STATE PARK TO BE PART OF NATIONAL EVENT

Mount Tom State Park in Washington Depot will be part of a national event to celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday.

The event is usually marked by hundreds of thousands of volunteers helping out at public lands across the county, but will be celebrated virtually this year due to the coronavirus.

The National Environmental Education Foundation, Toyota and Corazón Latino are instead hosting a virtual music tour through select public lands, including a stop at Connecticut’s Mount Tom State Park where Tren de la Salsa will perform.

It lasts about 45 minutes and includes online activities, educational events, speakers and musical performances.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and is accessible through live broadcast on NEEF’s National Public Lands Day Facebook page. Performances will be in both English and Spanish. The event is free and open to the public.

Other performances include We the Folk and Lele Rose at Joshua Tree National Park in California, Banda 45 at Carson National Forest in New Mexico, Mariachi Tesoro de Tucson at Saguaro National Park in Arizona, Kawika Kahiapo at Waimea Canyon State Park in Hawaii, John Hoover at Eagle Landing Park in Washington and Cherry Blossoms String Quartet at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, D.C.

After the show, sites featured in the Signature Event will host virtual environmental education and conservation events covering topics such as health and wellness, career opportunities in conservation, and diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. More information is available on NEEF’s website.