Earth Day Weekend Events Set

Earth Day celebrations are planned this weekend in a number of North County communities. The cities of Poway and Escondido, and the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and the Carlsbad Arboretum Foundation are among the groups commemorating this environmental awareness day.

Escondido celebrates with an environmental fair from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Grape Day Park. The free fair is designed to educate and inspire people to take action for the environment and will emphasize what is being done locally to protect and preserve the environment.

A variety of displays by environmental, educational and commercial organizations as well as music, arts and crafts activities and a “Recycling Olympics” for children will be included. An old fashioned “soap box” forum will provide individuals with a five-minute opportunity to speak on topics related to the environment.

In conjunction with Escondido’s celebration, the North County Chapter of the Sierra Club will sponsor a hike at Lake Dixon beginning at noon. For information on the hike, call Howard Bond at 484-4317.

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy is also hosting its third annual Earth Day event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Los Jilgueros Preserve. Admission is free for this celebration which is chock-full of music and story telling.

Folk music duo Ken Graydon and Phee Sherline and the Cajun band, Coureur d’Bois will perform at the preserve’s amphitheater. Henry Rodriguez, a member of the La Jolla Tribe and the Council of Elders, will tell stories of the Indian way of life.

Naturalist David Rawlins will share some of his knowledge of native plants. There will also be a presentation by the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Visitors can view ecological exhibits and explore the 40-acre nature preserve. Food and drinks will be sold.

Bring a blanket or mat to sit on the grass. Parking for the event will be available at the Bank of America parking lot on South Mission and Peppertree.

The City of Poway has planned a number of events from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lake Poway and around the community.

From 8:30 a.m.-noon, a tree planting program will take place at two sites. The New Archery Range at Lake Poway Recreation Area on Lake Poway Road is one site; the other is located at the South Poway Trail Staging Area. Park on Metate Lane near the trail head at the “For Parents’ & Kids’ Sake” trailer, 12951 Metate Lane.

From 8 a.m.-4 p.m., people who bring a bag of recyclables to Poway High School during the day will get one free bus shuttle ride per bag to Lake Poway, where the main events will take place. Newspapers, aluminum cans, all glass and redeemable plastic bottles will be collected.

The environmental fair at the lake will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring a food display by the Women’s Club, vendor booths, mulch sales, and wildflower seed sales.

Nature hikes, long and short, will leave every hour on the hour from the city’s vendor booth at the lake until 3 p.m. The hikes will be led by trained youth naturalists. Hikers should bring water.

The Lake Poway Fishing Derby will take place from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. with free fishing coupons. Fee for the fishing derby is $1 plus fishing permit. A state fishing license is required.

The first 500 bicycle riders arriving at the lake will receive a license plate frame and patch, donated by the Kiwanis Club. The first 500 visitors will receive a free two-gallon plastic bucket at the city’s Drought Assistance Response Team booth.

The Carlsbad Arboretum Foundation is hosting a reception from 2-4 p.m. Sunday to promote the creation of an arboretum and bird sanctuary in the Los Quiotes Valley near the Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad.

A video of the plans and a model will be available for viewing and refreshments will be served. The event will take place at 2600 La Golondrina, Carlsbad.