The City of Aiken will go green this weekend to celebrate Earth Day.
Aiken will kick off its two-day event Friday with a "Light's Out" event. Several area restaurants will dim their lighting from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and feature candlelight dining as a symbol of support for global conservation and energy saving. Participating restaurants include The Willcox Inn, Houndslake Country Club, The Stables at Rose Hill, Malia's, Roma's, Up Your Alley Chophouse, Magnolia Café and Market, Linda's Bistro, Betsy's on the Corner and Aiken Speakeasy and Eats.
Earth Day celebrations will continue Saturday at 9 a.m. with a People Chase 5K, starting at Newberry Street and Park Avenue. Runners will tackle several obstacles, including crawling through police barricades, a trail run and running the stairs of the City's Municipal Building.
Pre-registration is open through Thursday for $25; registration Saturday costs $30 and children ages 12 and younger can register for free.
Also from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aiken residents and visitors can learn more about Earth Day and its benefits with food, awards and entertainment.
Entertainment will include a Pork Chop Production called "Stone Soup" at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Municipal Building's conference center, located in The Alley; a puppet show at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Ed Girardeau spinning tunes throughout the day.
Exhibits also will be available throughout the day. Exhibitors will include the City of North Augusta, Recleim, Green Works, the Garden Club of Aiken and Dumpster Depot.
The presenting sponsor for this year's Earth Day is Savannah River Remediation. Other sponsors include Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Dumpster Depot, Security Federal Bank, Southern Bank & Trust, SCE&G, Vermont Timber Frames and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
For more information about the event and to register for the 5K, visit www.greenupaiken.com/index.html.
For more information, call 803-642-7767 or email aikenearthday@gmail.com.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. An Atlanta native, she has a mass communications-journalism degree with the University of North Carolina Asheville. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.
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