photo by: City of Lawrence/Watkins Museum of History

An Earth Day Fair, river cleanup day and educational activities for kids are among several community events planned to highlight climate change and other environmental issues.

The City of Lawrence announced details about the Earth Day Fair and other events taking place on Earth Day and throughout April. The news release states that this year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest In Our Planet,” which highlights the importance of dedicating time, resources and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues.

The Earth Day Fair will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at South Park. The fair, which is co-hosted by Watkins Museum of History and the City of Lawrence, will include a range of crafts, activities and information about Earth’s natural resources and how to protect them. The fair includes informational displays, games, seed giveaways and other activities. Lawrence Transit will also be on hand with one of the city’s electric buses. A full list of participating organizations and activities is on the Watkins website, watkinsmuseum.org. Price of admission is one recyclable aluminum can.

Additional Earth Day activities are listed below, and more information is available on the city’s Earth Day webpage, lawrenceks.org/earth-day.

•Ninth Annual Kansas River Cleanup will take place on April 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join Friends of the Kaw and partners The Nature Conservancy, City of Lawrence and The Merc Coop to clean up the riverbank below the Bowersock dam. RSVP on the Friends of the Kaw website, kansasriver.org.

•Prairie Park Nature Center will host a free Earth Day event on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The family event will include three animal programs, a “seed bomb catapult,” crafts, carnival games with Earth-friendly prizes and other giveaways.

•Cans for the Community celebrates Earth Day the entire month of April. The goal is to recycle 5,000 pounds of aluminum cans and donate all proceeds to the Lawrence school district’s elementary schools. Aluminum cans can be dropped off at one of the “can houses.” Locations are listed on the Cans for the Community website, cansforthecommunity.org.

•Take a tree tour of South Park or Lawrence Rotary Arboretum. Together these sites are home to more than 50 species of trees. Access an interactive map of each site to take a self-guided tour. Maps are available on the city’s Earth Day webpage.