Turtles, Bouncy Houses, And How to Go Green at Earth Day

Turtles wriggled, children bounced, goats were fed and life got a little greener at the Earth Day 2013 celebration at Riverfront Park, River Road, Point Borough on Saturday afternoon.

The annual event, featuring about 90 vendors and nonprofit groups, live music, food, children's rides, games and face painting and live greyhounds, was again planned and run by the Point Pleasant Borough Environmental Commission.

Hundreds of people flocked to the park and got to taste some seafood and barbecue, pet some farm animals, get some information about how to live life greener and smarter and, last but not least, to see live turtles.

That last feature was courtesy of the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences, a high school based in Manahawkin. The school's informational table had one container of tiny terrapins swimming about, while a much larger turtle was in a plastic tub on the ground.

Other live animals on Saturday included an alpaca named Sullivan (who some may remember from last year), goats, a small cow and chickens, which were all in a petting zoo that became popular draw for kids and adults alike.

Many local and area nonprofits were on hand to give out information, including CRAB (Citizens Rights to Access Beaches), The Friends of island Beach State Park, which has been publicizing that their resident mother osprey just laid her second egg (and you can watch it on a live web cam!) and many others.

The American Littoral Society and Save Barnegat Bay were also at the event to talk about how they are trying to fight Barnegat Bay pollution and other threats to environmental health.

Did you go to Earth Day? What did you, your children, family or friends like best? If you brought children, did they like the animals, rides, games or face painting? Did you get any free plantings, samples or information that were helpful? Let us know in the Comments section. Thank you.

Do you have any favorite photos from Earth Day? Please feel free to load them here.

For more information on Earth Day, including more photos, see the event Facebook page.