Earth Day is almost here! Los Angeles area residents haven’t limited their celebrating to April 22, though, as Earth Day events are taking place across this shiny city starting at the beginning of April. Don’t worry; you haven’t missed them all. There are still plenty of events happening now through the end of May for you to attend!

Topanga

Topanga’s Earth Day celebration lasts a glorious three days from 10 a.m. to sunset at the Topanga Community Club Fair Grounds. April 22 through April 24, 2011, attendees will hear live music, see earth-friendly demonstrations and meet like-minded locals. Order a smoothie from a bicycle-powered blender. This Earth Day event practices what it preaches: all cups, utensils, plates, trash bags and napkins are 100% biodegradable and made from corn and sugar. The Topanga Earth Day banners are made from recycled bottle caps. Other workshops at the event include raw food preparation, seed sprouting, wild edible plants, gardening, solar ovens, solar heating outdoor showers, primitive survival skills, electric cars and motorcycles, acupuncture, nutrition, massage therapy, reflexology, water conservation and more. Browse through the fine art gallery, where artists have created ceramics, sculpture, paintings and mixed-media works from recycled and natural mediums.

Los Angeles

Earth Day: Sustainable Living in the West takes place on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at The Autry National Center. All day at the museum, attendees can sit in on lectures and demonstrations on going green and staying green. At 2 p.m., members of the American Institute for Architects will discuss “Creating Sustainable Cities and Communities,” and at 4 p.m. you can hear “Your Community Garden,” where master gardeners from LA community gardens discuss growing food and flowers in unused areas of the county. Kids can get in on the green, too. Start your day with a ladybug release, shake your limbs at an American Indian group dance to reconnect with the earth, take a peek through the solar telescope, learn how to make birdhouses from gourds, make seed balls to plant and discover LA’s wildlife.

Downtown LA

The Metropolitan Water District of California brings residents the Spring Green Expo 2011 on Wednesday, May 4. This free event will feature guest speakers teaching residents how to live more sustainably on a daily basis. The opening ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m., and seminars go from roughly 9 a.m. to noon. The event creators also urge attendees to think green in transit to the event, by taking the bus, train or light rail, or bicycling or carpooling.

Lake Balboa

Mark your calendars for next month’s WorldFest 2011 on Sunday, May 22, 2011. Adults will pay a $7 entry fee, but children under 12 are free and pets are welcome. Let your pets mingle at the leash-free dog park on site. If you’re looking for a furry friend of your own, there will be dogs, cats and rabbits looking for loving owners at WorldFest. WorldFest is working toward a zero-waste goal, with steps already taken to reach that goal. All electricity used at the event will be solar energy, no bottled water will be sold at the event, recycling bins will be strategically placed around the festival, food vendors are expected to use biodegradable and compostable packaging and vendors are strongly encouraged to use recyclable packaging. Big celebrities will take the main stage, while the Earth Lounge will welcome poets, singer/songwriters and rock, jazz, folk and world music groups. Bring your own water bottle or cup and you can enjoy free water at the event. The event will also have a place for you to recycle used cell phones and printer cartridges. The Healthy Hut will feature demonstrations and workshops on meditation, yoga, cooking and more, while the EcoTent will discuss sustainability issues and current environmental concerns.

Venice

Keep the Venice Eco-Fest 2011 on your radar. It was originally scheduled for July 9, 2011, but the date is currently unknown. The plan includes a vegetarian and vegan food court, an eco-fashion show, an oceanfront parade, an eco-marketplace and entertainment on the solar stage. The past three years’ events have been a success, so there is no doubt that the fourth annual festival will be a day of pure green fun! All in all, there’s plenty to do around Los Angles for Earth Day! Citizens here are serious about going green, and these inspiring event coordinators work hard to spread their green message. Happy Earth Day from LA!