Earth Day is Wednesday April 22 2009. Several events in Minneapolis and St. Paul celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, and on the weekends before and after.
Here's a guide to what's happening in Minneapolis and St. Paul for Earth Day 2009.
Saturday April 18: 2009 Minneapolis Earth Day Watershed Clean Up
The Watershed Clean-Up is a long-running tradition in the city of Minneapolis. Volunteers gather on Saturday morning at Minneapolis' parks, lakes and the Mississippi river to clean up trash and debris.
Bags, gloves, and refreshments are provided for volunteers. No registration is required, just show up at any of the clean up sites between 9:30 a.m. and noon and help keep Minneapolis beautiful.
Location: List of Minneapolis Earth Day Watershed Clean-Up Locations
Date : 9.30 a.m. until 12 noon, Saturday April 18
Cost: Free
Sunday, April 19: Minneapolis Recycle Run 5K
Run off the winter cobwebs at Lake Harriet, and support the environment. The Recycle Run 5K Walk/Run and a Kid's Half-Mile Run supports Minneapolis' Earth Day Watershed Clean-Up efforts.
Bring old training shoes and running shirts to be recycled, and be entered to win prizes.Location: Lake Harriet Bandshell, Lake Harriet, Minneapolis.
Date: Sunday April 19. The Kids' Run begins at 8.45 a.m. and the 5K begins at 9 a.m.
Cost: Registration fees benefit future Minneapolis Earth Day Watershed Clean-Up efforts.
Sunday, April 18: Bottineau Neighborhood Green 5K and Watershed Clean Up, Gluek Park
The clean up of Gluek Park is part of the City of Minneapolis' Earth Day clean up events, and the Bottineau neighborhood adds their own Earth Day 5K run or walk too. And there will be art activities, workshops in building birdhouses, and the Raptor Center will be visiting the park.
Location: Gluek Park, 1926 Marshall Street, Minneapolis
Date : Race at 9 am, watershed clean-up 9.30 a.m. until 12 noon, Saturday April 18
Cost: Race registration is $20, participating in the clean up is free
Sunday, April 18: Bottineau Neighborhood Association Presents the Green Gala
The Green Gala is an evening event held in the Northeast Arts District. There will be recycled, reused and environmentally friendly fashion, clothing and textile arts from local retailers. Many items will be for sale.
Location: The Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis
Date : 7 - 10 p.m., Saturday April 18
Cost: Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door.
Sunday, April 18: Earth Day at the Midtown Global Market
The Midtown Global Market and Do It Green! partner to celebrate Earth Day. Cooking demonstrations, green exhibitors, local farmers, live music, children's activities and giveaways all day at the Market.
Location: Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis
Date : 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday April 18
Cost: Free.
Sunday April 19: Wishes for the Sky, Harriet Island
Wishes for the Sky is an art event celebrating Earth Day. Kites will be flying, mobiles chiming in the wind, and participants will be invited to send wishes for the earth, for people, for anything they want to the sky. The event is inspired by ancient Chinese traditions of flying wishes on kites.
Wishes for the Sky aims to be a zero-waste event. In 2007 almost 2000 people attended the event and only generated five pounds of trash between them. Wishes for the Sky's website has lots of tips on how to get to the event by public transportation and how to pack an environmentally-friendly picnic.
Location : Harriet Island, Downtown St. Paul
Date : 10.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Sunday April 19
Cost : Free
Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 29: Earth Fest at Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo presents Earth Fest on the weekend before Earth Day. On April 18 and 19 the Zoo hosts a party for the planet celebrating all things green. There will be eco-friendly activities for all ages, music, crafts and activities to teach children about recycling and environmentally friendly living.
Location : Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
Time: Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19, 11 a.m. onwards
Cost: Free with paid admission to the zoo: $14 for adults, discounts for seniors and children.
Saturday April 18: Earth Day at Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville
Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville opened on Earth Day in 1990. Since then, they have celebrated Earth Day, and this year the Nature Center has family crafts, games, environmental exhibits and the annual tree planting.
Location : Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville
Time: Saturday April 18, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Wednesday April 22, Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26: Go Green for Gorillas - A Party for the Planet
Como Zoo celebrates the Year of the Gorilla and shares ways to protect these animals by going green on Earth Day with a Party for the Planet.
Location: Como Zoo and Conservatory, St. Paul
When : April 22, 25, 26, During regular hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Cost : Free, donations accepted.
Saturday April 25: R.I.T.E. of Spring 2008, Mahtomedi
R.I.T.E. of Spring (Really Into The Earth) is Mahtomedi's Earth Day festival. Environmentally-friendly exhibitors, an eco-boutique with green vendors, and workshops help the whole family learn about the latest ways to be green.
Location: Mahtomedi High School, Mahtomedi.
When : Saturday April 25, 9 a.m. - Noon.
Cost : Free.
Saturday May 2, Sunday May 3: Living Green Expo
A free, family-friendly event packed with environmentally-friendly exhibitors, and workshops to inspire living greener all year round.
Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
When : Saturday May 2, Sunday May 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost : Free.
Public Transportation: Metro Transit's Go Greener Pass
Metro Transit is joining in with green celebrations. The is a pass to get you to green events for free, like the Living Green Expo in May on Metro Transit's buses and trains.
