Earth Day 2012 on the calendar is Sunday, April 22. Our Reno and Lake Tahoe Earth Day activities take place on more than one weekend, giving us a great selection of both environmentally friendly functions and days on which to enjoy them. Attend an Earth Day celebration and have fun with the family learning about recycling, alternative energy, sustainability, and ways to protect the environment.
Earth Day at Idlewild Park in Reno
Sunday, April 22 - Idlewild Park is the setting for Reno's Annual Earth Day Celebration. Earth Day 2012 in Reno is coming to us thanks to a group of organizers called Mercury Rising, headed up by Heather Howell, Todd Howell, and Anastacia Sullivan. Because long-time sponsor Nevada EcoNet went out of business in December, 2011, the future of the event was in question until Mercury Rising rose up to carry on.
According to information I've read, Earth Day 2012 in Reno will be substantially the same as previous events over the years, featuring live music and entertainment with Vienna, Drinking with Clowns, Le Cirque Vagabond, and more, workshops, children's activities, science, technology, free recycling for stuff like cell phones and CFL bulbs, and booths with earth-friendly food, goods, and services. Earth Day will be at the same location in Idlewild Park - inside the California Building and the grounds surrounding it near the Truckee River. It's still free as always, and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In accordance with City of Reno policy for special events, please leave your pets at home.
You can view the official Earth Day flyer online for more details. For information about being a vendor, sponsor, or performer, contact Heather Howell at (775) 771-1828.
Earth Day Picnic for the Planet
Saturday, April 21 - Picnic for the Planet is a new Earth Day event in Reno. It will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the park surrounding the McKinley Arts Center by the Truckee River, at 925 Riverside Drive in Reno. Picnic for the Planet is being organized by The Nature Conservancy in Nevada, with sponsorship help from REI and Caesars Entertainment Northern Nevada. This free community event will include food and drink vendors, live music, and educational presentations from various outdoors and conservation groups.
This event was originally intended to replace Reno's traditional Earth Day celebration at Idlewild Park when that event was canceled by the demise of long-time sponsor Nevada EcoNet. However, another group took up the cause and Earth Day in Reno's Idlewild Park will be happening on Sunday, April 22 in 2012.
Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival at Squaw Valley
Saturday, April 21 - The Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival will be at the Village at Squaw Valley USA, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free event will feature games and activities for kids from Dr. Solar and Dr. Wilderness, entertainment featuring Drop Theory, Ten Mile Tide, Asha World Dancers, and the Envirolution Trashion Show. The largest environmental event in the region, The Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival provides an opportunity to learn about recycling, composting, alternative energy, sustainability, watershed and forest health, and reducing our carbon footprint. The event schedule will show you what's happening and when.
Part of the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival is a free e-waste collection event for area residents in the parking lot of the Village at Squaw Valley USA. This is not a free-for-all. Be sure to read the list of accepted items (and those not accepted) before hauling your old electronics and other stuff to the event. Collection will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. For more information, call (530) 582-2909.Tahoe Area Regional Transit (T.A.R.T.) will be offering free, round-trip festival transportation from North Lake Tahoe, Incline Village and Truckee.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
On Thursday, April 19, the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival will be playing at the Olympic Village Lodge in Squaw Valley. There will be about 90 minutes of movies on topics including water, climate change, energy, conservation, wildlife, and adventure. Doors open at 6 p.m. and films start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Advance tickets are on sale at New Moon Natural Foods in Tahoe City and Truckee.
On Friday, April 20, the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival will show again at the Olympic Village Lodge in Squaw Valley. Same times and format as above, but this showing will feature a different set of movies, so you are encouraged to attend both.
