Five Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Events and ideas across the state

stock photo Hold the whole world in your hand this Earth Day

This Saturday, April 22, marks the 47th celebration of Earth Day. Our friends at Parenting New Hampshire have a great list of ideas for kid-friendly Earth Day activities, but the holiday isn't just for elementary schoolers in life science class. Try these five ideas across the state to mark the environmental event as an activist, a foodie, or just a lover of our planet and a good party.

Vaughan Mall Green: An Ecological Peacemaking Project

Thursday, 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Portsmouth

Portsmouth urban planning initiative PS21 has recently turned their efforts to the city's Vaughan Mall area, aiming to transform the space into a pedestrian-friendly and intelligently landscaped urban green zone. During Earth Day weekend, they're previewing their efforts with two events: a Thursday night lecture on ecological design at 3S Artspace and a Saturday permaculture workshop at Discover Portsmouth, both led by local planner Steve Whitman. ps21.info

Farm Fresh Friday

Friday, 4 to 6 p.m., Hanover

Dartmouth College stretches their Earth Day celebrations into an entire Earth Week, and this mini-festival is its pièce de résistance. Courtesy of the Dartmouth Sustainability Project, enjoy free local food, a live band, and an afternoon of fun, hippie-style activities like tie-dying and kombucha drinking games. dartmouth.edu

Monadnock Region Earth Festival

Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m., Keene

This annual event from the Monadnock Food Co-op has something for everyone. Throughout the afternoon fest, take advantage of live music, free chair massages from Deep Roots Massage, an arts and vendor fair, and a special edition of the Keene Farmers Market. Pop inside the co-op for even more treats, including a local foods BBQ, reusable grocery bag giveaways, and free samples from such food and drink producers as 603 Brewery and Maple Nut Kitchen. monadnockfood.coop

March for Science NH

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Concord

With Bill Nye the Science Guy and other science-world celebs among the organizers, the Washington, D.C., March for Science is the main event on the national stage for Earth Day this year. Locally, you can take part in a major satellite rally at the State House, featuring info tables and entertainment, speakers such as Nature Conservancy NH executive director Mark Zankel, and a march through the streets of downtown Concord. marchforsciencenh.com

Visit our state parks

What better way to celebrate our planet than by getting out and enjoying it? Our 93 state park properties offer everything from biking and hiking to swimming and canoeing. Use NH Parks and Rec's stellar website to find a park that suits your needs and interests, and get exploring. nhstateparks.org