STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 20, with a 5K race/walk, a look at ideas for making the valley more sustainable and such activities as making recycled art and pinecone bird feeders.
The fourth annual Earth Fest has as its theme “circularity,” the idea that circularity within our homes and community can help us become more sustainable and resilient, said Elizabeth Jeffrey, a member of the Climate Action Coalition, which is co-organizing the events.
The new buzz phrase is circular economy, which encourages sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing and refurbishing existing products for as long as possible to tackle such global challenges as waste and pollution.
10 a.m.—The Earth Day 5K will start in the alley behind the Hailey Public Library and Hailey City Hall. Registration opens at 9 a.m. for the run/walk, which will take participants through neighborhoods south of Croy Street and west of River/Broadford Road.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Twenty groups will present indoor and outdoor opportunities demonstrating sustainable solutions in a Circular Economy. There also will be activities, games, raffles, music and food. The event is being organized by Climate Action Coalition and Hailey’s Sustainability Team and is funded in part by State Farm Insurance.
Noon--Students at Wood River Middle School and Alturas and Bellevue elementary schools have created a gallery of Earth Day art that will be on display at the Hailey Public Library during the month of April. Meet the artists and learn about their message and medium from noon to 1 p.m.
3-5 p.m. Earth Fest at Kiwanis Park near the Balmoral Apartments in south Hailey will feature recycled art making opportunities, a chance to make pine cone bird feeders, corn hole, face painting, music, food and a bouncy house, weather permitting. Organized by Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
This is the 54th Earth Day, the first one organized in 1970 in response to an oil spill off the coast of California. Since, more than 200 countries have celebrated the occasion to bring awareness to the planet’s health.
“While every day can be a celebration of our earth through positive habits and voting, we come together once a year to celebrate those efforts and inspire each other to take the next step on the path towards increased sustainability and resiliency,” said Jeffrey.