Earth Day Events and Celebrations in Tucson Arizona 2010

Thursday, April 22, 2010 is Earth Day. On Earth Day, we remember to appreciate nature and learn ways to protect our environment. In Tucson, Earth Day is being celebrated on several days.

On Saturday, March 27, 2010 the world is celebrating Earth Hour by encouraging everyone to turn off all their lights for one hour starting at 8.30 P.M.

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 is the 16th Annual Tucson Earth Day Festival at Reid Park located at: 900 S. Randolph Way (off of Country Club Road). The Park can be accessed from E. Broadway Blvd., or 22nd Street. The Festival's theme is "All Species Deserve a Place on Earth." This event is from 9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M and will include hands-on activities, displays such as an Alternative Fuel Vehicle Show, live music & dance and food. Everyone of all ages will enjoy the fun. Everyone can also join in the All Species Procession which is part of their Earth Day Parade. Use your imagination to help celebrate Earth Day and join in the parade - dress-up; dance; sing; play an instrument; make a float; decorate your bike, wheelchair, baby carriage or a wagon.... If you would also like to enter a Parade contest all you have to do is make a banner and tell them how your species is so important to Planet Earth. The parade begins at 10:00 A.M. and winners will be announced at 11:30 A.M. Parade entry forms are on their website at: www.tucsonearthday.org
There will also be a Solar Competition for middle school students starting at 10:45 A.M. A kit is provided and students construct their own solar cars and houses to submit. Awards are presented at 1:00 P.M. For a kit order form and information on how to enter the competition, email Stacey at: stacey.james@swe.org.
Aaron Brothers Art & Framing is having a Coloring Earth Green Kid's Art Contest. The contest is for children ages 5-12. All the child has to do to enter is to submit their unframed Earth Day themed artwork done on 9x12 paper to any Aaron Brothers store through April 18, 2010. Their Tucson location is: 5460 E Broadway Blvd., Suite 324 and their telephone number is: 520-790-4158. Their store hours are: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.; and Sunday: 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. Approximately $26,000 in prizes will be given out to the children and their schools.
Reid Park Zoo is offering free admission during the Festival if you ride your bike there and show your safety helmet. For more information about the Festival you can call: 520-206-8814.

Aaron Brothers Art & Framing is offering teachers a complimentary kit that contains "Green Thought Starters" - such as ideas, fun facts and valuable coupons. Teachers can download, or request the free teachers kit, which includes "Coloring Earth Green" art entry examples and the "Green Thought Starters Kit," that I wrote about above at:
www.aaronbrothers.com/teachers

On Saturday, April 10, 2010 the Tucson Audobon Society is doing TogetherGreen Volunteer Day from 7:45 A.M.-12:00 P.M. This event is to remove giant reed (an invasive weed) along Sabino Creek. Wear work clothes and shoes and bring water and gardening gloves. They can supply tools and some extra gloves. The work involves pulling reeds and hauling them out, digging out roots and bagging them. Call Kendall at 520-971-2385, or email kerosene@tucsonaudubon.org to sign up and get directions.

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 Biosphere 2 is having their Earth Day 2010: Now Generation Festival from 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. At the event there will be science and art activities, telescope viewing, live music, exhibits, teachings, discussions and tours. Directions to Biosphere 2 are: north on Oracle Road (Arizona Highway 77) to Biosphere 2 Road at Mile Post 96.5, and then turn right. The telephone number for more information on this event is: 520-626-5888.

On Saturday, April 24, 2010 the Tucson Audobon Society is doing another TogetherGreen Volunteer Day from 7:45 A.M.-12:00 P.M. This event is to remove fountain grass (an invasive grass) in Esperero Canyon in the Front Range of the Santa Catalina Mountains, east of Ventana Canyon. Wear work clothes and shoes and bring water and gardening gloves. They can supply tools and some extra gloves. Call Kendall at 520-971-2385, or email kerosene@tucsonaudubon.org to sign up and get directions.

The following events take place specifically on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010.

Tucson Audubon's Birdathon 2010 is like a walk-a-thon, except instead of raising money per mile walked, they raise money per bird species seen in 24 consecutive hours. In other words, How much do you want to pledge and for which species of birds? It's also a great way to learn about birds and enjoy nature as you walk. Every person who raises at least $50.00 gets a free Birdathon 2010 t-shirt. Other prizes will also be given out. The Tucson Audubon Society is located at: 300 E. University Blvd. (between E. Speedway Blvd. and E. 6th Street). Call them at: 520-622-5622 to find out what time this event starts. I heard midnight but I'm not totally sure. It is free to participate. Go to this website to register to participate: www.tucsonaudubon.org This Birdathon is also from April 9-May 9, 2010.

If you rather just enjoy the beauty of nature by looking at birds, paintings, sculptures, photographs, plants, etc. below are such events also taking place specifically on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010.

Wake Up With The Birds is bird observation at Roy P. Drachman-Agua Caliente Regional Park (east of N. Soldier Trail) located at: 12325 E. Roger Road from 8:00 A.M.-9:30 A.M. Their telephone number is: 520-615-7855. Admission is free and binoculars will be lent out if you choose not to bring your own.

What's Blooming? is a wildflower tour. It starts at 10:00 A.M. at the Tohono Chul Park, Overlook Ramada located at: 7366 N. Paseo del Norte (W. Ina Road and N. Oracle Road). Their telephone number is: 520-742-6455. Admission is $7.00 with discounts available. While you're at the park you can also buy raffle tickets to win the 25th Anniversary Quilt - Birds of Tohono Chul Park and view the quilt. Raffle tickets are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00, which can be bought at the Park's admissions or by calling 520-742-6455. The winner will be picked on May 20, 2010. The quilt can be viewed from 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at La Entrada, the garden museum shop at the Park's entrance.

Imaginings and Images of Nature are paintings by Lynn Waltke. They can be viewed from 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. at the Academy Village Long Gallery located at: 13701 E. Langtry Lane (slightly east of E. Old Spanish Trail). Their telephone number is: 520-647-7264. Admission is free.

Precarious Rock Sculptures by Tom Philabaum can be viewed from 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at the Philabaum Glass Gallery located at: 711 S 6th Avenue. Their telephone number is: 520-884-7404. Admission is free.

A Radiant Land is paintings and photographs by Lynn Taber, Jack Dykinga and Eliot Porter. They can be viewed from 11:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. (also Tuesdays-Saturdays) at the Etherton Gallery located at: 135 S. Sixth Avenue (off of E. Broadway Blvd.). Their telephone number is: 520-624-7370. Admission is free.

Blue Raven "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral" exhibition can be viewed from 11:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at the Blue Raven Gallery and Gifts located at: 3054 N. 1st Avenue (at E. Orange Grove Road). Their telephone number is: 520-623-1003. Admission is free.

Canyon Magic: Landmark Art from the Picerne Collection is paintings of Arizona over the last 100 years by several artists. They can be viewed from 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at the Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon Village, Grand Canyon Nationa, Arizona. Their telephone number is: 928-863-3877. Admission is free.

Paintings of the New West are paintings of the desert southwest by Ed Mell. They can be viewed from 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at the Tucson Museum of Art located at: 140 N. Main Avenue. Their telephone number is: 520-624-2333. Admission is $8.00 with discounts available.

In & Out of the Garden is pastel art by Susan T. Fisher. They can be viewed from 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at the Tucson Botanical Gardens: Gallery at the Gardens located at: 2150 N. Alvernon Way (between E. Grant Road and E. Pima Street). Their telephone number is: 520-326-9686. Admission is free. Her paintings with be in their Porter Gallery from 8:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. but general admission to seen them is $7.00 and $3.00 for children ages 4-12.

The Tucson Saguaro Photography Invitational are photographs of the Saguaro cactus done in various ways by several artists. They can be viewed from 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. at the Temple Gallery located at: 330 S. Scott Avenue. Their telephone number is: 520-624-7370. Admission is free.

Thank you for contributing to Earth Day!