A steady rain showered Surrey’s annual Earth Day party Saturday (April 27).
The 13th edition of the city’s Party for the Planet attracted crowds to Surrey Civic Plaza for a day of live music and dance, a marketplace, environmental education, food trucks, a plant sale, Indigenous cultural sharing, free tomato plants for 500 and more. Admission was free.
Large tents set up on the plaza kept festival-goers dry as they explored Surrey’s environmental initiatives at the event, advertised as B.C.’s largest Earth Day party.
This year’s Party showcased initiatives including Surrey’s Climate Action Team, Surrey Transportation and Water Conservation.
“I am immensely proud to witness the remarkable success of Surrey’s Earth Day celebration, which has once again solidified our city’s commitment to environmental sustainability,” raved Mayor Brenda Locke in a news release.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Surrey’s Party for the Planet is kinda soggy today but plenty of indoor/tent activities until 7pm. @SurreyNowLeader @surreybcevents #SurreyBC pic.twitter.com/OCKkG1eJCF
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) April 27, 2024
People were encouraged to walk, bike or take public transportation to the festival, first of Surrey’s four “major city events” in 2024. The three other festivals planned by Surrey’s special events department are Canada Day in Cloverdale on July 1, Fusion Festival at Holland Park in mid-July and the city’s Tree Lighting Festival in November.
Those who provide feedback on Party for the Planet 2024 have a chance to win $200 for shopping at Guildford Town Centre. Details are online, partyfortheplanet.ca.
The festival kicked off Surrey’s 27th annual Environmental Extravaganza, a seven-week series offering more than 100 free, family-friendly events and programs celebrating nature. Among them are walks, talks, hands-on stewardship programs, stories and self-guided activities.
Across Surrey from Earth Day until World Ocean Day in June, participants can learn to fish, create eco-friendly art, be a community scientist, identify owls and grow pollinator-friendly plants. People can help remove invasive plants at nature work parties, plant native trees and shrubs and celebrate World Ocean Day during a week of ocean-themed activities. Visit surrey.ca/extravaganza for details.