Instead of being concerned with celebrities and their health issues, some people are concerned about the health of the planet and the environment. During a time when cities began to be buried under smog and polluted rivers caught fire, 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day in April 1970.

Earth Day founder John McConnell proposed the festival to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969.

Earth Day is now observed annually around the globe. Through combined efforts of the United States government and environmental organizations, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect the environment.

This year marks the eighteenth year of the Earth Day celebration and has become one of the nation’s largest environmental festivals.

Baton Rouge has been one of the Earth Day celebration cities since 1990 and usually has up to 90,000 participants and volunteers, Susan Hamilton, festival coordinator, said.

The theme for this year’s festivities is “Louisiana Strong.”

Earth Day is a chance to inspire citizens to be more environmentally conscious, Hamilton said.

“We want citizens to think globally and get active locally,” Hamilton said.

The environmental highlights include a wetlands tent, a recycling fair, workshops on how to create an earth-friendly habitat in your yard, an earth market, an International Pavilion and a solar system class called “Earth Day and Starry Nights.” Information tents on natural health and healing, Louisiana and Native American culture, global warming and nature and neighborhoods will also be featured.

This year, the Baton Rouge Earth Day festival is aiming for zero waste, Hamilton said.

“We are asking festival attendees to recycle materials that are recyclable and composted biodegradable waste,” Hamilton said. “There will also be green team volunteers around the festival educating participants on the process.”

There will also be four stages with musical performances at the festival. Musical guests such as Sweet Root on The World Stage, The Lucky Playboys on the Louisiana Heritage Stage and Eric Baskin in the Jazz Tent will be performing. The last stage is the Earth for Children stage and will feature Kickboxing for Kids.

Festivities also include a parade where participants dress up as plants and animals from Louisiana, according to the Baton Rouge Earth Day website.

At the earth market, participants can view and purchase arts and crafts and locally raised plants and produce.

The Jazz and Wine Tent and Food Tasting Tent are new to this year’s Baton Rouge Earth Day, Hamilton said. Participants can enjoy fine wine including organic varieties while listening to jazz.

“We try to bring in something new every year so the festival does not get boring,” Hamilton said.

There will also be alternative fuel and hybrid electric vehicles on display as well as information on fuel economy and ozone awareness.

The festival presents the Earth Friendly Habitat Symposium, a meeting held for the discussion of a particular subject and during which individuals may make presentations.

The festivities are not just for adults. Children can enjoy hunting for recycled treasures in a sand pile and have their pictures taken with a recycling truck, Hamilton said. Another activity for children will be a make and take art event. Children will be working with professional artists to create art focusing on Louisiana animals, nature and the environment.

“What’s important is the preservation of the environment and by coming to Earth Day the community can learn ways to change our world for the better,” Hamilton said.

The Baton Rouge Earth Day festival is Sunday at noon and the center of the festivities is at North Boulevard and 3rd Street.

The festival is free and open to the public.