The Rapid City Standing Committee on Sustainability and the Black Hills Chapter of Dakota Rural Action are hosting the third annual Earth Day Expo, Sunday, April 22 at the Walter Taylor Building at the Central States Fairgrounds.

According to a joint release from both organizations, an exciting day filled with family fun both indoors and outdoors is planned. The event includes 10 featured speakers and over 41 vendors who will be spreading the word on how to create a healthier planet and community!

Live music will be playing throughout the day. Mike Lemay, Dan Goldfus, Steve Thorpe, Linda Boyle, The Hill City Slickers and a ukulele orchestra are a few of the musicians performing. There will be free craft classes, games and Smokey Bear for kids of all ages! Some of the latest advancements in Electric Cars and Plug in Hybrids as well as electric bicycles will be on display. There will be drawings and a recycle relay race for prizes as well as food trucks and a raffle drawing for a quilt created by the Black Hills Quilters Guild.

Families are welcome to this day-long event, which kicks off with the March for Science starting at the South Dakota School of Mines parking lot at 8:30 a.m.  Marchers will advance to the outdoor stage of the 4-H building at the Fairgrounds where the Earth Day Expo begins and runs from 9 am-5 pm.

Earth Day was started in 1970 when 20 million people gathered in the streets and on college campuses of the U.S. to protect environmental and human health. An environmental movement was born as a result. Every year on Earth Day, men, women, and children come together to have fun and plan for a better future for the planet. Rapid City has long celebrated Earth Day with the “City Wide Clean Up Week” and other events promoted by the City of Rapid City.

WHAT: 3rd annual Earth Day Expo

WHEN:  Sunday, April 22

WHERE: Walter Taylor Building, Central States Fairgrounds

TIME:  8:30 a.m. March for Science at SD Mines, Expo at the Fairgrounds 9 a.m.-5 p.m.