Earth Day is approaching quickly, and local organizations have planned a slew of cleanups, recycling drives, and festivities.
And if there was ever a weekend to commemorate the beginning of the contemporary environmental movement, this is it. The prognosis for Friday and Saturday, as of Monday morning, predicts plenty of sunshine and highs in the 70s and 80s.
Here are several ideas for how to commemorate the annual holiday:
• On Saturday, April 23, from noon to 7 p.m., Genoa Park will host its annual Earth Day Celebration. The free event, organized by the non-profit Green Columbus, will feature food trucks and live music.
Black Kahawa Coffee, Fancy Feeding You, Hisham’s, Paddy Wagon, Pitabilities, and Tortilla Street Food are among the food trucks scheduled to appear.
The music schedule is as follows:
12:30 p.m. — Orion and the Constellations
2:00 p.m. — Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band
3:30 p.m. — Honey and Blue
5:00 p.m. — George Barrie Band
• On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Ohio History Center, 800 East 17th Ave., will host an event titled Seeds of Caring’s Kids as Planet Protectors: An Earth Day Celebration. It will feature outdoor and indoor activities such as educational treasure hunts, litter cleanup, reduce and reuse activities, and gardening for children aged 4 to 12. During the event, families can also visit the Ohio History Center for free.
• Until early May, Green Columbus has posted an online list of dozens of volunteer activities in Columbus, including cleanups and planting sessions.
• Speaking of cleanups, the 20th annual South Central Hilltop Spring Cleanup/Pizza Party will be held at Burroughs Park behind John Burroughs Elementary, 551 S. Richardson Ave., on April 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Keep Columbus Beautiful will supply cleaning supplies, with complimentary pizza to follow.
• April is Bexley’s Earth Month. Throughout the month, Green Bexley has scheduled presentations, litter cleanups, and tours of area recycling facilities and landfills. The Green Bexley Fair will take place at Schneider Park, a former landfill, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Green Bexley, a project of an organization dedicated to putting the city’s Zero Waste Plan into action, is encouraging residents to walk, cycle, scoot, or skate as much as possible during the last week of April.
• On Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., roll up your sleeves and plant some trees at Big Walnut Park, 1826 Lattimer Dr. The Women’s Council of Realtors in Columbus and Columbus’ Recreation and Parks Department are the event’s organizers.
• Get creative to commemorate Earth Day. On Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, 505 W Whittier St., will host a sip and paint event. The cost is $40, and the deadline to register is Friday at 11:59 p.m. Guests must be at least 21 years old to attend. Non-alcoholic beverages will be offered if wine sips are not available.
• Isn’t it true that Earth Day is all about going outside? Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks will host a service day at Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. After helping to plant trees, harvest garlic mustard, and clear up rubbish along U.S. 23, take home a free tree or shrub. It is necessary to register in advance.
If you go, meet among the pine trees and pit toilet in Big Meadows. Big Meadows is located at the park’s far end. Once you’ve down the huge hill, follow the road signs and park in the first parking lot on the right.
• On a more practical note, on Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Integrated Building Systems, 950 Michigan Ave., will hold a recycling drive.
Computers, mice, and keyboards; LCD/flat-screen monitors; servers and network equipment; laptops; cell phones, desk phones, PBX systems; cords, cables, wires; stereos, gaming systems, VCRs; defibrillators, ultrasound equipment; digital cameras; security equipment; toner, ink cartridges, and more are all available for free recycling.
CRT displays, LCD/flat-screen TVs, desktop printers, scanners, fax machines, large office copiers, MAC all-in-one tube PCs, and tube-style TVs all have fees associated with them.
• If you go to Taft Brewporium’s Sips and Succulents on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m., you’ll get a free welcome beer, two succulents, and beer cans to plant them in. Tools and dirt will be given. The price is $20.
