Earth Day a chance to commune with nature

Saturday will mark the 47th time Mother Earth’s human children have decided to officially celebrate her with Earth Day. Depending on how you want to let your planet-sized momma know you love her, you’ve got options.

You could go with a straight party with booze and loud music and a few thousand people. That’s the idea behind WJRR’s Earthday Birthday. The annual concert fest features 19 bands including Sevendust, Living Colour and Orlando’s Alter Bridge. Nature may abhor a vacuum, but it apparently loves some altmetal. (Not entirely sure how it’s going to feel about all those plastic bottles, though.)

Gates at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando, open at 11 a.m. for rock fans who want to stomp their love in the soil. Tickets are $55-$165 at ticketmaster.com.

For Earth denizens looking for something a little more focused on our space globe’s well-being, there’s the aptly named Central Florida Earth Day. The 12th edition of this annual event hovers between a party and a lecture. Vegetarians of Central Florida (the organization, not just any ol’ herbivores) put together a petfriendly, alcohol-free learning day 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Orlando’s Lake Eola with vegan food, live music, activities and speakers. Admission is free, though your conscience may be taxed by the end of it.

Yet maybe this still isn’t intimate enough. Maybe you need to make eye contact with nature, to see the real, unbridled nature of nature unleashed. Except you definitely want it leashed because nature has a habit of going for the jugular. To this end, the CARE Foundation, 4609 W. Ponkan Road in Apopka, are opening their doors Saturday and Sunday to let the public get a look at and feel of the exotic animals they rescue.

Demonstrations include homing pigeon flights, crocodile snack time and primate training. And this doesn’t even count the opportunities to pet or take pictures with their wolf hybrid, python and skunk. Tickets are $50 for a parking pass for up to six guests. Details at thecare foundation.org.

But if this weekend just doesn’t afford you the time to get inspired, a lot of places will help you see nature all year round. Maitland’s Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, 1101 Audubon Way, is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children. You can learn more at fl.audubon.org.

Similarly, you can visit our less stingy pollinators at Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter, 1909 Slavia Road, Oviedo. Tickets are $6. Details at lukasnursery.com.

So there’s no excuse for not finding some way to get into the nitty gritty and remember how alive is the blue marble we’re standing on.