Signs penned or painted with messages such as “Earth made my lunch,” “Keep it blooming” and “The only one we’ve got” dotted the Earth Day Parade as it made its way down Massachusetts Street on Saturday morning.

The parade, hosted by KU Environs, led the way from Seventh Street to South Park, where the 15th annual Earth Day Celebration was underway. Third-grader Hayden Slough, who took part in the parade with his Boy Scout troop, said Earth Day brings important reminders.

Float riders flash the peace sign as they pass the crowd on Massachusetts Street on Saturday during the 15th annual Earth Day Parade.

“To use less water and use less electricity and save those resources,” he said.

Hayden said that he loved marching in the parade, but that he had a least-favorite part too: seeing trash in the street along the way.

“But I stopped and picked it up,” he said, smiling.

The Earth Day Celebration in South Park, hosted by the city’s Solid Waste Division, included more than 70 exhibitors with information on topics such as waste reduction and recycling, composting and gardening, energy conservation, and wildlife and habitat preservation. The celebration also featured bouncy houses, face painting, food vendors, live music and the Recycle Cycle.

Noah Pultz-Earle, 8, holds a sign expressing his green thoughts Saturday during the 15th annual Earth Day Parade and Celebration in South Park.

The Recycle Cycle, a creation of Lawrence resident Richard Renner, is a four-wheel pedal car Renner made out of recycled materials. The front of the cycle, made to resemble a train, is decorated with different colors of plastic bottle caps. A solar panel powers the lights, PA system and horn. Renner said the cycle is meant to be fun for kids but also teach a lesson.

“It’s changing the way that you look at trash,” he said.

Second-grader Grace Sanders, her face painted with white-petaled flowers, played the cycle’s junk drums — with drumsticks made of actual sticks. A variety of tones rang out from items such as a tin paint can, plastic bike helmet and red tricycle seat.

“It makes me think that you can recycle anything — anything at all — instead of throwing it away,” Grace said as she drummed.

The celebration also featured “April Showers to Water Towers: A Water Festival for Douglas County,” hosted by the city’s Stormwater Division. Shawna Trarbach, of the Stormwater Division, stood by a map that showed the watersheds of Lawrence.

Trarback explained how when not properly disposed of, drainage from materials such as yard waste, lawn fertilizers or household products pollute the river.

“It’s really important for us as a city to make sure we’re not adding to the pollution of the river,” she said.

The event, which celebrated Earth Day (April 22) a bit early, was free and open to the public.