Image by Kylie BeallImage by 20090412-earth.jpg Charleston County's 2009 Earth Day Festival Art Contest winner is Kylie Beall, an eighth grade student at Buist Academy, for her water color painting "Great Egret." The theme of the Earth Day Festival this year is "Do Your Part, Be Earth Smart."
This year Kermit is wrong; it IS easy to be green in Charleston. Earth Day is not just the official day of the 22nd, but lasts a whole week from the 18th through the 25th, so everyone has a chance to participate.
With so much going on, we thought we would help out by giving you an Earth Day Guide so you don’t have to miss one minute of sweet earth loving!
Monday-Wednesday, April 20-22
The good times continue with Kulture Klash’s post-consumer putt-putt golf course, open from April 20 to 22 at Noisette. Playing the course will cost $5 and all proceeds will be donated to Creative Spark, School of the Arts and the Noisette Foundation.
Wednesday, Aprill 22
On the official day of the earth, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity and St. John’s High school will be rolling up their sleeves at 9:30 a.m. and planting a wetland buffer in a Habitat neighborhood on John’s Island, so if you are looking for a hands-on kid friendly event, join the native plant party!
If your work doesn’t honor the Earth by giving you a day off, then plan on leaving the office and heading straight for O’Malley’s Bar and Grill because Keep Charleston Beautiful is hosting an Earth Day Celebration for only $10 with live local Blue Grass music and free food from 5:30-7:30. Contact Jenn Scales for more information at (843) 965-4082 or cleancityintern@ci.charleston.sc.us
Local artists will exhibit work in honor of the day at Mellow Mushroom, as the local pizza shop teams up with with Lowcountry Earth Force. That starts 7 p.m.
Support sustainable fishing practices at the the South Carolina Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Initiative dinner at Farringdon Bistropub. There will be a four-course dinner with Belgian beer pairings at 7:30 p.m. $55. Reserve by April 17 by calling (843) 419-6381. Farringdon Bistropub is at 214 N. Cedar Street, Summerville.
Tour the Navy Yard at Noisette and surrounding eco friendly businesses and neighborhoods in North Charleston aboard the LEEP Biodiesel Bus (route map). Charleston Young Professionals is hosting the "Get on the Bus Tour and Green Expo." Following the bus tour, there will be a green expo by businesses and local artists at 10 Storehouse Row. Bus tour is from 5 to 6 p.m., and green expo is from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost: $15 members, $25 nonmembers (snacks and beverages included). Read more.
Friday, April 24
The Charleston Battery is hosting their 2nd annual Go Green Game Night at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. There will be information and booths with sustainable companies and organizations spreading the green word. Plus, $1 from each beer sold at the beer garden prior to the game will be donated to the Sustainability Institute. Going green never tasted so good! Starts at 7 p.m. The Battery will play the Minnesota Thunder.
Saturday, April 25
For people that want to get back to nature, Sewee Center has an Earth Day Celebration Nature Tour at 10 a.m. on the 25th. The group will meet at Sewee Center and the hike through the habitats of the Francis Marion National Forest. Groups are encouraged to bring lunch, cameras, binoculars, water, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and old shoes. Space limited and reservations required so register soon! Call 928-3316 or (800) 673-0679. Read more.
Editors note
And, finally, though it's not specifically an Earth Day event, its connection to the environment is so obvious I thought it deserving a mention. The East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival coming to James Island County Park on April 17 through 19. Read more.
Past events
Saturday, April 18
The Sustainability Institute is kicking things off bright and early at 8 a.m. on Saturday April 18th, with their Sustainability Institute Green Village Tour. The race features “green” developments in the North Charleston area including The Navy Yard @ Noisette, Hunley Waters, Half Moon Outfitters Distribution Center (LEED Platinum), Oak Terrace Preserve, The Sustainability Institute's GreenHouse and Mixson. When you register at the TrySports Store located in Mount Pleasant, you will receive a free $30 merchandise voucher for a hat, visor or shirt -- or register online. Read more.
After you finish your run, head over to Park Circle for Charleston County's 2009 Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy free entertainment, music, refreshments, green educational activities, and organic, healthy food demonstrations. Read more.
Help reinforce the environment by buying and using native vegetation at the Spring Native Plant Sale and Bog Garden Workshop put on by the SC Native Plant Society. It's at Charles Towne Landing from 9 a.m. 'til noon. Members shop early at 8:30. There's also a Bog Garden Workshop at 10 a.m. Cash/check only. List of plants for sale.
Sunday, April 19
If you can’t make it out to run and relax Saturday, or you just didn’t get enough, then head over to Kiawah Island on the 19th for their 5k Re-Run andGreenival Celebration. The race starts at 8 a.m. and finishes in time to head over to the festivities for free blue grass, local vendors and artists, eco-friendly games and family crafts which last until 3. Read more.
