Crowds stroll down Massachusetts Street in celebration every year, some people playing instruments made from recyclables, others dressed in tie dye or sporting costumes as vegetables or animals. It’s almost time again for one of Lawrence’s big events, the annual Earth Day Parade & Celebration.

The parade, hosted by the Kansas University Environs, will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. The 1-mile route starts at Watson Park, 727 Kentucky St., and goes south along Massachusetts Street to South Park.

There will be a celebration in South Park starting at 11:30 a.m., directly after the parade concludes. The celebration, which lasts until 4 p.m., will consist of live music, food, children’s activities and exhibits about waste reduction, recycling, composting, alternative fuels and vehicles, energy conservation and land preservation.

The water festival, “April Showers to Water Towers,” will take place in conjunction with the celebration at South Park. The festival offers interactive activities with the goal of teaching the importance of clean water.

On Saturday, the Lawrence Transit System will offer free bus rides on all routes in order to highlight the benefits of public transportation.