Come Join the Street Party at Spokane’s Earth Day Event April 23, 2011

Written by Stephanie on April 20th, 2011

Earth Day is officially Friday, April 27, but the big party starts on Saturday at 11 a.m. in downtown Spokane. Main Street will be closed off between Browne and Division to allow Spokane residents and visitors to celebrate our beautiful planet and green living until midnight. The day’s events are definitely family friendly. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids can enjoy free activities like vegetable planting and marching in the Procession of the Species parade (parade is at 2 p.m., and kids will make their own fun animal masks to wear beforehand). Youngsters can also collect special “passports” that will be stamped for visiting different animal themed activity booths.

If you want to start celebrating earlier in the morning and feel good about doing something for the nature in and around Spokane, join the Earth Day Spokane River Clean Up sponsored by 96.9 the River, Friends of the Centennial Trail, and the Spokane Riverkeeper. Meet at Mission Park at 8 a.m. (across from Avista on Mission Ave.) Treats, coffee, and trash bags will be provided.

All ages will enjoy the live performances of music, dance, and poetry. Malidoma World Dance studio will be performing traditional dances, the Hoop Troup will make hula hooping tricks look ridiculously easy, and several bands will perform, including the Angela Marie Project, B Radicals, and the Brad Keeler Trio. Local community leaders, among them Mayor Mary Verner and Councilman Richard Rush, will give blissfully brief talks as well. If you have a thing or two to say or sing yourself, sign up for the open mic on Isabella’s rooftop. All day long, you can browse interesting community booths with information and activities on sustainability, and of course there will be delicious street food.

In the evening, stick around to see flaming hula hoop performances and show your moves at an electronic dance party located in the Community Building warehouse (ages 16+). Bands will continue to rock the outdoor stage until midnight. Admission is free; come for just a little while or stay all day, but don’t miss Earth Day Spokane 2011!