The Springfield Museums will celebrate Earth Day with the annual Earth Day Festival on April 19 followed by "Earth Week: Go Green," a week of Earth-friendly school vacation week activities. Activities are free with museum admission unless noted.
Sunday, April 19 – Earth Day Festival
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Environmental songs by the Blue Grass band known as “The Boys of the Landfill”
Noon: Live owls, hawks and other majestic birds of prey presented by Tom Ricardi of the Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Program
Ongoing, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
· Paper making
· Renewable energy and solar power demonstrations
· Free tree seedlings by the Springfield Forestry Division
· Demonstrations of environmental projects by students from the High School of Science & Technology
· Free ice cream from Friendly’s
· Environmental exhibits and demonstrations by the ReStore Home Improvement Center, Alteris Renewables, Suncrafts, Springfield High School of Science and Technology, Springfield DPW, Springfield Water & Sewer Commission, Springfield Forestry Division, MassWildlife Angler Education Program, Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, ECOS, Keep Springfield Beautiful, Springfield Arbor Allies, and United Water.
April 20-24 – Earth Week: Go Green!
Performances
· Monday, 1 p.m.: The World of Owls, live bird demonstration by Wingmasters
· Tuesday, noon-2 p.m.: Raves for Reptiles, live reptile program by Teaching Creatures
· Wednesday, 1 p.m.: Michael's Surprise Show, puppet show by Marmalade Productions
· Thursday, 1 p.m.: Penguin Parade by Dyan deNapoli, the “Penguin Lady”
· Friday, 1 p.m.: Ecological Logic, puppet show by Purple Rock Productions
Daily Activities
· I Spy scavenger hunt, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
· Planetarium shows, 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 & 2 p.m; additional fee.
· Decorate your own paddleball game or papier-mâché flowerpot, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
· Live animal demonstrations, Tues. & Thurs. only, 11:30 a.m.-noon
· Get a sneak peek inside the new Museum of Springfield History, noon-4 p.m.
· Make Earth Day magnets, noon-3:45 p.m.
· Hands-on Family Science Adventures, noon-3:45 p.m.
The Springfield Museums’ family learning initiative is funded, in part, by MassMutual Financial Group; the Bank of America Charitable Foundation; the Horace A. Moses Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, Trustee; and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Eugene A. Dexter Charitable Fund. The Earth Day Festival in sponsored by Baystate Environmental Consultants and Friendly Ice Cream Corp.