The annual Earth Day Vancouver Celebration happens this Saturday April 21, at Jericho Beach Park from 11am to 5 pm. This is a free family-oriented public celebration.

Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Now, with soaring awareness of global climate change and the move to Jericho Beach Park (following five successful years in Everett Crowley Park), the Earth Day Vancouver Celebration is poised to be a major family event on the civic calendar. Organizers expect a record crowd to converge on Jericho Park for a day of celebration, restoration, and hands-on participation.

The Earth Day Vancouver Celebration is a unique opportunity to get hands-on with the Earth, by helping to restore the unique ecosystem of Jericho Park to its natural beauty. Guided by Evergreen’s restoration experts, we will remove habitat-destroying invasive species such as blackberry and english ivy, and replace them with over 1,000 native plants. Restoration activities are geared for all ages. Families can help children plant a tiny cedar tree in Jericho Park, under which their great-grandchildren might one day play!

Besides the restoration projects, the Earth Day Vancouver Celebration offers free nature tours guided by the Vancouver Natural History Society, a Native Plant sale, and roving performers including active-transportation hero Dustin the Purple Pirate and the irresistable Carnival Band. Everyone is invited to join artists from the Secret Lantern Society in the creation of an Earth Mandala, an ever-expanding circular artwork on the beach.

And of course, there will be dancing! The Celebration features a high-energy live Earth Day Stage programmed by the VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL – a showcase of diverse entertainment for all ages, ranging from the spicy Bhangra-Celtic beats of Delhi to Dublin to the First Nations rhythms of Eagle Song Dancers to the funky dub groove of Folk Fest dancefloor faves Big Bass Theory.

The Earth Day Vancouver Celebration is produced by Evergreen: an innovative charity that builds relationship between nature, culture and community in urban spaces (www.evergreen.ca). Community partners include: the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Jericho Stewardship Group. Starbucks Coffee Company is the Presenting Sponsor and City of Vancouver offers additional support.

Earth Day Vancouver is chaired by world-renowned singer, author, and ecology advocate Raffi Cavoukian—founder of Child Honouring, a children-first paradigm for global restoration. Raffi says, “Earth Day is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to creating a healthy world, a world fit for children. Let’s start a Compassion Revolution—you’re all invited to Jericho Park to celebrate the power of local action to restore our Mother Earth.” Raffi will launch the Earth Day Stage at 1 pm.

For more info and stage lineup: www.evergreen.ca