Submitted By Gretchen Wing and the LICC

Celebrating and promoting the Earth and its living wonders seems to become more vital every year. On Saturday, April 22, Lopez Island Conservation Corps (LICC) invites the community to join in on the seventh annual Procession of the Species. The Procession kicks off promptly at 3:30 p.m., so plan to arrive at 3 to get set up and ogle the other amazing costumes.

To participate in the procession, all you need is a costume or adornments that display any living thing – animal, plant, fungus – wearable while walking. Since the Procession of the Species was founded in Olympia over 20 years ago, only three rules govern costumes: please, no written words; no motors; and no living animals. This is a free, all-ages event, rain or shine, and open to all members of the public.

Need help creating your costume? In partnership with Lopez School, LICC is sponsoring a costume-making workshop in the school’s Art Room on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. A LICC representative will be on site to advise, assist, and provide art materials to bring your creativity to life, along with Marcia deChadenedes, San Juan Islands National Monument Manager. Marcia can help you create your own wearable Island Marbled Butterfly wings! Children must be accompanied by their parents.

As it did last year, the Procession will begin and end at Lopez Village Water Tower Park. Animal costumes and accessories will be available before the parade, for those who haven’t had the chance to make their own but still wish to participate.

Prefer spectating to parading? The Procession wouldn’t be a procession without an audience, and the under-one-mile loop course makes it easy to access at several points, including the center of the Village and the Hamlet center lawn. Come on out and support the supporters of Earth Day!

Another method of participating, much appreciated by paraders and audience alike, is via musical instruments, especially percussion. Drummers and other musicians, please join in to make this celebration of life even more lively.

The Procession of the Species is a part of a larger community Earth Day celebration. The Great Islands Clean-up for Lopez Island will take place from 9 a.m. till noon on April 22 to clean up our roadsides and beaches. For more information, please contact Nick Teague, 468-3754 or gteague@blm.gov.

Also in celebration of Earth Day, this year’s Procession of the Species Celebration will provide conservation organizations and vendors an opportunity to present their information at reserved booth spaces. Space is limited, so please contact Tom Snowden, Conservation Booth Coordinator: tsnow210@gmail.com. Vendors must bring their own 10 x 10 shelters, stakes, tables, chairs, etc., and be prepared for changing weather conditions.

This Earth Day celebration is sponsored by the Lopez Island Conservation Corps (LICC) and Lopez Island Prevention Coalition (LIPC). For more information about this event contact Erin Licata, erin@sjicd.org.