Art, Animals And Advocacy On Display At Earth Day Festival

Severna Park families gathered Saturday to celebrate nature and community at the 22nd annual Earth Day Festival, hosted by the Good Neighbors Group at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.

“I don’t know of anything else like it,” said Julie Shay, founder and president of the Good Neighbors Group. “It’s just people getting together to celebrate nature and wellness.”

Local vendors, schools and nonprofits set up shop to share their products, expertise and advocacy efforts.

A new feature at this year’s event was a community mural, provided by Oxblood Ink. Everyone was invited to grab a paintbrush and add their creation to the canvas, an opportunity intended to provide a creative outlet, and maybe even inspire young artists, said tattoo artist Chris Mead.

Elementary school environmentalists were also out in full force. At Oak Hill Elementary, becoming an Earth Day Festival presenter for the school’s “green team” has become a source of pride.

“They feel like they’re part of something really special. We hone in on that — they’re leaders and they’re representing our school and they’re really proud of that,” said Jackie Phelan, Oak Hill’s media specialist, and one of the green team leads.

Their chosen theme this year was “healthy minds, healthy bodies,” which was presented through yoga demonstrations and labyrinth-making.

Folger McKinsey Elementary School’s Green Club was also on site, offering energy kits from BGE, an array of free products from a Buy Nothing group and a planting station.

For the animal lovers in the crowd, Saving Grace Animal Rescue of Maryland had four highly energetic and arguably adorable puppies onsite and available to cuddle – for a few minutes, or for a lifetime. One such pup ended the day with a new home.

Echoes of Nature, a nonprofit that provides environmental educational programing, had a few of its animal ambassadors on hand, as well: an American kestrel, which is the smallest falcon species in North America, an albino rabbit named Cottonball and a snake.

Plant life was well represented at this year’s Earth Day Festival, both via sales and advocacy. New this year was a native plant sale, with proceeds benefiting the Good Neighbors Group Rogue Gardeners.

The nonprofit Save Our Trees was also a new attendee this year, providing information on the threat of English ivy and other invasive vines to area trees.

“I hope we get more volunteers and raise awareness,” said volunteer Terri McKenna. “Every tree matters.”