Unity Church of Springfield will celebrate Earth Day April 26-27 with its Planet Unity event at 2214 E. Seminole St.
Friday night’s festivities are 7-10 p.m. and include live music, beer, wine and snacks, and a preview of Saturday’s events, which center on this year’s Earth Day theme: “Protect Our Species.” Saturday’s festivities are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free both days.
The main attractions begin Saturday. There will be earth-friendly and earth-themed products to purchase, an indoor silent auction, craft activities for kids and adults, dancing and drumming, face painting, a children’s bounce house, and healthy lunch options to buy courtesy of Mama Jean’s and Bambinos Café. Live music performed by local bands continues throughout the day, intermixed with guest speakers addressing species preservation and other ecological topics.
A highlight of the event will be an appearance by the Dickerson Park Zoo at noon, which kicks off the guest lecture line-up. Conservation Education Director Pam Price will have several animals on hand, including a sulphur-crested cockatoo, peregrine falcon, a chinchilla and a tortoise. Price will discuss the various threats to these species.
At 2:45 p.m., David Hanke will speak on “The Ecology of Health.” Hanke is director of the 20,000-acre Alford Forest, a sustainable pioneering forest in southern Missouri.
While this is Unity Church’s second year hosting Planet Unity, it is the first year the church has reached out to the Brentwood Neighborhood Association to join forces in promoting the event. The Planet Unity event committee discussed getting the neighborhood more involved and then reached out to Cindy Cook, vice president of the Brentwood Neighborhood Association, to share information and invite the association to participate.
Cook then invited the Church to become business members of the association, which yields the benefits of promoting the event on the association’s website and Facebook page. Cook was also willing to invite the board to get involved by handing out event flyers.
“This is a win-win,” says Cook. “It helps build relationships in the Brentwood community and builds awareness of and participation in the association.”
Planet Unity is made possible by sponsorship from individuals and businesses. To help support this event and contribute to a cleaner, greener community, go to: planetunityinfo@gmail.com or call the church office at 417-887-2214. To follow Planet Unity, visit facebook.com/planetunityspringfield.