Tomorrow is Earth Day, and there are a lot of ways to celebrate this weekend on our beautiful North Fork.
From Earth Day-themed festivals to community planting events, here are five fun ways to get outside and celebrate the natural beauty of our planet this weekend.
1. Third Annual Earth Day Celebration, Cutchogue
Guided nature walks, live animal demonstrations, fun nature crafts and more – this annual event has something for everyone. The event will be held Saturday at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, hosted by the Group for the East End. Free.
2. Rain garden planting, Riverhead
The Peconic Estuary Program is looking for volunteers to spend some time planting a rain garden on the riverfront in downtown Riverhead Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. The rain garden will reduce stormwater runoff into the river, provide habitat for wildlife and act as a barrier to trash, oil and gasoline and other chemicals from the parking lot, which would otherwise be washed directly into the river by rainwater. Free.
3. Beachside Planting for Earth Day, New Suffolk
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by planting some native plants along the beach? Peconic Land Trust invites volunteers to join the team re-vegetating the New Suffolk waterfront Saturday with native grasses and wildflowers. Participants should bring their own trowel or shovel, a pair of garden gloves and a water bottle. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, with a rain date scheduled for Sunday, April 24. For more information call 631-533-0806. Free.
4. Earth Day 5K, Riverhead
This special Earth Day marathon will benefit the North Fork Environmental Council’s children’s environmental education programs and scholarship fund. The first annual Earth Day 5K will be held Sunday at Indian Island Park. The run starts at 10 a.m. Online registration is available at $25 per person; race-day registration will be $30 per person, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. A Kids Fun Run will also be held at 9:15 a.m., with kids 8 and under running free.
5. Dandelion Festival, Southold
Learn all about the importance of this very useful, edible plant at KK’s Farm on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The festival will include games, music, face painting, drumming, crafts, educational workshops and, of course, dandelion tasting. A lecture on the importance of dandelions will be held at 2 p.m. by Ira Haspel and guests. Free.
