Celebrate Earth Day

In spring, it’s natural to get together with family, friends and neighbors - our communities - to celebrate our environment. Earth Day is officially April 22, but in the Carolinas, festivities will begin tomorrow. Here are some of the fun events held this weekend.

In Raleigh, the NC State Museum of Natural Sciences hosts its Planet Earth Celebration. Burt's Bees presents a festival with live bands, kid activities, the NC Sustainable Building Design Competition and Green Bazaar. Information: 919-733-7450, x379.

The Durham Earth Day Festival 2008 has great music, food, "green" activities, Eco Lounge, Sustainability and Water Expos, Public Art, story-teller, and many hands-on-projects. Information: 919-560-4355.

The Piedmont Environmental Alliance presents their third Piedmont Earth Day Fair in Winston-Salem, NC. Eco-Kids will have games, mini-solar car races, and more.

Earth Day Asheville is a concert event sponsored by the non-profit Quality Forward to raise funds for earth-friendly projects. A coordinated Earth Day at Biltmore Village includes bicycle rodeos and hybrid cars.

In Charlotte, at the Earth Day Celebration at the Reedy Creek Nature Center, take a guided hike, go on a scavenger hunt and more, for all ages. Charlotte Clean and Green continues, and Ray’s Splash Planet provides food, kids' activities, entertainment, moon bounces, a scavenger hunt and more. Information at 704-432-4RAY.

Charleston County SC Recycling hosts the Charleston County Earth Day Festival, focusing on interactivity and sustainability. See Go Green Charleston, for all the great offerings.

The SC State Museum in Columbia provides a day ranging from a “Trash to Treasures” make-and-take activity to a lawn mower exchange.

In North Augusta, SC, the seventh annual Kids Earth Day will have dozens of exhibitors to share activities and information about plants, animals and the environment.

The Anne Springs Close Greenway, in Fort Mill, SC, offers wagon rides, a petting zoo, horse show, pottery demonstrations, cow milking, a bluegrass band and more. Information at 803-548-7252 and their web site.

Have a great Earth Day week!