As Minneapolitans and St. Paulites, we love our clean and beautiful green metro space. This Earth Day, honor our beautiful cities by getting out there and doing something great for Mother Earth!

Friday, April 20

Como Zoo’s Party for the Planet
Location: Como Zoo and Conservatory
1225 Estabrook Dr, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103
Contact/Info: (651) 487-8200 / Como Zoo’s annual Party for the Planet
Time: 10am – 6pm
Cost : Free, donations accepted.

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory will celebrate Earth Day with a three-day Party for the Planet with a myriad of free activities focusing on fun, creative ways to save energy, money and the planet with plant and animal ambassadors, interactive games, creative crafts and more! Plants and animals are experts at conserving energy; follow their lead by visiting themed energy stations learning ways to reduce energy use at home while preserving habitats near and far.

Gastro Non Grata Pre-Earth Day Celebration: Yo Sweetness!
Location: The Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis, MN
Contact/Info: (612) 333-7399 / gastronongrata@gmail.com / www.triplerocksocialclub.com
Time: 8:30pm start
Cost: $8 advance, $12 day-of or at the door

Three desserts from the TCs’ best pastry chefs + music + booze. What more could you possibly need to know?

Pastry Chef Line-up:
Dunstan Pinlac of CAFE LEVAIN
Christian Aldrich of HAUTE DISH
Michelle Gayer of SALTY TART

MUSIC:
MICHAEL GAUGHAN: LITTLE DOG ON TOP OF BIG DOG
HEAVY DEEDS
THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS

BEER:
LAGUNITAS BREWING COMPANY

BONUS! Dead Meat Door Prize provided by CLANCEY’S MEATS AND FISH!

Saturday, April 21

Earth Day at Midtown Global Market with Do It Green! Minnesota
Location: 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55407
Contact: (612) 872-4041 / info@midtownglobalmarket.org / www.facebook.com/midtownglobalmarket / Earth Day at Midtown Global Market
Time: 11am – 3pm
Cost: Free

The Midtown Global Market’s annual Earth Day event includes music, demonstrations and interactive booths. Water Billboards has donated compostable serving ware for all food vendors, so when you eat at Midtown Global Market will also be participating in their Low Waste Day!

Visit booths from:
Nice Ride MN (www.niceridemn.org)
Kitchen in the Market (www.kitcheninthemarket.com)
Bag-E-Wash (www.bag-e-wash.com)
Chinook Book (www.msp.chinookbook.net)
Water Billboards (www.waterbillboards.com)
Community Action of Minneapolis (www.campls.org)
Master Gardener Theresa Rooney
Master Recycler/Composter Jeff Bender
Hennepin County

Minneapolis Earth Day Clean Up
Location: Find a 2012 Earth Day cleanup location near you
Contact/Info: For large volunteer groups, contact: 612-313-7778
Time: 9:30am – 12pm
Cost: Free

In the city ranked among the top ten most sustainable cities in the US, this annual cleanup is a tradition in Minneapolis. Gather to clean ‘n’ green on Saturday morning at your fave Minneapolis park, lake or the Mississippi River. Bags and cotton gloves are provided, though volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves. No registration required, and every site has a coordinator to assist volunteers and to answer any questions.

Sunday, April 22

Minneapolis Recycle Run 5K
Location: Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 West Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Contact: (612) 230-6400
Time: 8:45am – Free Kids’ Half Mile Run, 9am – Chip-timed 5K
Registration: Register Online or register on race day 7:45 am to 8:45 am at Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 Lake Harriet Parkway (5K only)
Cost: Free Kids’ Half Mile Run, 5K Run Online Pre-registered $30, Race Day $35

  •   100% Organic cotton T-shirt included with registration
  • First 1,000 registered participants receive TapMpls aluminum water bottle
  • Kids’ Run participants will receive a tree sapling, provided by Cargill to take home and plant
  • Recycle your used running shoes and shirts
  • Benefits Minneapolis parks!

Wishes for the Sky
Location: Harriet Island, downtown St. Paul
Contact/Info:Facebook, www.wishesforthesky.org
Time: 11am – 5pm
Cost: Free, donations accepted

Wishes for the Sky is a free, experiential, public art event celebrating the arrival of spring, environmental sustainability, and personal and collective wish-making. This one-of-a-kind art project has become a signature Earth Day event for the Twin Cities. Inspired by the ancient Asian traditions of flying wishes on kites, it is a contemporary art event integrating music, temporary sculpture, poetry, interactive sound collage, visual art, and public kite-flying. Event takes place rain or shine!

Aveda 2012 Walk for Water
Location: Minnehaha Park Bandshell (next to Sea Salt Eatery), 4801 South Minnehaha Park Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55417
Time: registration 10am, 11am kick-off
Contact: www.facebook.com/Aveda / AvedaEarthMonthEvent@aveda.com
Cost: free, suggested donation of $20 to benefit Audubon Mississippi River Campaign

A hallmark of both Twin Cities business and environmental stewardship, Aveda has been in the business of caring for the earth since the late 70s. This year, Aveda’s Earth Month activities culminate at the 2012 Aveda Walk for Water on Earth Day, echoing the 2012 theme, “Kids Need Clean Water.” Local school groups will be in attendance displaying their drawings that illustrate what clean water means to them. The Walk will loop down River Parkway, extending six kilometers, symbolic of the average distance women in developing countries walk each day to collect water for their families.

This family- and pet-friendly event will also feature music, face painting and a coloring station for kids, as well as a pet prize drawing for Canines for Clean Water.