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How the DFW Area Is Celebrating Earth Day This Weekend

Dallas does Earth Day well. In fact, Dallas’ EARTHx, formerly known as Earth Day Texas, is now the largest earth festival in the country, but it began just like most festivals: small and with a big mission.

This year’s EARTHx, will include an expo, conferences and a film festival and it’s being coined these days as “The world’s largest environmental experience.”

So even if you aren’t a die-hard environmentalist, you will still find something at EARTHx to pique your interest. Free admission, EARTHx will be at Fair Park this weekend from April 20 to 22 and expect highly-acclaimed scientists, engineers, educators, business executives and former politicians as in years past passing on information that respects Mother Earth. In addition, the celebration features a variety of informational booths related to Earth Day, as well as live entertainment and plenty of conferences if you want to learn more.

In the city of Cedar Hill, Earthfest Cedar Hill will also be giving a nod to Arbor Day. Held on April 23 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Earthfest Cedar Hill is a free event for all ages and will be held at the Cedar Hill Government Center. Attendees can visit with environmentally conscious vendors, enjoy sustainability tours, food, performances by CHHS Jazz Band, Bray Elementary Choir, Soar Beyond Inter-Tribal Drum & Dance Troupe and there will be tree giveaways for Cedar Hill residents.

Keep Grapevine Beautiful will be hosting a free event on April 21 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Town Square Gazebo in downtown Grapevine. A family event where attendees can visit with local vendors, take part in educational presentations, crafts and just find general information about environmentally friendly living.

As part of a commitment to serve the Tarrant County community, Tarrant County College is recognizing Earth Day with a variety of activities open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at TCC Northwest in Fort Worth. Students and employees can enjoy free food, music and vendors including Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Native Prairie Association of Texas, Fort Worth Nature Center, the Tarrant Regional Water District and more. There will also be a disc golf tournament on April 20 on the lawn outside Building WSTU beginning at 10 a.m. and then on April 21, TCC Northwest’s Earth Day 5K/10K run. Proceeds from the run will go to the Marine Creek Nature Discovery Center, an initiative to create an outdoor classroom at TCC Northwest, and Community Link, a food pantry serving northwest Tarrant County. 

Earth Day at the Dallas Arboretum is indeed a family affair on April 21 and 22 beginning at 10 a.m. The festivities will be held at the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.

Something More

And if you want to support a local business taking part in Earth Day every day take note that 2018 will be Hyatt Regency Dallas’ 10th consecutive year supporting Clean The World, an organization that helps vulnerable communities in ways of sanitation. Hyatt Regency Dallas, along with other partner hotels, has donated 475-pounds of unused bar soaps and toiletries from guest rooms over the years. Kimber Westfall, who handles public relations for Hyatt Regency Dallas said, “While much of the product donated from Hyatt Regency Dallas goes to third world countries, the organization is doing great work in the USA; during the three major hurricanes in 2017 that impacted so many hotels and communities, collectively the organization was able to donate 185,000 hygiene kits and 250,000 bars of soap domestically.”

Earth Day for All Year

If you aren’t planning on heading to a festival to celebrate Earth Day this year, which is officially Sunday, April 22 here are a few tips that you can think about if you want to make a difference every day of the year.

  • Go Camping. That’s right, instead of locking yourself in a hotel room on your next vacation, get out and enjoy mother nature. There are campgrounds in the Dallas area if you can’t get too far away, but it is a great excuse turn off the technology and find your power while hiking, biking or just exploring the local nature trails.

  • Plant a Tree. Whether it is an annual, perennial, evergreen, tree or shrub, there is a diverse range of plants that you can plant inside or out and enjoy watching the tree grow. Planting larger trees outside is also a wonderful way to give back and in the future, you can thank that tree for the shade it provides.

  • Take Advantage of Your Cities Clean-Up Day. Many cities in the area host their clean-up day this month so it’s a great time to clean out the closet, garage or really just your entire home and then donate the items to a charity. Your used items will likely make a new owner very happy. This is also a good time to consider what items in your home are risky to the environment and commit to replacing each one. There are always natural alternatives whether it is the cleaner you use or even body products.

  • Give Your Car a Break. A sure way to reduce your carbon footprint is to walk, bike or take public transportation versus driving. At the very least, consider carpooling this month and take the time to get to know your friends and family minus the mobile devices.

  • Help Clean-Up the Roadways or Parks. Contact your city and find out what programs are offered to help clean up locally especially this month when all eyes are on the environment.   
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Thursday, 19 April 2018