Urban Hippie by Jen Lahey is published every second Tuesday at OttawaMagazine.com. Follow Jen on Twitter @Jen_Lahey.
We like to think of April as the festive time of year for Urban Hippies. Why? Not just because the sun is finally starting to put in some real face time, and the advent of farmer’s markets is tantalizingly close, but also because April 22 marks the annual worldwide Earth Day, the celebration of all things eco. To help you fete in style, we tracked down three of Ottawa’s best ways to mark the green holiday season.
The Ottawa Living Green Expo. This event promises to be a blow-out of epic proportions, with more than 125 green exhibitors peddling their wares and services. There will also be presentations from green experts, eco-fashion shows, a learning lounge, kids’ activities, and more. Admission is by donation (funds collected will be donated to Ecology Ottawa and the local chapter of Canadian Organic Growers). April 27 and 28. Ottawa Convention Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr..
Earth Month at terra20. Ottawa’s repository for all things green decided to forgo celebrating a single day, and go all-out with a month-long celebration of the earth. Each week in April, the eco-department store will be celebrating a theme and offering solutions around that theme, including cloth and alternative diapering, litterless lunch solutions, waste diversion, and the store’s own ‘ecobar,’ which offers enviro-friendly cleaning products. Catch in-store demos by some of the store’s vendors, plus tons of info. A nice way to get in-the-know about lifestyle solutions, and hey, if you happen to find some environmentally friendly treats for yourself while you’re there, well, it IS the festive season. Ongoing. 2685 Iris St.
Drumming Ceremony. Feel like really getting in touch with your inner Urban Hippie? Celebrate Mother Earth out loud with a drumming ceremony and potluck feast. Organizers are inviting participants to bring something tasty to share, along with your own chair and non-disposable dish, cutlery and water bottle. Drumming starts at 1 p.m. with the chow to follow. April 22. Victoria Island @ the Chaudiere Bridge. earth.mothers@yahoo.ca for more info.