Earth Day Texas, the world’s largest public exhibition devoted to environmental stewardship is free and runs from April 24-26, in Fair Park. Stop by to participate in interactive activities designed to entertain, inform and instruct attendees on ways to reduce their cost of living, improve their health and benefit the environment.
In celebration of the event’s fifth year, Earth Day Texas has extended to three days. Friday will cater to business and civic professionals, offering speaker panels of global leaders in sustainability. Ken Klaveness, Director of Earth Day Texas described the importance of Friday, “This is, as far as we know, the first time we’ve invited businesses, environmental groups and other people to come to Earth Day for their own meetings to talk about what they’re doing with each other… We are trying to create a magnet, if you will, for all kinds of groups. By adding this business oriented day, we will be appealing to a broader crowd and draw some business people.”
Saturday and Sunday are packed with hands on games, live music from the Texas Music Project, food trucks and vendors focused on healthy eating and sustainable products, workshops and the Eco-Expo featuring over 1,100 exhibit spaces. Klaveness highlighted the activities, “Throughout Earth Day Texas, we will have quite a wide variety of speakers, experts in certain areas speaking or doing panels about topics of environmental interests and opportunities to learn everything from info about rain catchments, electricity conservation, to learning topics such as land stewardship, community gardens and more.”
Before you head out to the event take a minute to plan out what you want to see and do. Download the free app from the iTunes store, or go online to earthdaytx.org to view the program schedule. From the eye catching to the future forward, there is something for everyone in your family.
- Take a tour through our United States National Parks, such as Big Bend National Park and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park through games, interactive activities, official junior park ranger training and on site park rangers. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) kicks off the centennial year of the U.S. National Park Service at Earth Day Texas.
- Take a spin on an electric bike with the Oak Cliff shop, Small Planet E Bikes. Jordan Mieth, Manager of Planet E Bike, describes an ebike, “Get a boost while you pedal, you can go 20mph, 30-60mph, basically a quicker way to get around on a bicycle.”
- Catch the Texas premier of Racing Extinction, the new film from Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos, who directed the documentary The Cove. The movie trailer leaves you wanting to see how the filmmakers carried out their covert tactics to expose the illegal wildlife trade pushing extinctions around the world. Screenings of Racing Extinction will be 2pm and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
- Test drive the brand-new Nissan LEAF, America’s best selling 100 percent electric car. Find your perfect green vehicle by touring over 100 green cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
- View weather patterns, ocean currents and continental drift on huge visual orbs. The Omniglobe and the state of the art Science on a Sphere exhibit hosted by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) displays environmental concerns all around our globe in a moving masterpiece.
- Get a close up look at live Texas’ bats from Bat Conservation International who own and protect Bracken Cave, located in Texas, and summer home of the largest bat colony in the world.
- Feel like you’re in the recent movie “Interstellar” as you explore deep space and get up close and personal with the International Space Station through NASA’s interactive exhibit. Learn what it’s like to be an astronaut as you touch a 4-billion year old moon rock.
- Let your kid’s inner monkey out as they learn to climb trees, rope and harness style, with professional instructors from Tree Climbers International Presented by TXU Energy.
Be sure to stay green as you travel to Earth Day Texas and carpool, ride your bike or take the DART Green Line to Fair Park. Bring any unwanted clothes or shoes to recycle at the American Textile Recycling Services bins located around the event.
No matter what you chose to see at Earth Day Texas expect a fun filled weekend. Don’t forget to post pictures of your adventures on social media and tag them #EDTX2015 and #EarthDay2015 to share with the millions around the world participating in Earth Day events to shape a sustainable future.
Follow me on Twitter @naimajeannette for updates live from #EDTX2015.
If the slideshow doesn’t display below click here to make sure to see me as an astronaut.