You know what feels good? Throwing a party for someone who deserves it. Like, really deserves it. Someone who doesn’t always get the recognition she deserves. Someone who at times, has been dealt a pretty bad hand.
That’s why each year when spring rolls around we start looking forward to Surrey’s annual Party for the Planet. It’s an Earth Day festival that celebrates this incredible planet we call home.
The holiday commemorates what many consider to be the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day was founded in 1970 by a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson. He was moved to make a difference after a massive oil spill ravaged Santa Barbara, California in 1969. He was also inspired by the passion of the anti-war movement and realised that if he could combine that same fire with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, environmental protection could become a part of the national political agenda. He was right.
Today over 5,000 environmental groups in nearly 200 countries are raising awareness for this important cause and igniting a desire for real environmental change.
BC’s largest Earth Day celebration returns to Surrey Civic Plaza on Saturday, April 30, 2022, for a day packed full of entertainment and family-friendly activities.
Entertainment for the day includes a full schedule of live, local musicians, dance troupes, Indigenous performers and an appearance by the Urban Safari Rescue Society.
Be sure to check out the engaging speaker series covering environmental topics like the salmon life cycle, how to prune a tree, how to make bannock, bee basics and how to become a citizen scientist. Environmental workshops are scheduled and include “Bees, Bugs & Butterflies!”, “How to Make a Dreamcatcher Using Natural Materials”, “Stewarding Surrey’s Urban Forest”, “How to Build a Solar Light Mason Jar” and “How to Paint a Metis Paddle”. And the marketplace is the spot to do a little shopping from local artisans and makers.
Entertainment highlights include children’s performer Ginalina, Andy the Musical Scientist, the Royal Academy of Bhangra, Surrey City Orchestra, the Kwel Eng Sen Dancers, and indie band Post-Modern Connection.
Make sure you’re there around 2:30 as organizers will be giving away 1000 free tomato plants after the welcoming ceremony. Pick up a few friends for your new tomato plant at the popular Surrey Parks plant sale. The theme for this year’s sale is plants that support pollinators, like strawberry plants, Salal, Red-Flowering Currant and Mock Orange.
This Earth Day join in person and ‘be the change’. It’s for a good cause… it’s loads of fun … and it’s free!
Party for the Planet
Saturday, April 30
11 am – 7 pm
Surrey Civic Plaza