Earth Day Events Abound in Los Angeles
I’m excited to say that there are so many events coming up here in LA to celebrate Earth Day, I can’t come close to listing them all. I’ve picked out a few big ones in different parts of the city - you’re sure to find one near you. For a complete list, check out EarthDay LA.
Kicking things off is Santa Monica’s Earth Day on the Promenade. Santa Monica seems to be at the forefront of environmental issues and Earth Day is no exception - the city always holds its event early. On Saturday, April 12th, you can check out the booths and exhibits while enjoying live performances up and down the Third Street Promenade.
Also starting early, Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific’s Earth Day Celebration will be held April 12-13. In addition to educational booths, the event will focus on what each of us can do in our daily lives to improve our ecosystem. The event also features activities for children, like face painting. Entrance is free with the purchase of a ticket to the Aquarium, but organizers are doing a cool thing: if you bring in a piece of e-waste, you’ll get $10 off the price of one adult ticket.
For those of you looking for an excuse to visit Catalina (as if you need an excuse) here’s a great one: the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Earth Day Celebration and Eco-Fair. Slated for Saturday the 19th in Avalon, the event features the opportunity to see the elusive Catalina Island Fox, and to try out a “touch tank” featuring creatures from nearby waters. Exhibits, an organic lunch, and musical performances round out the day.
Also on the 19th, the South Los Angeles Earth Fest features unique events, including an environmental film festival and a poster contest. In addition to the fun, this event shines a spotlight on a key environmental issue that is often overlooked: the health affects of pollution on urban children. All proceeds go to California GreenWorks, an environmental outreach and education organization. To be held at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the event runs from 10am - 5pm.
Likely the largest of all of the happenings, the Green Apple Music Festival is a multi-city event to be held in eight cities across the country. Los Angeles’ version takes place on Sunday, April 20th at the Santa Monica Pier. Performers include Ziggy Marley and Taj Mahal. Best of all, it’s free!
Many events occur on Earth Day itself, April 22nd. Among these is the Wilshire Center Earth Day, which will render a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard a car-free zone, from Western to Harvard. With a focus on green urbanism, the event features live musical performances, a bike raffle, and reusable grocery bag giveaways. One note: though the event only runs from 10am - 5pm, I’ve heard that Wilshire will be closed from 3am - 10pm for set-up and break-down. A good reason for area residents to go car-free that day!
With so many events across the Southland, it’s a great opportunity to have some fun, educate yourself, and commit to doing better by the environment. If you’re inspired to make a difference during this Earth Day season, there are a myriad of volunteer opportunities out there. You can clean a beach, a creek, a forest, or a park. you can restore native plants. You can even pick up that candy wrapper on the sidewalk. You can make a difference, which is what Earth Day is all about, isn’t it?
