Farragut’s Stormwater Matters, Goddard School join Earth Day events

Various events at Goddard School of Farragut and World’s Fair Park will mark the Earth Day season.

Preschoolers at the Goddard School of Farragut, along with more than 430 other school locations nationwide, will kick off the sixth annual Root for Earth campaign, a week-long celebration focusing on learning about the en-vironment.

During Root for Earth, pre-schoolers will do various projects intended to foster creativity and imagination while giving them an opportunity to learn about ways to preserve the world around them. Activities will focus on recycling and gardening. Parents can visit the school during the week to see the projects and help children with them. The projects will be on display on Facebook and in the preschool foyer.

“I think it’s a great exercise for parents and children to come together for these activities,” Anoula McCaren, Goddard School of Farragut owner, said.

A signature of Root for Earth, named “Lights Out!” will take place Earth Day, Friday, April 22. Every Goddard School across the country, including the Farragut school, will shut off all non-essential lighting for an hour beginning at 10 a.m. Farragut Goddard School will do activities without the light.

Goddard School is located at 10720 Virginia Pine Way, Farragut. Its website is goddardschool.com.

EarthFest 2016 will be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 16, on the performance lawn of World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. There will be more than 60 exhibitors and at-tractions, including one from Far-ragut Stormwater Matters Pro-gram.

“It’s a free, zero-waste event for the whole family, including your pets,” Jennifer Linginfelter, communications manager for the Office of Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, said.

Town of Farragut Stormwater Matters Program will be giving out free trees and shrubs while supplies last. These trees and shrubs will include, redbud, beautyberry, American elderberry and eastern ninebark.

“Over the past 17 years, EarthFest has become East Tennessee’s premier Earth Day event. And it’s not simply a celebration of the planet. From an interactive educational scavenger hunt and live music, to kid-friendly activities and a fuel-efficient car showcase, EarthFest has something for everyone,” Linginfelter said.

Live music acts at Earth Fest will include How About Never, Deadbeat Scoundrels, 3 Mile Smile and Natty’s Common Root. A youth area will have free crafts, including decorating rain barrels for Beardsley Farm, face painting, making bracelets out of upcycled materials, crafting vests out of recycled paper bags, making seed starters out of toilet paper tubes, turning t-shirts into reusable bags and using t-shirts to create dog toys. Also at EarthFest, East Ten-nesssee Clean Fuels will have a fuel-efficient car showcase.

Goodwill will have a pop-up clothing shop. Medic will have a blood drive and organ donor sign up. The Tennessee Clean Water Network will give away reusable mason jars. KUB will give away energy efficient light bulbs while supplies last. Sterling Contracting will exhibit a Tiny Home demonstrating simplicity, sustainability and micro living.