Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
Excitement is building across Liberty County as the Keep Liberty Beautiful staff and advisory board members prepare to welcome the community to one of the county’s most anticipated annual events, the 20th Annual Earth Day Celebration. Set for Saturday, April 18, the event promises a full day of fun, education, and hands-on activities designed to inspire environmental awareness for all ages.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bryant Commons will be transformed into a vibrant Environmental Explore Zone where children, families, and adults can discover creative ways to care for the planet. With more than 60 organizations, businesses, clubs, and youth groups participating, attendees can look forward to an impressive lineup of 58 interactive games, crafts, demonstrations, and exhibits focused on conservation and sustainability.
Visitors will not only learn about environmental stewardship but also enjoy a festive atmosphere complete with delicious food and refreshing drinks. This year’s featured food vendors include Big Dawgs Hot Dogs and Maui Wowi Southern Paradise, offering a variety of tasty options to fuel a day of exploration.
One of the most popular highlights of the celebration returning this year is the Free Trees Giveaway. Attendees will have the opportunity to receive fruit trees and flowering trees to plant at home, helping to expand Liberty County’s green footprint one yard at a time. To ensure availability, residents are encouraged to reserve their tree in advance through the Keep Liberty Beautiful Facebook page or website. Trees are limited to one per household.
Adding to the excitement, Keep Liberty Beautiful is partnering with Infinity Gardening to offer a unique, hands-on Spring Gardening Workshop during the event. For a small fee of $10.80, participants will receive a bucket filled with soil, seeds, or starter plants, a watering can, a plant trolley with wheels, plant feed, and detailed care instructions. Designed for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike, the workshop will take place in three sessions at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m. Pre-registration is recommended due to limited space, so reserve your spot early through the Keep Liberty Beautiful Facebook page or website to secure your participation.
Entertainment will also take center stage throughout the day. Attendees can join in lively line dancing at the Yates Bug Bus. You can move with the Southern Step Society, a stepping and line-dancing group in Hinesville. They will be performing at 11 a.m. Enjoy a vibrant cultural performance by the Hispanic Heritage Club of Hinesville at noon, and you can cheer on participants in the beloved Animal Boogie Parade. This Liberty County Earth Day tradition never fails to delight.
While the celebration is filled with fun, its mission remains deeply rooted in education and community engagement. Through interactive exhibits, attendees can experience what happens when litter enters storm drains, learn how stormwater pollution impacts local waterways, and discover simple actions they can take to protect natural resources. Activities like the Earth-Friendly Obstacle Course help make these lessons memorable and inspiring.
Children will especially enjoy hands-on crafts like pledging to protect the Earth and planting seeds, while adults can explore topics such as composting, waste reduction, and water conservation. The event is designed to make environmental education accessible, engaging, and, most importantly, enjoyable.
Guests are encouraged to begin their Earth Day journey at the Registration Tent, where they can pick up an event “Passport” before entering the celebration. This interactive feature adds an extra layer of fun as participants explore the various booths and activities throughout the grounds. The passports can be turned in for some wonderful prizes at the Prize Tent!
This event truly reflects the spirit of our community. It is put on by the community and for the community. Without the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and sponsors, this celebration would not be possible.
After months of planning and collaboration, KLB is confident this year’s event will be one to remember. Whether attendees come for the educational exhibits, the free trees, the entertainment, the gardening workshop, or to enjoy a beautiful day outdoors, there is something for everyone.
Earth Day serves as a reminder that while our planet is incredibly beautiful, with its green landscapes, colorful blooms, and vital waterways, it is also fragile and in need of care. Events like this encourage individuals and families to take small, meaningful steps toward protecting the environment in their everyday lives.
The 20th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Bryant Commons is free and open to the public. For more information, to reserve a tree, or to sign up for the gardening workshop, visit www. keeplibertybeautiful.org, the Keep Liberty Beautiful Facebook page, call (912) 880-4888, or email klcb@libertycountyga.gov.
Community members are invited to come out, celebrate, and discover how fun it can be to make a difference.