The official Earth Day for 2011 has come and gone but the celebration continues this weekend with Marietta's own Earth Day event on Saturday.
Exhibits, including presentations from the Ohio State University Extension office Master Gardeners, Harvest of Hope and Neighbors for Clean Air, hands-on activities, and contests are all on tap as the event moves back to the lawn in front of the Armory.
"Last year there was construction going on (at the Armory)," said Eric Barrett with the OSU Extension office. "This year the city said we could move back. We want to try to keep (the event) at its permanent home on the community square."
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Barrett said the Master Gardeners will be showing folks how to recycle items from home to use in gardening, how to make self-watering devices for plants and young people with 4-H groups in the area will have rabbits to show and will give presentations on leadership and team-building.
Again this year there will be a number of hands-on and educational activities for children and adults alike, according to Connie Grimes, one of the committee members.
"We have our Earth Day passport where kids and adults both can go to eight of 16 designated exhibits and we will have water bottles for the kids and totes for the adults," said Grimes, adding that names of those completing the passport will go into a drawing for larger prizes. Grimes noted that private donations and donations from companies such as AEP make the rewards possible.
Again this year, there will be a sweetgum ball contest, a Trash-to-Art contest and the Neighbors for Clean Air essay contest open to area fifth-graders.
Grimes said this is the 12th year for the local event and estimated the average attendance is roughly 300 people each year.
