Nine places to celebrate Earth Day in the suburbs
Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. Since then, it has become a global holiday, with at least 192 countries participating, according to the Earth Day Network.
Locally, Earth Day offers a chance to get out and learn about the environment, find out what you can do to help our planet, and maybe even plant a tree or two. Check out one of these upcoming suburban festivals:
• Bartlett: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Bartlett Nature Center, 2054 W. Stearns Road, James "Pate" Philip State Park. Earth Day with the Bartlett Nature Center and the Bartlett Parks Foundation features a variety of demonstrations, educational exhibits, and hands-on activities. Free; open to all ages, no reservations. Info: www.bartlettparkdistrict.com
• Crystal Lake: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road. McHenry County Conservation District and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County host an Earth Day Celebration that includes live music, guided nature hikes, games and crafts, puppet shows, household recycling drop-off, exhibitors, food vendors. Admission is free; visit mccdistrict.org.
• Deer Park: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Cuba Marsh, 21185 Ela Road. Join Citizens for Conservation at Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve to plant thousands of sedges under the mighty oaks. A light lunch will follow the event. Free. RSVP for lunch by emailing cfc@citizensforconservation.org.
• Des Plaines: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road. Plant a seedling and decorate a flower pot while learning about gardening, recycling and going green. During this free Earth Day event hosted by the Mount Prospect Park District, you can tour the greenhouse and get tips on how to make your garden grow. Mount Prospect Public Works and The Garden Club of Mount Prospect will also have special displays. Info: mppd.org.
• Geneva: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road. Features children's activities and games, food vendors, bicycle tuneups, paper shredding, chair massages, health screenings, a book exchange, rain barrels for sale. Info: genevaparks.org or (630) 232-4542.
• Grayslake: April 14-27 at College of Lake County, 19352 W. Washington St. The college celebrates Earth Week with a series of 16 events, kicking off with a campus cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon April 14 and ending with a discussion of trees and shrubs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. April 27. Info: clcillinois.edu or (847) 543-2000.
• Naperville: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Naperville Park District's Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive. The free family-friendly event will feature children's activities, eco-friendly vendors, green living tips, energy-saving information, an LED light bulb giveaway, environmental education and more. Earth Week events continue through April 28. Visit www.napervilleparks.org/earthweek for a complete schedule.
• Schaumburg: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road. Includes games, crafts, birdhouse building, beekeeping demonstrations and displays of live owls and hawks. Children can throw wildflower seeds onto the prairie, join in a StoryWalk with the Schaumburg Township District Library and chase the giant bubbles of a professional bubble maker. Free. Info: (847) 985-2100 or parkfun.com.
• St. Charles: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22, Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St. At 8 a.m., join a free bird walk for all ages. From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., there will be an Earth Day Garden Workshop. Cost is $10 per garden, all ages. From noon to 4 p.m., there will be free crafts and games for all ages. From 1 to 2 p.m., learn about "Native Landscaping 101" for age 18 or older. There is a $10 fee. From 3 to 4 p.m., join in a Nature Hike and Trail Cleanup for all ages. To register for the "Earth Day Garden Workshop" or "Native Landscaping 101," call (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com. Visit www.kaneforest.com.