Celebrate our first and forever home: the Earth! The Umbrella Arts and Environment Program is hosting the annual Earth Day Celebration, and this year the theme is Water. The celebration starts with a River Ceremony at the Old North Bridge. The Earth Day Parade leaves from the Old Manse down through Concord center to the Umbrella Arts Center, where there are performers, artists and food.

RIVER CEREMONY

10–11 a.m.

Minute Man National Historic Park, at The Old North Bridge

CC King leads the River Ceremony, accompanied by vocalist and performing word artist Valerie Stephens and percussionist Grant Smith. The collection of Earth Floats are launched at the water’s edge.

EARTH DAY PARADE

11 a.m.–noon

The Old Manse to The Umbrella

To start the parade, the band Snow Crow raises the audience to its feet in song and dance. Muster at 11 a.m. for the beginning of the parade down Monument and Main streets with giant puppets, costumes, banners, community groups, families and friends alongside performing artists:

• aNova Brazil, an interactive performing arts group that combines Afro, funk, hip hop, samba and taiko drumming into a feet-stomping music extravanganza!

• Dirty Water Brass Band, a soul and R&B band that draws its influence from the streets of New Orleans

• Bagpipe Major Ben Adelman and Friends, a local Massachusetts group of powerful bagpipers

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Noon–2 p.m.

The Umbrella

The parade ends at the Umbrella Arts Center on Stow Street. Table exhibitors and arts activities are inside the Umbrella. Once you step inside you find yourself immersed in a watershed environment, a special artist installation just for Earth Day. There is also entertainment, music and performances:

• Drumlin Farm's Birds of Prey

• Diabolis in Musica, a community music group that plays party-time Medieval music

• Vera Meyer's Glass Harmonica, a water-inspired, historical performance

• Mary Puppets: Tubs, Tubes, and Toilets, a family puppet show presented by Rosalita's Puppets

Enjoy food from Concord Market/Trail's End Cafe!

Musketaquid and OARS is pleased to present a family-friendly film festival on Earth Day! The film festival focuses on our water theme. More details to come as spring approaches.