With Earth Day quickly approaching on April 22, it's time to get outside, take a breath of fresh air, admire the spring flowers, and thank our special planet for all of its Earthly essentials. Show your gratitude with one of these five eco-friendly events.
APR. 18: ECOFEST
Druid Hill Park, 2600 Madison Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free. baltimoregreenworks.com.
The 12th annual EcoFest is the kick-off for Baltimore Green Week, a weeklong celebration full of environmentally conscious events from April 18-25, organized by the local environmental nonprofit, Baltimore Greenworks. Whether you want to take part in tree planting, relax on the lush lawn of this local park, or jam out to some live music, the afternoon festival will be full of fun for the entire community, with local bands, workshops, vendors, food, and TreeBaltimore's native sapling giveaway for you to plant in your very own yard.
APR. 22: ECOBASH
Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free-$18.95. 410-685-5225. mdsci.org.
Head to the Science Center on Earth Day and explore the—you guessed it— scientific side of being eco-conscious, like wind turbines, infrared cameras, water testing, solar power, and more. Learn about the environment with lots of hands-on activities, like water testing, kite sailing, and melting marshmallows with the sun. While you're there, check out some of the center's regular features, like seed-planting on the green roof or sky-gazing through special telescope filters.
APR. 22: EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
The National Aquarium in Baltimore, 501 E. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $21.95-34.95. aqua.org.
The National Aquarium understands the importance of keeping the planet healthy, especially when it comes to its waterways, like our very own Chesapeake Bay. This educational celebration offers lessons on green practices, as well as games and activities that teach you fun ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint. While you're at it, explore the various underwater exhibits and check in on some of the actual marine life you just learned to protect.
APR. 24: BLACK IS THE NEW GREEN
Union Craft Brewing, 1700 Union Ave. Free. 6-8 p.m. 410-467-0290. blackisthenewgreen.com.
If trivia and beer (especially a UCB Duckpin…) is your kind of celebration, make your way to Woodberry and cheers to our local habitat with some house-made craft beer. The party will be hosted by Baltimore Green Drinks, a social, monthly meet-up group focused on keeping Charm City clean and sustainable, and feature Black is the New Green, a local organization dedicated to spreading eco-consciousness. Together, they'll test your green knowledge, with the help of a UCB happy hour for a little liquid courage. With a focus on BGD's upcoming Eco-Hustle, an eco-education scavenger hunt at the Baltimore Community Toolbank on May 9, the winners will score highly coveted goods, like free team registration to the event, as well as brewery loot.
APR. 25: PARTY FOR THE PLANET
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$18. 410-396-7102. marylandzoo.org.
While enjoying a springtime Saturday at the Maryland Zoo, stop by this exciting environmental event. It has a little something for the whole family, with Bike Maryland workshops, a pen recycling station, puppet shows, and, for all those green thumbs out there, a seedling giveaway from the zoo's Bur Oak, which is a native Maryland tree species. All the while, Baltimore's Satyr Hill Band will be performing its bluegrass tunes.
