting trail work bees on April 25 to help clean up the trails for spring and summer, so bring your tools and find a place to help out at traversetrails.org.

LUDINGTON

The Ludington Arts Center and the Mason County District Library are putting on a pair of Earth Day events, beginning with the Earth Day 45th Anniversary Exhibit at the Arts Center starting April 22. The art event, which will run until May 16, will feature "artistic interpretations of the celebration of Earth Day and the beauty of the natural world," via original works from a variety of Michigan artists, and is free of charge (ludingtonartscenter.org.) On Saturday, April 25, the library will be offering their free Recycled Art and Inventions workshop from 9:30 am-2:30 pm (masoncounty.lib.mi.us.)

ROCHESTER

And for a great spring road trip, check out Michigan’s largest Earth Day celebration, the Earth Day Fest in Rochester, MI (April 24-26.) The big event attracts over 50,000 people and takes place at the Rochester Municipal Park on Paint Creek Trail, with over 100 exhibits, including dozens of green/wellness products, vehicles, renewable energy systems, and a Food and Farm area with local and organic products and food, all to communicate the benefits of green living. Live entertainment will include performances from Cooper Anstett, The De- Camp Sisters, The School of Rock, Rachel Lee Williams, The Pied Pipers, and Kenny Nelson, among others; visit migreenteam.com /miedf to get more info and a complete schedule.

What Happened to the TC Earth Day Parade? Little Artshram is taking this year off from organizing the parade, but their familiar Earth Day characters and puppets have gone out as a traveling troupe to welcome Earth Day and spring. They’ll be appearing at the NMC Student Life Organizations Sweet Earth Arts and Music Festival on Saturday, April 18 at NWC alongside music from Aaron Otto, Tatiana Crespo, Dede and the Dreamers, and more. The parade is expected back in 2016.

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