Recycling, vendors, kids activities mark Earth Day celebration

Celebrate Mother Earth from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, in Crystal Lake with McHenry County Conservation District and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

Within this 2014 Earth Day Celebration and Household Recycling Drop-Off will be more than 20 environmental booths on sustainable practices as well as a myriad activities are planned including kids' crafts, games and activities, puppet shows at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., guided nature hikes at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and a household recycling drop-off. Food and beverage vendors - Duke's Ale House and Pop's Premier Kettle Corn will be on hand or bring your own "no waste" picnic lunch. Music includes an opening drum circle at 11 a.m., Off Square Music featuring local musicians at 11:30 a.m., 2 and 3 p.m., and a 1 p.m. performance by Bill Kehl's "Earth, Music … Magic!," a family-friendly concert of fun and interactive entertainment.

Learn how you can take measures closer to home to help protect, restore, and make an impact. Activities are both inside and outdoors; the event goes on rain or shine! Car pool to the event with friends and enter the raffle for a free picnic shelter reservation.

As you begin your spring cleaning drop off your unwanted items: electronics (computers and accessories, TVs, stereos, etc.), small appliances (microwaves must be clean), clean Styrofoam, packing peanuts, re-useable Bubble Wrap, Christmas lights, fluorescent tubes, VHS tapes, CDs, cassettes, household batteries and athletic shoes. Donation is requested, up to $35, for large TVs or monitors to offset recycling costs. No smoke detectors, medical devices, console TVs, car batteries or paint cans will be accepted.