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From now until the end of March, you can score free tickets to a spring event that will get New Mexicans one step closer to cooling down the planet by helping us reduce our carbon footprint. Sandia National Labs and several other sponsors and nonprofit organizations are bringing the Second Annual Earth Day Festival to Albuquerque from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 13 at Balloon Fiesta Park. The theme of this year’s rain or shine event: “Our Power, Our Planet: a call to action for all of us to embrace renewable energy and make a lasting impact on our planet’s future.”
In addition to providing tons of useful information about simple ways to chip in, such as riding your bike to work, the event is designed to educate attendees about the environmental benefits of utilizing renewable energy sources and driving electric vehicles. Organizers also want to help save you some cash while saving the planet. Festival goers will learn how to immediately access between $500 and $20,000 in tax rebates and other savings.
Informational speakers and exhibitors including traditional conservation organizations and wildlife preservation groups — just to name a few — will be on-site showcasing products made from natural and organically grown crops, alternative and traditional health care products, clean air and water products and more. If you’re old enough, test out an electric vehicle before you hit the food trucks, or maybe enjoy wine tastings from the New Mexico Winegrowers Association. You’re encouraged to bring the kids and get them excited about Earth Day, and what better way to get them hyped-up than by winning some cash in a way-cool contest?
Echoes of Extinction, Voices of Hope
The Youth Arts and Writing Contest challenges elementary, middle and high school students to express their attitudes about climate change and invite the community to join forces in the spirit of conservation. The top prize for the first place winner is $100, second place walks with $50, and third place wins $25. The contest is open now, and the last day to enter is April 1. The categories for art submissions are:
Visual Arts: a handmade art piece or digital file of a drawing, painting, sculpture or digital arts piece (24″ x 36″ max)
Literary Arts: a PDF (1000 words maximum) of a poem or short story
Performing Arts: a video (five minutes maximum) containing a musical, acting, spoken word or dance performance
Click here and get the kids’ art or writing submissions into the contest.
If your company would like to sponsor the event, or you’d like a vendor/exhibitor booth, check the event page here and reserve a spot before April 1.
Download your free tickets to the Earth Day Festival here. Even if you miss the deadline, they’re only $5, and kids ages 12 and under get in free.
Earth Day Festival
April 13, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Balloon Fiesta Park
9401 BalloonMuseum Dr. NE
Free tickets until April 1.
$5 after April 1. Kids ages 12 and under are free