As the proverb says, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” To help to preserve the Earth’s resources for future generations, according to the Earth Day Committee, Reid Park will host Tucson’s celebration of Earth Day on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970, has influenced traditions all over the U.S. In New York City, the Japanese Peace Bell, which was a gift from Japan, is rung at the exact moment of the vernal equinox on Earth Day. Here in Tucson, we have an annual festival and parade with exhibits that literally light up the environment.

Flo Wooters, the co-chair of publicity on the 2014 Earth Day Committee, said that she is excited about the festival.
“It is a day full of teaching and having fun learning how to conserve on every level,” Wooters said.

At 10 a.m., the streets surrounding the park will resound with music as a parade marches along its three-quarter-mile route. Along each section of the parade route, prizes will be randomly given out to spectators as schools, bands, families and mascots march in celebration of Earth Day. Each will share their own message focusing on this year’s theme, “Light the Way to a Bright Future.”
Almost 100 exhibitors will be present to give information about how to preserve our planet using fun, engaging and interactive activities. These exhibitors will cover energy and water conservation, water and air quality, recycling, sustainability and more. At one exhibit, guests can ride a bike hooked to a row of light bulbs to try to generate power to light them up. Another exhibit will teach guests how to live with urban wildlife.

Another exhibitor will be selling special hummingbird feeders made entirely out of recycled materials. The UA Students for Sustainability will also have a booth this year to teach the nearly 4,000 expected attendees about what the group has worked on all year.

Gas is more than $3 a gallon in Tucson; at the Tucson Earth Day Festival, vehicles powered by biodiesel, electricity, propane, waste vegetable oil and other clean fuels will be on display.
Devon Bracher is a hydrometeorology graduate student at the UA. Since conserving the Earth is paramount to the continuation of her masters, Bracher said Earth Day is as close to her heart as it is to her studies.

“[Earth Day] makes people think about environmental awareness,” Bracher said.