EARTH DAY, EVERY DAY
earthfair this two-day festival of art, music and the environment includes exhibits focused on green businesses, organic food and environmental groups with large interactive displays. earthfair also features free children's activities and live musical entertainment, including numerous performers and new york city-based bands. friday, april 24 (noon to 7 p.m.) and saturday, april 25 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), vanderbilt avenue between 42nd and 44th streets; 212-922-0048, free.
central park conservancy bandshell bring a picnic (in a reusable tote, of course) to the central park conservancy bandshell for live musical performances, demonstrations of tree care and composting, and craft making with recycled materials. billy b. sings "recyclemania songs," the puppeteers' cooperative puts on a show and forces of nature performs the african dances, "rhythm tree and ancestral earths." the event takes place on central park's first-ever bike-powered stage. : the stage at central park's earth day celebrations will be powered by people pedaling, as will our smoothie makers. just hop on a bike and the energy you generate will add lights, sound and snacks to the celebration. sunday, april 26, central park bandshell (mid-park at 72nd street), noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine; 212-360-1461, free.
hudson river pageant the group earth celebrations launches this event to promote the restoration of the hudson river and address climate change in new york city. the parade features 15-foot puppets and costumes representing oysters, seahorses, blue crabs, wetlands, river grasses and more than 70 species of local fish. the parade goes from tribeca through greenwich village along the waterfront, led by the hungry march band, the afro-dominican band kalunga neg mawon and a conch shell chorus. saturday, may 9 (rain date: sunday, may 10), in the downtown section of hudson river park, 212-777-7969; 1 to 6 p.m., free.
hell or high water davidson contemporary presents this exhibition by artist paul dacey that examines global warming and our apathy toward it. dacey draws on imagery from japan, from medieval to modern, and paints on plastic discs. the exhibition compares the kyoto protocol, an international environmental treaty, with shinto, japan's ancient nature based belief system. through may 9, davidson contemporary, 724 fifth ave.; 212-759-7555, free.
the bronx zoo a whole month of eco-friendly activities are offered, including a "run for the wild" race open to everyone, musical performances, a "recycled animal kingdom" exhibit (with sculptures made only from found objects), storytelling, wildlife theater, crafts, an exhibit looking at our human "footprint" and yoga sessions. the 2009 earth expo, on saturday, april 25 and sunday, april 26, showcases more than 30 companies, organizations and products that can help visitors live "greener." bronx zoo, 2300 southern boulevard, bronx park, 718-220-5100; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., free with tickets.
ny botanical gardens to celebrate earth day, demonstrations, tours and other programming is scheduled throughout april at the botanical gardens. get home gardening tips, check out eco-products at the shop and take the new tour, "biodiversity: think global, act local." visitors can walk around the garden grounds while learning how garden research contributes to the study and preservation of global biodiversity, the challenges that face the garden's horticulturists and what actions the garden is taking to support conservation efforts both locally and around the world. bronx river parkway at fordham road, 718-817-8700; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $8 to $20.