Party for the planet on April 25

Bring the kids, bring the grandparents, bring the neighbours — it's time to hold a party for Planet Earth.

Come to Sudbury Secondary School this Saturday and tap your feet to energetic tunes, interact with educational workshops such as the beekeeping basics exhibit, participate in round-table discussions concerning climate change and spirituality, master the arts of gentle yoga, get lost in a labyrinth or in ancient indigenous tales inside a tipi or be shocked by a electric car display.

All these events and more are being held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at this year's Sudbury's 10th annual Earth Day festival, organized by reThink Green.

Earth Day itself is not much older, with its first celebration taking place on April 22, 1970.

The health of the planet and the survival of all its creatures was rather low on the global to-do list for 99.99% of human history, mostly do to pesky distractions like hope-consuming plagues, soul-crushing famines, hungry bears, marauding hordes, tyrannical kings, and the like.

In more recent times, the smell of poisonous fumes emitting from giant chimneys was welcomed by people as the smell of prosperity, and greedy corporations got away with their misdeeds without any fines or bad press.

The idea of Earth Day took root when US Senator Gaylord Nelson convinced President John F. Kennedy to go on an environmental awareness tour in November, 1962.

Since then, millions of organizations across every nation have pitched in to help promote the event.

One of these organizations is Sudbury's own reThink Green, organizer of the upcoming event.

“This is our big event,” said reThink Green's executive director Rebecca Danard. “It is going to be awesome!”

Local and traditional foods will be provided by Morningstar, Eat Local Sudbury and HeartBeet Cafe. Visitors will have the chance to win door prizes and bid on select items in the silent auction.

There will be appearances by storytellers, the Earthdancers, a Sudbury dance troupe with an environmental message, and Mayor Brian Bigger.

While no one will be turned away, a donation of $5/person and $10/family is recommended.

For a full schedule of events, list of appearances and to register, visit the Earth Day 2015 Facebook page.

ReThink Green's efforts to create a sustainable Sudbury would not be possible without the support of local businesses, organizations and people like you.