Celebrate Earth Day in Concord at Musketaquid Earth Day 2019!
The Umbrella Arts & Environment Program invites community members of all ages to join the annual Musketaquid Earth Day celebration on April 27, 2019 (rain date April 28). Central to this year’s theme, “Embracing Diversity in a Climate of Change,” this vibrant event gathers together people of all ages and backgrounds to provide awareness of local and national environmental issues . This free, multi-part celebration welcomes and encourages hands-on public participation, and will significantly employ natural materials and recycling methods to foster a ZERO WASTE environment for the event. For more information, visit http://theumbrellaarts.org/earthday or contact Nancy Lippe at nancy@theumbrellaarts.org.
Earth Day Parade: 10:30–11:30 am - The event kicks off at The Umbrella at 40 Stow Street in Concord MA, where participants gather for a parade down Main Street. Participants may bring their own puppets and banners, attend crafts workshops to create them in advance, or borrow one from The Umbrella. The parade with banners, flags, and beautiful giant puppets which depict local plant and animal wildlife bring color and life to the streets of Concord. Professional musical groups aNova Brazil, Dirty Water Brass Band, accordionist Sari Kalin and bagpiper Brian Quirk will be joined by professional stilters Henry Lappen, Shawn Morrissey, and the Serendipity Stilt Dancers. (Also watch for a pop-up pre-parade folk rock performance by Snow Crow, and a post-parade show by medieval music reenactors Diabolis in Musica at the Old Manse.)
River Ceremony: 11:30 am–12:00 pm - The parade leads to the banks of the Concord River at the Old North Bridge for a River Ceremony that begins with the emergence of the River Spirit played by CC King; features improvisational world music percussion by Grant Smith, storyteller and vocalist Valerie Stephens, and mime Henry Lappen; and concludes with the launching of “Earth Floats” made of natural materials that carry “wishes for the earth.”
Arts & Environment Festival: 12:00 pm–2:00 pm - The merriment continues with an entertainment-filled festival on the grounds of the historic Old Manse, a Trustees of the Reservations property. Food will be provided by Trails End Café/Concord Market. Entertainment includes puppet artist Sarah Nolen's “Judy Saves The Day,” a modern interpretation of the traditional "Punch and Judy" show; Henry Lappen's “A Passion for Birds” performance inspiring an appreciation of the avian world; and Ricardo Frota's interactive “Ecology of Sound,” using a variety of instruments to create a soundscape blending music of Africa, South America, and indigenous peoples with sounds form nature. Mass Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farm offers a live presentation on Birds of Prey. There will be activities for children including kite building and spoon making, non-profit exhibitors, and food vendors.
While here, step back in time for a local history lesson by visiting The Old Manse, once home to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Old Manse will host an Open House from 12:00-2:00 pm with regularly scheduled tours from 2:00-4:00 pm.
The Earth Month Art Exhibit is also on view at the newly renovated Umbrella Arts Gallery at 40 Stow Street. This non-juried art show features works using a variety of media around this year’s theme “Gathering Places”. The gallery is open April 17 through May 14. Exhibit Opening and Artists’ Reception will be held on April 22, from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Traditionally a highly interactive experience, this year's exhibit and festival have extended opportunities to participate through Umbrella workshops for making Earth Floats and Puppets, plus a new ArtWeek/EarthWeek Poetry Challenge inviting short-short poems on the theme “Embracing Diversity in a Climate of Change.”
Want to support the festivities? Host a festival table, adopt a giant puppet, or help create Earth Floats and refurbish puppets! More details at https://theumbrellaarts.org/arts-environment/musketaquid-earth-day-2019
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