“Celebrate Earth Day on Mobile Bay”

@ Earth Day Mobile Bay 2012

Sunday, April 22nd, at the Fairhope Pier

Exhibitors: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Live Music: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

On Sunday, April 22nd, thousands of South Alabamians will head to the beautiful parks at the Fairhope Municipal Pier in Fairhope, Alabama to attend the state's largest and most fun Earth Day festival. This all-day free event is filled with family-friendly fun, including live music, an environmental film festival, "Blessing of the Animals", and many memorable, and meaningful experiences to forever bond you and your family with Planet Earth and Mobile Bay.

This year the Earth Day Mobile Bay event will be observing the two-year anniversary of the BP oil disaster and will feature the many organizations that are involved in a healthy and sustainable Gulf Coast recovery.

Earth Day Mobile Bay 2012 includes more that 100 exhibits with enjoyable hands-on activities are for all ages. The exhibits are hosted by community groups, environmental organizations, (federal, state, county and city) government agencies, museums, schools, and local businesses. These earth-friendly exhibits will showcase environmental technology and installation advice, energy consumption, improving the quality of our air, water, and land as well as many other environmental topics. Whether you are interested in electric vehicles, solar panels and generators, LED lights, ground source heat pumps, wind turbines, advice about how to green up your home or business with eco-friendly solutions, purchasing or growing organic produce, or just fancy spending a beautiful sunny Earth Day celebrating on Mobile Bay.

Our children should know that Earth Day is every day. ‘Arts for the Earth’ is an education program developed to teach sustainability and environmental education through museum and arts community networks. The Mobile Museum of Art Outreach Program sponsors the Children’s Art Activity Area called the ‘Creation Station’, which will be helping children and adults explore their creative ideas, develop their observation and innovation abilities, and enhance their self-expression skills. The ‘Creation Station’ is actively encouraging the many possibilities in the re-utilization of our earth’s resources.

If you are an animal lover, you and your animal friends are invited to attend the "Blessing of the Animals" at 2:00 PM. If you are not able to bring your pet, you may wish to bring a picture of an animal you love or an endangered species in the wild.

In observation of the two-year anniversary of the BP oil disaster, the Environmental Film Festival will feature thought-provoking documentary films, which celebrate the natural wonders of the Gulf of Mexico and illuminate the growing challenges of Gulf recovery and restoration. Films on the schedule are “The Last Mountain”, ”Gasland”, "Revenge of the Electric Car", "The Big Fix", "Freedom", and “One Day on Earth”. Our goal is to not just get people concerned, but to get people motivated, by offering great transforming solutions.The Environmental Film Festival will be under the big tent and is sponsored by the Mobile Bay Sierra Club. Admission is free, and popcorn is complimentary.

The new 2012/2013 hybrid and electric vehicles will be on display. Avid car enthusiasts, environmentalists and everyday consumers will be provided information about all of the green vehicles.Terry Thompson Chevrolet will be demonstrating the Chevy Volt. Chris Myers Nissan will show the all electric Nissan LEAF. Lexus of Mobile will debut the new CT Hybrid, the HS Hybrid, and the 2013 GS Hybrid. Tameron Honda, Eastern Shore, will show the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan starting at $24,050.00. Eastern Shore Toyota will show that the proven Prius is still convincing as the perfect commuter. The new Prius V’s raised roof and the enlarged hatch makes it even more practical.

Learn about local sources for organic foods, and organizations supporting the development of a stronger local food economy. Buying food from local farmers keeps dollars in the local economy, preserves our valuable land, and adds to our good health.

Recycling options will have a strong emphasis. The City of Fairhope will sponsor free onsite electronic recycling, and you are encouraged to drop-off old TV's, computers, cell phones, and other old household electronics.

A great line-up of local live music entertainment will continue throughout the day with Katawompus, Full Circle, Woodshed, Zombo Combo, Delta Reign, El Cantador, and more. The music will play until 7:00 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to take the Green Route options to Earth Day such as walking, bicycling, ridesharing, sailing, kayaking, and riding public transit.

Earth Day Mobile Bay is sponsoring the FREE Shuttle Bus Service to and from the Fairhope Pier. The designated Shuttle Pick-Up Parking Lot is the closed Food World parking lot in the Ecor Rouge Shopping Plaza, N Greeno Road, Fairhope.

The shuttles will run continuously throughout the event, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Outdoor Stage Performance Schedule for Earth Day Mobile Bay 2012

10:00 a.m.       Mayor's Earth Day Welcome

10:20 a.m. Yoga Birds demonstration

11:00 a.m. Auntie Litter

12:00 p.m. Katawompus

1:00 p.m.    Full Circle

2:00 p.m.    The Woodshed

3:00 p.m.    Zombo Combo

4:00 p.m.      Delta Reign

5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m.  El Cantador

For directions and more event details, please visit our Web site at http://www.earthdaymobilebay.org.

The Earth Day Network promotes a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, cultural events, and consumer activism. The Earth Day Network has global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate annually in Earth Day activities, such as Earth Day Mobile Bay.

Earth Day Mobile Bay is sponsored by the Earth Day Mobile Bay 2012 volunteers, Mobile Bay Sierra Club, Alabama Sierra Club Foundation, and the City of Fairhope.

Contact Carol Adams-Davis, Earth Day Mobile Bay Publicity, 702 496 5050, mcadamsdavis@earthlink.net