Come to the St. Louis Earth Day Festival - April 20, 2008

The 19th annual Earth Day Festival, St. Louis, Missouri is April 20th this year. It all begins with the All-Species Parade at 11 a.m. and goes on until 6 p.m. Held on the grounds of the Muny Theater in historic Forest Park it is dedicated to increasing environmental awareness, alternative energy, and the fantastic work done by the many non-profit organizations in the St. Louis area.

The theme this year is "In Your Own Backyard". Right here in St. Louis' own backyard you can find products and services that can help you minimize impact on the environment.

It's all there for everybody and the activities are free. Non-profit and governmental organization will be there with the latest information on how to make and keep your lifestyle green. Take home a seedling and plant it to provide cool shade and more oxygen as it grows.

Learn and play. Riverworks Discovery, the St. Louis Science Center, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, and the St. Louis Teacher's Recycling Center will have hands-on exhibits that teach and entertain. Kids can make and fly their own kites in the cool green grass of Forest Park.

Groups like the Center for Pragmatic Buddhism and The Center for Spiritual Living can show you ways to improve the relationship between your bodymind and your environment.

Discover facts about bio-fuels, solar and wind power products for your home and business. Find out about the animals that inhabit our planet from the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center, the Humane Society of Missouri, and the St. Louis/Midwest Turtle and Tortoise Society.

Snack on delicious foods at the Earth Day Cafe and sip local wines and beers.

In 1969 Gaylord Nelson, then the Senator from Wisconsin, created Earth Day and the first festivals in Washington, D.C. and college campuses across the nation happened in 1970. Those first years were instrumental in the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air, Clean Water, and the Endangered Species Act. Earth Day Festivals all over America increased people's knowledge of the threats faced by our planet and brought fresh, innovative ideas to the people on how to combat those threats.

St. Louis had it's first Earth Day Festival in 1989. Forest Park was the site of the 1904 World's Fair and is home to the St. Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum, Art Museum, and much more. The Muny Theater opened in 1917 with a production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" and in 2008 hosts such shows as "High School Musical".

The St. Louis Earth Day Festival is the place to celebrate our planet. Learn to recycle, reuse, and conserve so you leave a lighter footprint on the Earth every day.