EARTH DAY EVENTS

Get Active on in the 40th Earth Day wherever y'all are in the Tennessee River watershed or worldwide. Here is a list of some events in the major cities of the Tennessee River watershed, in order of River flow:

Knoxvile, TN
Oak Ridge, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Hunstville, AL
Decatur/Athens, AL
Muscle Shoals/Florence, AL

** Indicates Riverkeeper favorites, specifically related to your River

KNOXVILLE, TN
** April 25, 2010 - River Cleanup at Bicentennial Park in Blount County, TN
Interested in cleaning up your Blount County neighborhood - or have a favorite swimming hole or relaxation destination on the Little River that's always littered? The Blount County Earth Round-up is Saturday, April 25, starting at the Bicentennial Park pavilion behind the courthouse. Morning check-in is 8-10 a.m. The evening event is 5-8 p.m. at Maryville College.
** April 10 - River Cleanup in near IJams Nature Center
http://tnjn.com/2010/apr/09/ijams-hosts-21st-annual-tennes/
Ijams Nature Center is hosting their 21st Annual River Rescue Community River Clean Up on Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the past, River Rescue events held by Ijams have had anywhere from 400 to 1,000 volunteers sign up. Ijams has more than 35 work sites picked throughout Knox Co. and Blount Co.
April 17 - Earth Fest Knoxville, at Pellissippi State main campus
http://www.knox-earthfest.org/ EarthFest 2010 is going to be held at Pellissippi State's main campus off of Hardin Valley Road in Knoxville, TN. 10am-5pm - The city of Knoxville is exchanging MERCURY thermometers for new digital thermometers, also 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at EarthFest. Mercury is a toxic silver liquid; red liquid thermometers, an alcohol-based fluid, will not be valid for the swap. Admission is Free for a day of food, fun, entertainment, and lots of environmental education opportunities.
April 18 - Free Electronic Waste Disposal Collection and Education
To promote proper electronic disposal practices and divert harmful waste from landfills, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is hosting a free e-waste disposal 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Ed Financial Services, 298 Seven Oakes Drive, in West Knoxville's Windsor Square Shopping Centre.
April 18 - Knoxville Utility Board, Little Planet Helpers
At 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, come to a Little Planet Helpers family-fun free workshop at Knoxville Center (Center Court) to learn how to conserve energy and water.
April 26 - Knoxville Zoo Party for the Planet
Celebrate recycling at the Knoxville Zoo's Party for the Planet on Sunday, April 26, from 1-4 p.m. The event includes the Recycled Art Project, interactive displays and family-friendly activities.
Earth Week (April 22 - 28) - "EARTH" premiere, Regal Pinnacle Theaters
New Disney film label Disneynature will plant a tree for every person who sees its first film, "EARTH," during opening week. The film premieres Wednesday, April 22, on Earth Day, and can be seen at Carmike 10, Regal Pinnacle at Turkey Creek, Regal West Town Mall 9 and the Regal Riviera Stadium 8 on Gay St.
Earth Week with Gresham Middle School
Gresham Middle School is planning a week-long Earth Week Celebration, April 20-24, with classes emphasizing environmental topics in all subject areas. There will be guest speakers, water-quality programs, special activities, fun projects and a campus work day on Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.-noon.

OAK RIDGE, TN
April 24, 2010 - Earth Day at Oak Ridge Civic Center
11:00am - 3:00pm. Free. Family-friendly event at the Civic Center. Music, exhibits, lectures, activities, food and more. Estimated attendees 7,000. For more info: (865) 574-9584. Civic Center - 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike - Oak Ridge, TN 37830

CHATTANOOGA, TN
**April 24, 2010 - Earth Day at the Aquarium, Tennessee Aquarium
11:00am - 3:00pm. Free. Family Fun on the Aquarium Plaza, live entertainment and earth friendly activities. SCUBA divers performing an underwater cleanup of the Tennessee River. TN Aquarium - One Broad Street - Chattanooga 37402 www.TNAqua.org
April 24-25 - Earth Day at Chattanooga Nature Center
9:00am-5:00pm. Free. The Chattanooga Nature Center is only 15 minutes from Downtown and will offer free admission on April 24th and 25th. Y'all come beak to beak with native hawks, owls and a bald eagle and can roam through the Discovery Forest Treehouse. Then get a bird's eye of Lookout Creek while exploring the canopy of trees surrounding the newly built Paddler's Perch - an elevated cabin on stilts. Chattanooga Nature Center - 400 Garden Road - Chattanooga, TN 37419.
April 25 - Earth Day At the Chattanooga Market, First Tennessee Pavilion
11:00am-4:00pm. Free. Opening Day at the Chattanooga Market, celebrating its 9th year. The Education and Arts Council will display "The Art of Recycling" contest series. 5,000 acres of local and regional farms will be represented as well. http://www.chattanoogamarket.com
April 22 - Speech on American Indians in Tennessee, University Center at UTC
10:00am-4:00pm. Free. Tammera Hicks with the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs will speak about the current status of American Indians in Tennessee The event will be held in the Raccoon Mountain Room of the University Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
April 17 - Earth Day At the Zoo, Chattanooga Zoo
9:00am-5:00pm. Free. Exhibits and activities by conservation groups and "green" businesses. There will also be a visit from "Spiderman" plus arts and crafts and info about the Zoo's animal preservation and environmental programs. For more info: (423) 697-1322
April 10 - Earth Day At Coolidge Park, Chattanooga Zoo
Free. Non-profit Oceana was there, they are working to get a local company, Olin, to stop using mercury in their chlorine plants. Suzanne Wisdom, the Tennessee Field Director of Oceana says: "TDEC has now put the Hiwassee on the impaired streams list because the levels of mercury are so bad you really don't want to use it for anything recreational that it's intended for."

HUNTSVILLE, AL
** April 18, 2010 - A Day On the Flint River, Hays Nature Preserve
7:30am - 4:00pm. Environmental education, hiking and birding all day by the beautiful Flint River.
April 17 - Earth Day at the Sci-Quest Science Center
10:30am - 2:00pm. Ever wonder how solar power actually works? Want to know your carbon footprint? What exactly is biodiesel? Find out the answers to these and other questions about recycling and clean, alternative energy.
April 17 - Recycled Runway Fashion show, Hays Nature Preserve
Environmental fashion show Saturday, April 17 at Hays Nature Preserve. For more info contact: Charlee - charlee@boutiquecharlee.com
April 16-17 - A View From Earth," Dreamfield Ampitheatre
Admission charged. Dreamfield Amphitheatre--Earth day celebration featuring two days of great music, live entertainment, vendors, children's activities, and much more. Friday April 16 - a night of country music and Saturday April 17 - a day and night of rock music. Gates open at 4 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. at noon. For more info, call (256) 844-8235.
April 16-18 - Leave No Trace Camping, Hays Nature Preserve
Huntsville Boy Scouts, Troop 96. Hays Preserve Earth Day Leave No Trace Camping Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Drop off between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Hays Preserve. Pick up around 9 a.m. Sunday. Bring the family out Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to visit the more than 40 exhibitors.

DECATUR / ATHENS, AL
April 18-19 - Athens Dogwood Festival, Courthouse Square, Downtown
Athens, AL - 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Downtown Athens, Courthouse Square — Fishing rodeo, Arts and crafts, Do Da parade, more. For more info, call (256) 233-8728. Lynne Hart, Executive Coordinator Email: kalb@pclnet.net 256-233-8728

MUSCLE SHOALS / FLORENCE, AL -April is Earth onth in the Shoals Area
**May 1st - Shoals Earth Day Festival, Deibert Park, Florence AL
RESCHEDULED -- 10:00am - 5:00pm. Free. Children events including a recyclable scavenger hunt, gigantic tortoises, art and educational activities.  Parents will appreciate the educational environmental speakers, art exhibits, info booths, and live demonstrations. A rain location is set for First United Methodist Church in downtown Florence on its Seminary Street side. Deibert Park - County Road 47 & North Cox Creek Parkway (Hwy 133) - Florence, AL 35630 - (256) 740-4141.  For more info: Nancy Muse nancymusesea@aol.com or (256) 767-2090
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20100427/ARTICLES/4275000/1004?Title=Earth-Day-Festival-rescheduled-for-Saturday
**April 22 - Earth Day at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Outdoor event is free. Admission to the museum is half-price. Student field trips are welcome. Special Earth Day observance hosted by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Colbert County Tourism & Convention Bureau. Join us to “brown bag it” for lunch, enjoy the out-of-doors along with live musical performance. Participate in beautifying the roadside along Hwy. 72 West in Tuscumbia, the “Gateway into the Shoals.” Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia, AL. For more information: (256) 381-4417 or (256) 383-0783 www.alamhof.org or www.colbertcountytourism.org
April 22 - "Earth Month" Dedication and Walk, Old RR Bridge, Sheffield
Free. 5:30pm. Officials meet on the Old Railroad Bridge, Sheffield, acknowledging that Earth Day is an event of the entire Shoals area, and that the entire area benefits from efforts to save the environment. Several “walks” are scheduled to culminate at the Old Railroad Bridge. Old Railroad Bridge, Sheffield, AL. For more information: (256) 767-2090 nancymusesea@aol.com
April 22 - UNA Student Chapter of American Chemical Society
12:00pm - 6pm. UNA Memorial Ampitheater. Bring items to recycle, including old electronic items. Free admission.
April 16-17 - Earth Month "Songwriters In the Round" - Crocodile Ed's Fish Market
Tickets - $40. Earth Friendly Dinner & Wine, Silent Auction & Art Sale. Songwriters include Tennessee Riverkeeper supporters: James LeBlanc and Angela Hacker and many more. Crocodile Ed’s Grill and Fish Market, Cox Creek Blvd., Florence, AL.
For ticket information: Alabama Outdoors (256) 764-1809 Florence Tourism (256) 740-4141 Colbert County Tourism (256) 383-0783
April 17 - People Against A Littered State Earth Day, Walmart In Muscle Shoals
10:00am - 2:00pm. Free. People Against A Littered State (PALS) Earth Day Event at Walmart; 517 Avalon Ave. Muscle Shoals, AL - Displays, games, live band.