Friday April 17, 2009, 12:35 pm
HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

The 20th annual Earth Day celebration will take place on April 19th in downtown Baton Rouge.

The theme for this year’s festivities is the founding slogan, “Think Globally, Act Locally”. It encourages citizens to take the lead as environmental stewards of our state, nation, and earth. The Louisiana Earth Day celebration, one of the nation’s largest environmental festivals, broadens its focus this year with a sustainable Louisiana pavilion, “Going Green in Red Stick.” Creative, hands-on environmental education activities offer fun and foster stewardship.

Great Louisiana music provides all a chance to celebrate our planet. This year’s festival includes Cowboy Mouth, Tab Benoit, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, and Chris LeBlanc.

Louisiana Earth Day’s 20-year anniversary highlights include the wetlands tent, sustainable Louisiana pavilion, recycling fair, earth market, international pavilion, natural health and healing, Louisiana and Native American culture, earth friendly habitat, agricultural exhibits and petting zoo, and nature and your neighborhood.

“This has become one of the largest festivals in the country focused on our state’s love of the natural beauty of Louisiana and need to preserve and conserve our environment for future generations,” said Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden. “Baton Rouge is pleased to welcome families from across the state to our city to learn more about the value of each and every citizen’s leadership in these efforts.”

Louisiana Earth Day, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, is produced by a community coalition of more than 300 volunteers, as well as numerous sponsors and organizations including government, businesses, educators, and not-for-profit groups. For more details of the festival including music schedule and map visit www.laearthday.org.

LOUISIANA EARTH DAY 2009
APRIL 19th, Sunday, Noon – 8:30 p.m.
DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE
River end of North Blvd. adjacent to Galvez Plaza, Old State Capitol Grounds, Governmental Plaza (new location)

FREE ADMISSION

Event parking available for $5 at St. Louis Street City Garage
Please, no pets or coolers

Louisiana Earth Day Highlights

Earth Day April 19, Noon - 8:30 PM
Education and Earth for Children Activities Noon - 5:00 PM Only

Festival Entertainment

Earth Stage

1:00 – 2:30 Flatbed Honeymoon
3:00 - 4:30 Chris Leblanc Band
5:00 – 6:30 Tab Benoit
7:00 – 8:30 Cowboy Mouth

Louisiana Heritage Stage

1:00 – 2:30 Steve Bing and the Bayou Hotshots
3:00 – 4:30 Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold
5:30 – 7:30 Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie


Earth Day asks festival attendees to recycle by placing plastic drink containers in marked boxes located throughout the festival grounds.

The tenth annual Seed and Plant Swap will take place Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. until noon at the Independence Park Botanic Garden.

Friday April 17, 2009, 2:40 pm
Thank you.

Friday April 17, 2009, 2:48 pm
THANK YOU

Friday April 17, 2009, 3:32 pm
noted thank you

Friday April 17, 2009, 8:26 pm
What an awesome event! I sure would like to see each city doing something like this but we can all take some responsibility for our own area and usage.

Saturday April 18, 2009, 4:37 am
WOW! I never realized that some having been celebrating Earth Day for that many years! Awesome for New Orleans and Louisiana!

Saturday April 18, 2009, 7:30 am
Noted. I make my home in Baton Rouge and this is a big event and one that is thoughtfully designed. Glad to see it getting more of the good press it deserves. Thank you for the story, Kat!