Building on the environmental awareness raised by Thursday’s Earth Day celebration, the Tennessee Aquarium is hosting Party for the Planet on Saturday.
Combining an eco expo with family fun, Party for the Planet will offer free activities on the plaza in front of the aquarium as well as events inside the venue for ticketholders.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” said aquarium spokesman Thom Benson. “There are people who make it a point to come down and bring their families.”
Benson said there will be conservation games, face painting and photo-ops with aquarium and Recycle Right’s mascots.
Fifteen businesses and nonprofits will set up conservation booths distributing information on how to help the planet. Among them will be Chattanooga Zoo, Scenic Cities Beautiful, Tennessee River Gorge Trust, South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance, Tennessee American Water and local master gardeners. Additionally, VW will have a display focusing on clean diesel technology.
Benson said Kofi Mawuko and Paul Vogler are scheduled to perform on the plaza. Vogler will bring his “trash band,” which includes big plastic jugs, metal spoons and other rhythm instruments that kids can play while he beats out tunes on a steel drum.
Along the riverfront behind the aquarium, the Chattanooga Underwater Divers Association will conduct an underwater cleanup at about 10 a.m. The divers annually pull trash from the river in conjunction with Earth Day.
“That’s a good opportunity for people to see what’s in the river and whether it’s something that has washed into the river from other locations or blown off boats,” said Benson. “It’s kind of surprising and, in some cases, kind of sad to see.”
Inside, there will be hourly animal encounters, keeper talks and an Earth Day dive show — all free with the purchase of an admission ticket.
“Every hour we’ll have an encounter where an animal comes out on the floor.In some cases visitors may touch the animal while the educator explains what that animal’s role is in the environment. It might be a native species found in your backyard or an exotic,” said Benson.
If You Go
* What: Party for the Planet.
* When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
* Where: Tennessee Aquarium.
* Tickets: $24.95 adults, $14.95 ages 3-12; activities on plaza are free.