The 16th Earth Day Lakeshore Celebration held in Grand Haven turned out to be a great success with between 400-450 participants despite the predicted all-day rain, which managed to hold off until late into the event. The Green March kicked off the event with a menagerie of folks marching on foot, bicycle or anything that didn't use fossil fuels.
The former Grand Haven & Holland City Manager participated with his old-fashioned push lawn mower, the current City Manager had a booth to show the steps to hopefully clean up Grand Havens contaminated Harbor Island and the former Mayor was one of five carrying a sign that read, "Earth Day with an Attitude".
Participants were either holding signs or carrying small to large banners with messages tied into the chants that were led by two Earth Day Lakeshore planning team members. The Green March ended at the Earth Day Fair made up of 33 booths that covered everything including How to Compost, Bee Keeping, the much loved Ottawa County Parks, and many environmental booths that included the MI Sierra Club booth with actions on how to protect and preserve Michigan.
There was a line-up of five electric vehicles (E.V.'s)in the march led by a powder blue Chevy Bolt followed by the unique and fun Tesla, a sporty Ford Mustang Mach E GT, the world-famous VW Golf and the very unique Rivarian Pick-Up Truck. These E.V.'s and their owners were also in an all-day exhibition in front of the event. Besides the E.V.'s, the event had a horse & carriage accompanied by a pony in the march that took people for rides all afternoon. Grand Haven's 'Prevailing Winds Community Band' with 24 band members participated as well
Much thanks to the Earth Day Lakeshore Planning team and the eleven sponsors with one being the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter for their support to make the Earth Day Lakeshore event possible!