Trail Mix for April 22: Earth Day celebrations on tap
Earth Day is Friday, and there are a number of festivities lined up to celebrate our Mother Earth.
Locally, Earth Day Fresno will hold a celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Radio Park at First Street and Clinton Avenue that will be paired with FAMily Day at the Fresno Art Museum. The celebration is free and open to the public.
The day will feature a renewable-energy car show, a bike show, local food vendors, education exhibits and more.
At 1:30 p.m., Tree Fresno will be planting a tree in honor of air quality scientist David Lighthall, who died last September.
Other Earth Day events will be taking place at the nearby national parks, which continue to offer free admission through Sunday in celebration of National Park Week.
Yosemite National Park will host its Earth Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in front of the Valley Visitor Center. The event will have demonstrations, activities, and a special ceremony at 2 p.m. marking the 150th anniversary of the California State Parks Rangers. The festival is free.
At the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park nursery, volunteers will transplant native plants and collect seeds from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. For people interested in helping, bring sturdy shoes, water, a hat, sunscreen and a lunch. The group will meet at the lower picnic area behind the Foothills Visitor Center.
Saturday is Junior Ranger Day at Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The Foothills Visitor Center will host exploration stations for kids from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Glacier Point road – Glacier Point Road in Yosemite opened for the season Tuesday, April 19, but will be closed as of 8 p.m. Thursday in anticipation of high-elevation snow storms. The road is expected to re-open once the storms pass and the road is plowed. For the latest conditions, call 209-372-0200 (then 1, 1).
Footloose in the Foothills – Take in the outdoors and get some exercise at the same time Saturday with the Footloose in the Foothills 10K Trail Run on the McKenzie Preserve. Walkers are welcome.
Awards will be given to overall male and female winners and age-group winners (10-year increments). There will be finisher medals for youths 12 and younger.
Day-of registration is $40 per person. Gates open at 7 a.m.
Black Mountain hikes – The Sierra Foothill Conservancy is hosting its annual open preserve day at Black Mountain on April 30. The preserve will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At 9:30, Chris Winchell will be leading a wildflower hike. Registration is required for the hike as space is limited. At the McKenzie Table Top Preserve, the conservancy is offering a Boling Gap Hike and Yoga on April 30. The event is free for members and $10 for non-members.
Details: www.sierrafoothill.org
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Trail Mix for April 22: Earth Day celebrations on tap."