Get in touch with Mother Nature during Earth Day on Friday (and continuing on Saturday). Here’s a sampling of events in the Greater Portland area:
Urban Earth Day, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Monument Square, Portland, sponsored by the MENSK cultural organization, Flinstonecar and the city of Portland. The free event features local organic food, compost demonstrations, agricultural presentations, seed and sapling giveaways, and dance, art and music from 30 organizations. Rain location will be at the Portland Public Library, including Rhines Auditorium.
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“Earth Stations — A Planetary Way of the Cross,” 4 p.m. Friday, near the bandstand at Deering Oaks Park, Portland. A combination Earth Day and Good Friday observance, this free event features scenes from the 14 Stations of the Cross with reflections on Earth’s threatened environment and includes music and readings of inspirational words from astronauts, poets and religious leaders.
Missa Gaia, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Ave., Portland. Musician Jim Scott will lead a multimedia concert and sing-along during a Mass for the Earth. Scott composed the music in the early 1980s with Paul Winter of the Paul Winter Consort. Melodies, lyrics and images of nature will be projected. A donation of $12 will be collected at the door.
Earth Day Hike, 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Sebago Lake Ecology Center at the intersection of Routes 237 and 35, Standish. Sponsored by the Portland Water District, the hike is designed for ages 7 and older, and will explore the sights and sounds of spring around Sebago Lake. The hike is free. Registration is required by emailing sebagolake@pwd.org.
Loon Echo Land Trust Earth Day hike, 3 p.m. Friday, Bald Pate Mountain, Bridgton. The free family hike will start from the Bald Pate Mountain parking lot. Hikers will be invited to honor Earth with stories, music and readings at the summit. Participants should wear hiking boots and bring snacks and water. The hike will be followed by music and beverages at Bray’s Brew Pub on Route 302 in Naples. More information is available by contacting Jon Evans at jon@lelt.org or 647-4352.
Earth Day film, Falmouth Memorial Library, 2 p.m. Friday. Watch the animated film “Wall-E,” then join in a discussion of how humans impact the world. Recommended for ages 5 and older. Free and open to all.
South Portland Earth Day Cleanup, Saturday, registration 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and cleanup 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Mill Creek Park, sponsored by South Portland Land Trust. Participants will fan out across the city’s parks, beaches and trails to pick up trash and debris. Neighborhood groups and individuals interested in helping are asked to contact Jon Dore at wgarland@maine.rr.com. The annual cleanup usually draws about 300 people who collect as much as four tons of trash.
– Beth Quimby, staff writer
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