Opportunities To Celebrate Earth Day Abound Throughout Austin Area

AUSTIN, TX — Earth Day is coming up, people. And Earth, of which Austin is a part, is set to be celebrated in grand fashion, with a number of events scheduled.

Earth Day is scheduled April 22 as an effort to enhance awareness of environmental issues affecting our planet. Earth fun fact: The planet is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. Earth, old friend, you don't look a day over 4.3 billion! Wouldn't you agree?

Forgive our exuberance. Back to Austin Earth Day events. An array of events is scheduled locally and in the region, all designed to help enhance our kinship with the big blue marble. Bear in mind, some of these events occur just prior to the actual day, so make sure you take note. Otherwise, you might hurt Earth's feelings in wishing a belated greeting.

Here are some upcoming Earth Day-related events:

• Give 5 to Mother Earth Day 2017 is a citywide initiative involving participating businesses agreeing to donate 5 percent of their sales to local environmental organizations. This will take place on Friday, April 21, all day, offering a nice way to get things kicked off. A special kickoff celebration is scheduled Friday at 10 a.m. at Juiceland, 2828 Guadalupe St., featuring Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo. Download the Agenda for the Give 5 Day 2017 Kickoff Here.

For bicycling aficionados, a daylong cruise around town to visit sponsors and business partners is scheduled. George Cofer of the Hill Country Conservancy and Colin Wallis of the Austin Parks Foundation for the Give 5 Magical Mystical Bike Tour will be on hand. Download the Magical Mystical Tour Itinerary Here. Actually, here it is, but do what you want:

The Give 5 Mother Earth Day campaign will benefit nine organizations: Shoal Creek Conservancy, Hill Country Conservancy, Sustainable Food Center, Waller Creek Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, Texas Campaign for the Environment Fund, Friends of Barton Springs Pool, Park Pease Conservancy, and TreeFolks.

Give 5 sponsors and participating businesses are too numerous to mention here, but click on this highlighted portion to view the list.

• Earth Day ATX 2017, billed as the largest sustainability event in Central Texas, this free event is scheduled April 22 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Huston-Tillotston University campus. The folks at the university hosting the event don't just talk the talk: A feature of their bucolic East Austin campus between 7th and 11th streets is a massive solar array installed by Earth Day sponsor, Freedom Solar.

Earth Day ATX organizers suggest downloading their app for interactive map, schedules and a list of exhibitors.

Organizers say participants will feast on new interactive exhibits and hands-on activities sure to "...make this year's Earth Day an unforgettable experience." Visit earthdayaustin.com for more information.

• For those with a less subdued taste, the Earth Day Jam at Dirty Dog Bar, 505 E. 6th St., will feature a free show on April 22. Despite the free admission, donations are encouraged as proceeds will benefit Texas Campaign for the Environment. Those under 21 can get in for $10, with music starting at 9 p.m. Doors open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event is being billed as featuring "the world's only Slayer/Pantera/Metallica cover band. Party on. We're not worthy!

• In an age when seemingly a growing number of people deny the reality of climate change (and even ridicule as alarmist nerds those bearing evidence trying to prove it's really a thing), comes the March for Science at the Texas State Capitol, featuring activists walking in support of science across the world. Scheduled April 22 at 11 a.m. (the date is no coincidence), the march promotes to "support and defend all things SCIENCE!" organizers write on the official Facebook page (caps are theirs). "Science is more than just important," organizers add. "We couldn't live without it."

While the rally to the Capitol starts at 11 a.m., the event actually begins earlier. from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., a teach-in is scheduled to take place on the Capitol grounds, preceding the rally taking place from 11 a.m. to noon. At noon, marchers will head to the Earth Day ATX celebration at Huston-Tillotson University (see above). Those wishing to participate are asked to RSVP by clicking here. Those wishing to volunteer should click here. Wanna buy a T-shirt benefiting the rally? Click here for that.

• As metaphors go, the gentle butterfly is an apt one in conveying the importance of the environment. More than just nice to look at, butterflies are a bellwether of a healthy environment and thriving ecosystem. They help the environment by pollinating flowers and providing food or nestling songbirds as caterpillars.

All of which is to alert you to the 19th Annual Butterfly Festival taking place April 22 at 9 a.m. at EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens in Wimberley, Texas. The address is 1101 Ranch Rd. So what's in store? Oh, nothing, just the release of 3,500 butterflies timed in 30-minute increments throughout the day. You think this event will be subdued and low-key given the lolling nature of butterflies. But no. It'll be an event-filled event starting with a flag-raising ceremony; a commemorative U.S. Air Fore flyover (weather permitting); live entertainment; concession stands; games; and more. This is a free event, although donations will be accepted. Game and concession tickets will be available for sale.

For more information, click here.

• Earth Day Live at the Historic Scoot Inn is scheduled on Sunday, April 23. Sun Radio and Hill Country Conservancy are scheduled to be on hand to help celebrate, with Americana music acts to include Jonathan Tyler, Guy Forsyth, Harvest Thieves, Ed Jurdi, Gordi Quist, Sour Bridges, Mike Shenfeld and more. The event starts at 1 p.m., staged under the oak trees at the historic site. For advance tickets, click here.

• On April 27, Texas Keeper Cider will stage a gardening party benefiting Farmshare Austin starting at noon. Organizers say events are too numerous to mention, but include an heirloom plant talk, workshop on seed saving and plant propagation and a seed swap and plant pass along.

Live music will fill the air at this event. As if that weren't enough, organizers will release their second collaboration cider with Blue Owl Brewing, with delicious food from Cultivo Salsa Company & Catering. Admission is $4 at the door, benefiting Farmshare Austin (we said that already, sorry).

A grafting workshop also is scheduled, costing $35 for participants. To get tickets to that, click here. Workshop participants will take home a Southern heirloom tree of their own creation.

• An Earth Day art show titled You Are Here is scheduled on April 22, featuring work inspired by the outdoors. There also will be a number of family-friendly events at this exhibit hosted by the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and curated by Renee Anna Cornue with the help of Faith Robbins and Marissa Hunt. Organizers urge would-be participants to think about carpooling as the Wild Basin has limited parking (and wouldn't carpooling be appropriate for Earth Day?).

A guided hike by Paul Montgomery will be among the scheduled events. To register, click here. The opening reception is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Other activities to look forward to: Artwork from more than 30 local and far-reaching artists working in a large variety of mediums; meeting the Wild Basin's artist in residence, Andrea Wolf, including a tour of her on-site studio; family art activities; live music from Dana Falconberry and The Monkberries.

This event is at 805 N. capital of Texas Highway.

• Just in time for Earth Day, the Texas Museum of Science and Technology will stage its Science Saturday: Earth Day event scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. designed for visitors to learn more about ecology. Events at this free event focused on Earth include making seed bombs and diminutive terrariums as well as trying out a hovercraft. the museum is located at 1221 Toro Grande Dr. in Cedar Park. Visit www.txmost.org for more information.
• In Round Rock, Earth Day family story time is scheduled on April 22. The free event is catered for children between the ages of 3 and 8. Activities for the environmentally conscious little tykes include fingerplays—nursery rhymes for children using hand movements coordinated with words to engage and sustain their interest. Fingerplays can be in the form of songs or chants (think "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Round and Round the Garden," "This Little Piggy," etc.). Second-grader Asvini Thivakaran is scheduled to give a presentation on recycling, and families will be able to take home bean seeds to take home and obverse the resulting plant’s growth. The free event is scheduled at 11 a.m. at the Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St. Visit www.roundrocktexas.gov for more information.

• The Kyle Public Library also has scheduled an Earth Day event on Saturday. The guest of honor: Tito the Tortoise, accompanied by the Green Team for Earth Day. Also on hand at this free event will be pizza and refreshments for kids of all ages. The event is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the library, 550 Scott St.. Call (512) 268-7411 or visit www.cityofkyle.com/library for more information.
• Natural Grocers is celebrating Earth Day this Saturday by giving away a free, reusable bag a one free seed to take home and plant in their garden (one per person). For locations, click here.
• In nearby Georgetown, an Earth Day celebration is scheduled for Saturday. Officials from the Round Rock chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby and Interfaith ECO-Network of Georgetown will be on hand to bring food, drinks and chairs to celebrate at Chautauqua Park, 602 Rucker St., where a children's play area, basketball courts and picnic shelters are among the amenities. City Council members and officials from the Georgetown Utility Systems will take the opportunities to celebrate the municipal conversion to renewable and water-conserving energy sources. The free event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon. Click here for more information.

>>> Photo of Earth from NASA via WikiMedia Commons