Lehigh Valley organizations are spreading awareness of Earth Day, which is Sunday, and have opportunities to get involved.
Bethlehem Food Co-Op 5th annual Artisan Fair and Earth Day Festival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, St. Francis Center for Renewal, 395 Bridle Path Road, Hanover Township, Northampton County. More than 45 local artisans, food and sustainable vendors, a children’s area, guest speakers and demonstrations. Free. bethlehemfood.coop.
Party for the Planet, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Lehigh Valley Zoo, 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville. Keeper Talks, Wonders of Wildlife Encounters, interactive exhibit tours, meet an actress playing Tinker Bell at Preston’s Pad Nature Play Area (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), more. Admission: $13; $12, seniors; $11, ages 2-11. 610-799-4171. lvzoo.org.
Earth Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, 400 Belfast Road, Nazareth. Service projects including a litter pick-up, native garden clean-up and riparian buffer restoration. Wild edibles walk in the park with Rick Wiltraut (2 p.m.). Dress for the weather and bring work gloves. Lunch provided. Registration required. 610-746-2801.
Earth Day Celebration, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Menlo Park, Park and Arthur Avenue, Perkasie. Activities focus on yarn and fiber-art fun including Perkasie Yarn Bloom (local artists and crafters have decorated Menlo Park with thrift and donated yarns and other recycled fiber products, on display through May 24), demonstrations in spinning, weaving, rope making, electronics recycling, make-and-takes, entertainment, story time at library (2 p.m.). 215-257-5065.
Jim Thorpe Earth Day, 9 a.m-6 p.m. Saturday. Lehigh River cleanup (9 a.m.-noon), activities at Josiah White Park, Dimimick Memorial Library, Race Street Park and Horizons include kids crafts and activities, live performances, workshops, environmental information, food. Rain date, Sunday. 570-325-2079, jimthorpeearthday.com.
Earth Day in Jordan Park: noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Wahlburger’s food truck, live music, giveaways, crafts and activities, face painting, educational demonstrations, more. Rain or shine. Jordan Park, 1001 N. Sixth St., Allentown. www.facebook.com/allentownrecycles.
Monroe County Earth Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Northampton Community College-Monroe, 2411 Rt. 715, Tannersville. NCC, with the Monroe County Conservation District, celebrates Earth Day with environmental activities including exhibitors, music by Katie Rubino, Jesse Morales, The Lost Ramblers, e-cycling, workshops, give-and-take-event, family activities, electronics recycling and tire amnesty, speakers, campus tours, food, more. 570-629-3061, www.northampton.edu.
Grand Central Sanitary Landfill’s Earth Day Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Grand Central Environmental Education Center, 891 Grand Central Road, Pen Argyl. Presentations by Bear Mountain Butterflies and PT Reptiles, recycling games, nature hike, composting discussion, Waste Management GNC Truck for kids, more. Free. 585-472-2075. www.facebook.com/events/144301896254228/
Monroe Arbor Day Tree Planting, 10 a.m.-noon, April 27, Kettle Creek Environmental Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. Monroe County Garden Club will plant five trees, performance by the Stroudsburg High School Show Choir, flag presentation, more. 570-982-8246, monroecountygardenclub.com.
Pocono Earth Day Festival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 28, Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Hands-on learning stations, interpretive hikes, conservation exhibits, crafts, food, music, more. $5, car. 570-828-2319, peec.org.
CLEANUPS
The Downtown Bethlehem Association: 8-11 a.m. Saturday. Meet at the Sun Inn Courtyard, 556 Main St., for refreshments and equipment. Groups assigned to areas of the Historic District to pick up litter and clean out planters. Gloves, trash bags and safety equipment provided. 610-739-1175.
Palmer Township Earth Day, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday. Palmer Township Municipal Building, 1120 S. 25th St. Clear litter at township parks and recreational trails. Bring water, insect repellent and 5-gallon plastic bucket with handle. Hosted by the Palmer Environmental Steering Committee. Rain or shine. Advance registration required. 610-253-7191.
Tuscarora Earth Day Event: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, meet at the visitors center. Activities range from litter pick-up to trail maintenance and landscaping. Tools and supplies provided. Bring bag lunch. Tuscarora State Park, 687 Tuscarora Park Road, Barnesville. 570-467-2506, www.dcnr.pa.gov.
Quakertown Spring Clean-Up, 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Quakertown Community Pool, 601 W. Mill St. Volunteers weed, mulch and clean up Memorial Park, the Quakertown Memorial Pool, and lots throughout the borough. Register: 215-536-5001, ext. 136.
Keep Slatington Beautiful Clean-Up Day, 9 a.m. Saturday, Slatington Parks & Recreation Commission with downtown merchants group co-sponsor the seventh annual event to help beautify public recreation areas and the Slatington Business District on Main Street. Areas to be cleaned will be borough recreation facilities including Walnut Street Playground, West End Playground, Victory Park, The Fish Pond, Slatington Memorial Park, Slatington Trailhead and the Slate Heritage Trail from the Slatington Trailhead west to the borough line. Also the 500 and 600 blocks of Main Street. Staging will be at Slatington Borough Garage on West Church Street. Contact Robert at 610-554-4099 or Slatington Borough Hall at 610-767-2131. Light lunch and refreshments provided. Rain or shine.
Earth Day Projects at Norristown Farm Park, 1 p.m. Saturday. Join park staff in an animal habitat restoration project. Ranger Mike Seasholtz leads effort to remove invasive plants from a section of the park. Some native species will be planted. Individuals, families and organized groups are welcome. Bring work gloves. Loppers, pruning shears and trowels are helpful. Learn to identify native and non-native plant species. Meet at the park office. Earth Day Project for Kids, 1 p.m. Monday. Join the park naturalist to make Norristown Farm park beautiful, followed by craft. Meet at the pavilions. Registration is requested for both activities. To register call 610-270-0215 or email: rking2@montcopa.org. The park is at Barley Sheaf Drive and Germantown Pike in East Norriton.
Easton Karl Stirner Arts Trail, 8:30-11:30 a.m. April 28, meet at the Blue Bridge off Bushkill Drive, park at lot at 500 Bushkill Drive, or the 13th Street trailhead lot. Gloves and garbage bags provided. Hiking boots, long pants, long-sleeve shirts and work gloves recommended. www.karlstirnerartstrail.org.
Keep Hamburg Beautiful Clean-Up Day, 9 a.m.-noon, April 28, Hamburg Park, North Second Street and Island Street. Meet at pavilion. Lunch provided. Sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, PennDOT, Hamburg Southgate, St. John’s Thrivent members and Berks Packing. 610-562-3106.
Easton City-Wide Clean Up, 8 a.m.-noon, April 28. Mulch, prune, edge, plant and weed for opening day of the Easton Farmers Market and the Historic Easton House Tour. Meet in Centre Square; projects will be in central business district. Bring snippers, shears, gloves, wheelbarrows, wagons, edgers. Contact Amy Boccadoro, 610-330-9947, amy@eastonpartnership.org.
Make Freemansburg Shine, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 28. Join Old Freemansburg Association members to clean up areas in the borough and on the Lehigh Canal towpath.? Canoe in the canal gathering trash, clearing debris off the dam; sprucing up some street corners and prepping our garden at Lockhouse 44. Tools and gloves provided. Meet at the Monroe Street park off Main Street at the Lehigh Canal towpath access bridge. Info: Lynn Rogers at ldr1017@gmail.com.
— Debbie Schnecker
