It’s the greenest weekend of the year in wine country. Between 4/20 yesterday and Earth Day tomorrow, local environmentalists and stoners — you gotta know there’s some crossover — are finding all sorts of ways to celebrate. (Especially since the entire “4/20” concept originated right here in the North Bay, at a high school in Marin!) Not trying to give you FOMO, but there were a bunch of really fun-looking events for 4/20 yesterday — like a big block party at a cluster of venues in Healdsburg, and mini festivals at Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa and the Oxbow Commons in Napa. Cannabis shops across Sonoma and Napa counties made a whole thing out of it, too, hosting live music and handing out goodie bags and the like. There was also the big, all-day Butter & Eggs Day parade and fair in Petaluma yesterday — which wasn’t 4/20 or Earth Day related, but organizers did at least try to give the event a “greener pastures” sustainability angle. Lastly, the iconic pink-and-white Monte Rio Theater along the lower Russian River, which has been trying to raise money to stay open, hosted a blowout “4-20 Earth Day Family Fun Music and Movie Festival” and fundraiser all yesterday, with live reggae and a Doors cover band. Now here are some of the events happening for Earth Day today: More than 2,000 people are expected to flock to the Healdsburg plaza between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. for the town’s second annual Climate Fest, with 70-plus booths, some offering plant starts and free food, and a mini “transit fair” where you can try out alternate modes of transportation. If you hurry, you can also tag along on a 5k walk/run this morning in Healdsburg, starting at 9 a.m. in the plaza, to kick off the festival. As the event’s big climax moment at 2 p.m., organizers will launch a massive balloon made from thousands of used plastic bags (see pic below). Meanwhile, to the east, the Napa County Bicycle Coalition is inviting everyone to an “environmental art bike ride” at 12:30 p.m. through Wetlands Edge Park in American Canyon — part of a larger Earth Day celebration at the park today that also includes a bird walk and plant tour. And if you don’t get around to doing something earthy this weekend, never fear: You’ll get another chance to clear your conscience and go all-out Greta at a couple of events for Arbor Day next weekend. In Sonoma County, there will be a Tree Fest at Prince Park on the east side of Petaluma next Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where you can “enjoy food, music and art activities while you learn from local tree experts about the future of Petaluma’s urban forest.” And that same day in Napa County, the second annual Climate Solutions Showcase will take over the American Legion Hall in Napa. “An exciting array of equipment will be on display, along with demonstrations,” organizers say. (Source: Bohemian & City of Petaluma via Facebook & Healdsburg Tribune & Climate Action Healdsburg & Napa County Bicycle Coalition via Facebook)
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