Time to give Mother Nature her due. Friday, April 22 is the annual Earth Day. Here are some family-friendly festivals, fairs, recycling events, workshops and other celebrations we’ve heard about across the Front Range. Most events are on Saturday, the 23rd. If you know of any we’ve missed, send details to news@milehighonthecheap.com. All events are FREE, unless otherwise noted.
Friday, April 22
Earth Day Celebration with Eco-Cycle and Resource Central
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scavenger hunt, yard games and cornhole for prizes. Irish rock group Big Paddy performs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by School of Rock from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Go Green Gourmet’s food truck onsite. Everything in the Resource Central Reuse Yard is 25% off. 6400 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
9 a.m. to sunset. Each person who brings a plantable, potted tree or large bush (find a list of suggested plants here) to donate to the Sanctuary for its habitats, gets FREE admission (normally $50 for adults, $30 for children) to the Sanctuary walkway to view the animals. The Sanctuary provides safe, natural habitats for more than 600 large carnivores (lions, tigers, etc.) rescued from unsafe or inhumane situations. 2999 County Road 53, Keensburg.
Saturday, April 23
Aurora Earth Day Celebration
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Held at the Aurora Reservoir. Enjoy guided nature hikes, bird walks, planting in the native plant garden, special presentations of live raptors by HawkQuest, nature crafts, an onsite volunteer opportunity and local earth-friendly organizations and vendors. Entrance to the Aurora Reservoir is FREE for those coming to the celebration. 5800 S. Powhaton Rd., Aurora.
Lakewood’s Earth Day Celebration
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Our Part for the Planet” and the community festival is held at Heritage Lakewood. Features music, food, art, exhibits and activities that spread environmental awareness. Take a bee hive tour. Test drive an electric car or e-bike. Recycle electronics from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For the first time ever, you can join an Earth Day “Parade of Species.” Kids, adults, and pets are invited to bring or wear an animal costume (or make an animal mask at the event), decorate wagons and strollers, bring or make a drum or other instrument and march through the event in celebration of all of the animal species with whom we share the earth.
Meet at 3 p.m. near the gazebo to line up for the parade. 801 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood.
Larimer Square Earth Day Celebration
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Search the Earth Scavenger Hunt, community pop-ups from locals organizations working to help our planet and more. For scavenger hunt, one green carnation will be hidden each hour in a different location around the block. A photo clue featuring the mini bouquets will be posted on Larimer Square’s new Instagram account. The first person to find it, take a photo with it and post it to Instagram with the tags @itslarimersquare and #searchtheearth will win a great prize.
Longmont Earth Day Celebration
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sustainable Resilient Longmont stages this event at the Longmont Museum. Includes 20+ education booths, performance by Jeff & Paige, live raptors, baby goats, composting worms, a collaborative art project, and more. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont.
Party for the Planet at Downtown Aquarium
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dive into what makes our planet great. Activities include a scavenger hunt, photo opportunity with the animals, tiger training demo, talks with staff biologists, conservation crafts & activities and more. Included with admission: $19 to $25. 700 Water St., Denver.
Smoky Hill Library Environmental Fair
10 a.m. to noon. Stop by and chat with a variety of local experts about sustainability and recycling at this outdoor open-house style fair. Leave with a wealth of information on how to be earth-friendly and reduce your carbon footprint. Take a spin on an electric bike and see what all the organizations have to offer. 5430 S. Biscay Cir., Centennial.