Earth Day events

Let’s get straight to it: The earth is having trouble sustaining its 7 billion human inhabitants. Naturally, Earth Day will be celebrated with much more than a day’s worth of events. This week is full of earth-friendly activities and events highlighting ways that we can treat the earth better. Here are 12 cool and unique ways to celebrate in and around Sacramento:

1. Celebrate Earth Day at Southside Park

Organized by the Environmental Council of Sacramento, this is a large celebration featuring a diverse array of vendor booths with practical information, goods and services. There will also be food, entertainment and activities. Sunday, April 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Southside Park, 2115 Sixth Street; (916) 444-0022; www.sacramentoearthday.net.

2. Celebrate Earth Day at Cesar Chavez Plaza

Presented by Sacramento’s Department of Parks and Recreation, this celebration features green information, local vendors, carnival games and family-friendly entertainment. Thursday, April 19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I Street; (916) 808-6525.

3. Celebrate the inaugural Earth Day celebration in Citrus Heights

The city of Citrus Heights will be throwing its first ever Earth Day Celebration, with food, entertainment, seminars and earth-friendly products on display. Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Skycrest Elementary School, 5641 Mariposa Avenue in Citrus Heights; (916) 207-7960; www.citrusheightsgreenteam.com.

4. Celebrate Earth Day in Loomis

This Loomis Earth Day celebration will feature a variety of green businesses, live animals, green information and entertainment. A parking-lot yard sale begins at 8 a.m. and Earth Day events begin at noon. Saturday, April 21, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Loomis Train Depot, 5755 Horseshoe Bar Road in Loomis; (916) 652-8606.

5. Clean up a creek

Help the Cosumnes Community Services District clean up the Elk Grove and Laguna Creeks. Those who participate will receive a free lunch at Miwok Park. Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Multiple locations; call (916) 684-7550 or visit www.yourcsd.com/events for more information.

6. Show your kids that recycling and reusing can be fun

The Discovery Museum Science & Space Center will teach kids how to build crafts using provided recycled materials. April 21 and 22, 12:30-4 p.m. $5-$8. Discovery Museum Science & Space Center, 3615 Auburn Boulevard; (916) 808-3942; www.thediscovery.org.

7. Learn about bird songs

The regular meeting of the Sacramento Audubon Society will feature naturalist David Lukas speaking on the mysteries of bird song. Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m. Free. Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way; www.sacramentoaudubon.org.

8. Learn about earth-friendly gardening

As part of the American River Natural History Association’s ongoing lecture series, Cheryl Buckwalter will be speaking about eco-landscaping and water efficiency. Friday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. $5. Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way; (916) 489-4918; www.sacnaturecenter.net.

9. Attend one of Folsom Lake College’s Earth Week events

Folsom Lake College has a number of free events scheduled this week in celebration of Earth Day. Some of the highlights are lectures, films and a “green” fair. For a complete list of events and locations, visit http://www.flc.losrios.edu.

10. Participate in a plant sale and swap

Cordova Senior Activities Center will be hosting a plant sale and swap that will feature seedlings, bulbs, full plants, tools and décor. Friday, April 20, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Cordova Senior Activities Center, 3480 Routier Road. Free. (916) 366-3133; www.crpd.com.

11. Visit an art exhibition centered around bugs

Check out a unique art exhibition of works dubbed “maggot art,” on display at the Bohart Museum of Entomology as part of UC Davis’ Picnic Day. These pieces are created by dipping a maggot in a non-toxic water-based paint and letting it crawl across a piece of paper. Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Bohart Museum of Entomology, 1 Shields Avenue in Davis; (530) 752-0493; http://bohart.ucdavis.edu.

12. Check out some green cars

Beginning in 2009, the California Automobile Museum has been permanently displaying some green-friendly vehicles. Check out a 1913 electric car, a General Motors EV1 and even a hydrogen-powered BMW. Open Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $4-$8. California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front Street; (916) 442-6802..