Through education and celebration, the free event encourages rededication to the environment,
“from the forest to the sea.”
Anacortes, Washington, April 20, 2024 —The heart of the downtown district comes alive with an exciting lineup of parades, music, environmentally-focused activities, and displays on the first-ever Anacortes Earth Day, Saturday, April 20 th .
Commercial Avenue closes at 4:00PM, clearing the way for participants to explore earth conscious non-profit exhibits, make something fun at hands-on activity stations hosted by local merchants, and enjoy food and beverage specials at local eateries.
At the 9 th Street Stage at 4:00, Rhythm Studio will set up a dance floor and encourage people to take a turn at ballroom dancing. Next, just before 6:00PM, Anacopper Road, a local rock, blues, and country band, will kick off the live music entertainment. Headlining is Pension King and the Dependents, a popular local group specializing in an eclectic mix of acoustic driven classic rock songs and original material. As dancers work up a thirst, the Anacortes Brewery Beer Garden will be serving at the adjacent Visitors Center.
The true spirit of Earth Day will be evident at 5:00PM as the Procession of the Species snakes its way up and down the street in handmade costumes honoring the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest. To cap off the evening as night falls at 8:00, the Luminary Light Parade will dazzle onlookers with colorful, glowing sculptures of animals, flowers, and celestial bodies.
“We are delighted that so many organizations have poured their energy into Earth Day,” said Peggy Flynn, project manager for the Earth Day team. Formerly holding separate events, Loalynda Bird of the PaperBirds Studio—who creates lighted sculptures of reed and paper and organizes luminary parades—joined with the Procession of the Species group. The Downtown Anacortes Alliance came on board to create the street fair and manage other elements of the day, such as business participation, graphics, social media, and event volunteers. The Anacortes Rotary Club also plays a key role in closing the streets and ensuring safety for exhibitors and
attendees.
All these team members recognize Anacortes’s unique and beautiful place in the Pacific Northwest, and are gratified to engage with so many active non-profits and businesses working on behalf of the environment. They are also grateful to the event’s primary sponsors, Haven Financial Partners, the Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts, and the Anacortes Rotary Club. Anacortes Earth Day would not be possible without the generous support of these three organizations.
More than 20 non-profits with stewardship at the core of their mission will be exhibiting and offering activities. The Friends of the Forest, focused on preserving the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, hosts a “Forest Discovery Center” at Commercial and 6 th Street with games, crafts, and snacks. The Anacortes Fire Department will show off the “brush truck” for wildland firefighting. The Salish Sea School will have a boat on hand and a chalk-art marine activity for children. Several different departments from within the City of Anacortes will have displays, and the Key Club and Green Club from Anacortes High School will take part in the street activities as well. From “mud” explorations with clayhouse studio to mobile-making at Moonwater Arts, to origami bookmark sessions with Watermark Book Company, and planting a seed at the Wishing Rock, local business owners will provide ways for all ages to get creative. There will even be a flash mob-style sustainable fashion show mid-way through the event produced by Aura Threadz and friends.
“Since we had the idea of bringing the two parades together with nature-focused activities,” Flynn remarked, “Anacortes Earth Day has grown by leaps and bounds. We are excited to offer our community a rich experience that reflects the respect we have for nature on Fidalgo Island and the joy we feel in calling it home, and we invite everyone to bring friends and family to take part in the vibrant celebration.”
Anacortes Earth Day is a joint production of the Procession of the Species , an affiliate of th Anacortes Arts Commission, PaperBirds Studio , and the Downtown Anacortes Alliance . To learn more, visit www. anacortesearthday.com .
