Plenty of Entertainment and Special Activities at Earth Day Indiana

By Nancee Reeves for Custom Publications

Education is always a bit more fun if you mix it with food, music and lots of hands on activities. So when you come to Earth Day Indiana be prepared to be entertained as well as enlightened.

Food and Music

Local food venders Bazbeaux, Shalimar Indian Restaurant, Eduardo’s, 3 in 1, Cobb’s Cajun Cooking, Coco Burgers, and Indiana’s Family of Pork Farmers will be located on the bridge just east of the White River.

Cara Jean Wahlers, The People’s Voice, Brent Bennett and Ranch Wuerz, The DreadNaught Society, TJ Reynolds and the Free Hand Orchestra and Art Adams will be performing throughout the day in the natural amphitheatre by the banks of the river.

“I was thrilled to be invited to perform for Earth Day,” said Cara Jean Wahlers. “It's important to Grover Parido and I to give back to Mother Earth — to have an opportunity
to be a part of things on a grassroots level.”

For the kids

Below is a sampling of the great kid-friendly events happening at Earth Day Indiana

The Indiana Wildlife Federation will show kids how to turn their backyards into a natural bird habitat with their build your own birdfeeder seminar.

“We have material for at least 100 bird feeders,” said Debbie Twardy, membership director. “Kids can build the feeders and start attracting birds right way.”

Hoosier Energy will show kids how to make rain sticks using paper towel rolls, plastic netting and rice. Old greeting cards, fabric scraps, wrapping paper and colored tape allows each kid to personalize their rain stick.

The Indiana Industrial Operators Association will teach children about the importance of water conservation by having them color cheerful, kid friendly T-shirts that illustrate the water cycle.

“Last year we had kids spread over 14 tables and all over the ground working on their t-shirts,” said Martha Martin, business manager. “It’s a fun way to learn an important message.”

Animalia plans on having a whole slew of animals for children to admire and maybe even pet.

“We’ll have rabbits and ferrets and other not-so-cuddle animals like a red tailed hawk, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches and a 6 foot long iguana,” said Joel Vanderbush, Animalia’s zoologist. “We want to help kids appreciate and connect to nature through these wonderful animals.”

The Indiana Wildlife Federation will help the first 100 kids build birdfeeders to take home. Look for them to start at 11 a.m. sharp. don't be late.

Things to see

Exhibitor list

Site plan and more exhibitors