Earth Day and Good Friday fall on the same day this year, inspiring at least two unusual spring celebrations in Portland.

Deering Oaks will be the site of an observance combining the traditional Good Friday practice of traveling the 14 Stations of the Cross, depicting scenes from Jesus’ death, with reflections on Earth’s threatened environment.

The event, “Earth Stations — A Planetary Way of the Cross,” was created by the late Kay Gill, a Maine Episcopal laywoman and interfaith spiritual director, and other religious leaders.

The ritual, which starts at 4 p.m. Friday near the bandstand, includes music and readings of inspirational words from astronauts, poets and religious leaders.

Also Friday, an Earth Day songfest, called Missa Gaia, will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Ave., Portland.

Musician Jim Scott will lead a multimedia concert and singalong during a Mass for the Earth. Scott composed the music in the early 1980s with Paul Winter of the Paul Winter Consort. Melodies, lyrics and images of nature will be projected. A donation of $12 will be collected at the door.

More traditional Earth Day celebrations, including cleanups and fairs, are scheduled throughout the region. This is the 41st Earth Day, which started in the United States and has now spread to 175 countries around the world.

In Monument Square in Portland, more than 30 environmental groups will offer free demonstrations, performances and other events.

Earth Day celebrants may also hike up mountains, clean up parks or join discussions.

Here is a partial list of Earth Day events:

Urban Earth Day, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Monument Square, Portland, sponsored by the MENSK cultural organization, Flinstonecar and the city of Portland. The event features local, organic food; compost demonstrations; agricultural presentations; seed and sapling giveaways; and dance, art and music, from 30 organizations. Rain location will be at the Portland Public Library, including Rhines Auditorium.

South Portland Earth Day Cleanup, Saturday, registration 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and cleanup 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Mill Creek Park, sponsored by South Portland Land Trust. Participants will fan out across the city’s parks, beaches and trails to pick up trash and debris. Neighborhood groups and individuals interested in helping are asked to contact Jon Dore at wgarland@maine.rr.com. The annual cleanup usually draws about 300 people who collect as much as four tons of trash.

Earth Day Hike, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sebago Lake Ecology Center, at the intersection of Routes 237 and 35, Standish. Sponsored by the Portland Water District, the hike is designed for ages 7 and up will explore the sights and sounds of spring around Sebago Lake. The hike is free. Registration is required by emailing sebagolake@pwd.org.

Loon Echo Land Trust Earth Day hike, 3 p.m. Friday, Bald Pate Mountain, Bridgton. The free family hike will start from the Bald Pate Mountain parking lot. Hikers will be invited to honor Earth with stories, music and readings at the summit. Participants should wear hiking boots and bring snacks and water. The hike will be followed by music and beverages at Bray’s Brew Pub on Route 302 in Naples. More information is available by contacting Jon Evans at jon@lelt.org or 647-4352.

Earth Day film, Falmouth Memorial Library, 2 p.m. Friday, showing “Wall-E” followed by a discussion of how humans impact the world. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Free and open to all.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com