FRIDAY, May 3 UPDATE:

Earth Day Fresno Canceled

Due to a rain forecast for Saturday organizers of Earth Day Fresno say the event has been canceled and postponed until next year.

From Earth Day Fresno: “Our #1 priority is public safety followed by hosting a fun and successful event. However, due to the forecasted weather, safety has once again been placed at risk so we made the difficult decision to cancel Earth Day Fresno 2024.

“This annual event is made possible by generous contributions of not only our sponsors, but also our volunteer planning committee that work hard each year to bring the best Earth Day celebration to Fresno. This was not an easy decision and we hope that you will understand and plan to join us at next year’s event.”

Original Story

Mother Nature played a feisty April prank on her good friends at Earth Day Fresno. The annual free festival was planned for April 13 at Fresno City College, but at the last minute had to be postponed due to the heavy rain forecast.

Luckily,  the dedicated organizers from  the Central Valley Young Environmental Advocates, The Environmental Collaborative of Central California, and the Fresno City College Math, Science and Engineering Division were not to be stopped.   They scrambled to contact the 70 performance groups, food trucks, exhibitors, and vendors to find a new date. Within  24 hours almost everyone committed to rescheduling Earth Day Fresno to Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be lots of family-friendly activities at Earth Day Fresno 2024 like crafts,  T-shirt printing, and games. Get a taste of the wonderful cultural diversity we have in our area, while enjoying performances on the main stage and some lunch from the vendors.   If you ride your bike there, you can leave it with the bicycle valet at the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition and they will help you do bike repairs, too.  Parking is free in the lot at the corner of McKinley and Maroa avenues.

Earth Day Fresno is also a great place to learn and get involved if you are concerned about problems like plastic pollution, childhood asthma, climate change and the need to protect and improve natural habitats. Check out exhibitors like Central Valley Young Environmental Advocates, GRID Alternatives ,The League of Women Voters, Valley Clean Air Now, Valley STEM, and more.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby Fresno  will show off their new dollhouse that displays appliances qualifying  for rebates and credits from The Inflation Reduction Act. Don’t miss their popular donation-based yard sale.  The non-partisan group is raising funds to send Valley youth to Washington, D.C. for leadership training and to meet with members of Congress. They will ask for legislation to address the heat-trapping pollution that worsens our region’s wildfires, air quality, crop stability, and outdoor worker/athlete safety.

If you want to try out one of the clean air vehicles provided by local dealerships, it is best to get there early. Everyone who signs up will be entered to win one of two $200 Visa gift cards.

Second Year at Fresno City College

This is the second year for Earth Day Fresno at Fresno City College. Besides being a great location with its historic buildings and shade from mature trees, it is fitting that this event is on a college campus. In 1970,  the first Earth Day was created by  Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin  to bring attention to the  lack of protections that our country had for the water, soil, and air that we all rely on for our survival. April 22 was chosen for the official date of Earth Day because the focus was on activating and informing college students.  At that time, April 22 would not interfere with college exams, holidays, or spring break.

In the wake of a massive oil spill off the Santa Barbara coast in 1969 (due to waived safety measures) and the growing awareness of other environmental hazards, 20 million Americans took to the streets and college campuses in protest that first Earth Day. In response, Then-President Richard Nixon (a Republican)  approved the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970. The current laws that keep companies from doing things like allowing runoff of toxic chemicals into streams or sending plumes of carcinogenic smoke into the air did not really exist before that.

These days an estimated 1 billion people participate in Earth Day events that are both celebratory and serious all over the world.  Come out Saturday to the west lawn by the Old Administration Building at Fresno City College. Have some fun, eat good food ,and support local volunteers and vendors highlighting ways to protect and enjoy our world.

 For more information about Earth Day Fresno contact Yanni Gonzalez at yanni.gonzalez707@gmail.com

About the Author 

Andrea De Zubiria of Fresno is a member of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. You can contact her at afarberdezub@gmail.com. 

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