Here are 6 things to do this weekend in Johnson County, including Earth Day festivities in Iowa City
Put on a pair of gloves and grab a trash bag.
Earth Day is Friday, and members of the Iowa City community are organizing events to show how everyone can care for the planet in simple ways.
Between local events to pick up trash to a tour about trees at the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums, there’s plenty of ways to participate in Earth Day festivities.
Here are six Earth Day and non-Earth Day things to do this weekend in Johnson County.
Team Up to Clean Up
Iowa City's South District Neighborhood Association is inviting residents and community members beyond the area to help clean up and beautify the neighborhood together.
The sixth annual Team Up to Clean Up is on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Cleanup efforts, including trash pickup, and gardening will be focused at the following locations:
Broadway Street flower beds
Sycamore Greenway Trail
The edible forest at Wetherby Park
Grant Wood Elementary School garden
Dream City community center
Broadway Neighborhood Center
Head over to Faith Academy at 1030 Cross Park Ave. to join.
Earth Day at the Chauncey Swan Park
This Friday marks 52 years of Earth Day.
To celebrate, three environmental clubs from Liberty High School, City High School and West High School have organized an Earth Day celebration at Chauncey Swan Park Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Students for Environmental Action at Liberty High and West High and the Environmental and Gardening Club at City High invite the community to enjoy free activities, including bird feeder making and free screen printing for those that bring their own shirt.
City High’s jazz ensemble, Liberty High's String Theory group and more will perform live music for attendees.
Student groups and local organizations will be at Earth Day as well, including volunteer-focused clubs from City High, Liberty High’s gardening club and more below:
Iowa City Public Library
Field to Family
Iowa Flood Center
100 Grannies
University of Iowa Environmental Coalition
UI Vegan Society
UI Gardeners Club
East Central Iowa’s Beekeeper Association
Food will be available for purchase. The event will be held at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center if it rains.
The Chauncey Swan Park is located at 405 E. Washington St.
Tree Tours at the Pentacrest Museums
The first Tree Tours, a new program from the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums, debuts on Earth Day Friday.
Tree Tours takes participants on a guided campus stroll all about the “ecological diversity, symbolism, history and lore” of trees on campus, according to the UI Pentacrest Museum’s website.
UI was recognized as an arboretum in spring 2021 by ArbNet, a professional global arboretum network, according to the university's facilities management website.
The university is home to more than 8,000 trees and 300 total species.
Tree Tours will be held from noon to 1 p.m. outside Macbride Hall near the main entrance staircase.
The next Tree Tours will be held on May 20. Macbride Hall is located at 17 N. Clinton St.
Backpocket Brewing’s Earth Day Event
Backpocket Brewing is joining in on Earth Day festivities one day later on Saturday.
From noon to 1 p.m., the brewery invites volunteers to walk around the Iowa River Landing and pick up trash.
From 1-4 p.m., the brewery will host Earth Day activities for kids provided by Bur Oak Land Trust, a nonprofit that preserves natural habitats in eastern Iowa.
Live music from pop and reggae musician Justin Goodchild will start at 2 p.m.
All volunteers who sign up will be given a group coupon to Backpocket Brewing, Tribute Eatery & Bar, Marquee, 30Hop and Vesta.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring supplies for trash pickup, but latex gloves and trash bags will be provided.
If you plan on helping with cleanup, be sure to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to sign in and receive instructions at the brewery.
Backpocket Brewing is located at 903 Quarry Road in Coralville.
Tulip Festival at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Wilson’s Orchard & Farm is inviting people to the farm’s first Tulip Festival on Saturday.
The event marks Wilson’s Orchard’s reopening of the ground’s tulip patch.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., guests can go tulip-picking, have their photo taken in the tulip field, go on a nature scavenger hunt, enjoy cider tasting or have their young ones participate in kids' crafts.
Here is lineup of live music and special events during the festival:
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stephanie Catlett & Blake Shaw
2-4 p.m. Kalimbaman and the Fabulous Yahoo Drummers
3-6 p.m. Tulip painting with Brush & Barrel
6-8 p.m. Sneezy Dollars
7-8 p.m. Sunset yoga in the tulip field with Hot House Yoga
Entrance to the Tulip Festival is free.
Wilson's Orchard & Farm is located at 4823 Dingleberry Road NE.
Hawkathlon
The University of Iowa Campus Recreation & Wellness Center is hosting Hawkathlon on Saturday, a free adaptive challenge course for people with disabilities that anyone can participate in.
Hawkathlon was created by UI student Emily Zimmer.
There will be 10 fitness stations participants can go through, though participants aren't required to do all. Participants will also run on the track.
Those competing in Hawkathlon will have the option to complete the course with a buddy for motivation.
“Our goal for the event is to create opportunities for people with disabilities and support a healthy lifestyle, regardless of personal circumstances,” Hawkathlon’s registration form states.
All participants will receive a medal for completing the challenge course.
Hawkathlon starts at 1 p.m.
The UI Campus Recreation & Wellness Center is located at 309 S. Madison St.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Things to do this weekend in Johnson County include Earth Day events
