Lynn Leavitt, Westbrook’s Department of Public Services sustainability coordinator, and resident Simon Snyder, of Stroudwater Street, are organizing an Earth Day Fair for Tuesday, April 22, at Westbrook Common. Robert Lowell/Community Reporter

Westbrook is getting down to earth next week as the city plans a big day to benefit the planet. It’s the Earth Day 2025 Fair.

Resident Simon Snyder and Lynn Leavitt, of Public Works, are organizing the city’s grassroots celebration set for 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at Westbrook Common, 850 Main St.

Snyder and Leavitt have lined up entertainment and groups staffing booths to provide information about the environment and Earth. This year’s theme for the national observance is “Our Planet – Our Power.”

“Looks like we have engaged about 12, or so, environmental participants,” Snyder said.

Abby Wilson, volunteer coordinator at Discover Downtown Westbrook, said the organization will be on hand. Two representatives from the Natural Resources Council of Maine in Augusta will be available to talk with fairgoers.

Activities include a performance of the Maine Youth Circus, 3-4 p.m., followed by demonstrations and games from 4 to 7 p.m. A 40-minute film, “A Watershed Moment,” about efforts to restore fish passage through the Bagaduce Watershed in the Castine area will cap the fair at 7 p.m.

“We haven’t hosted an Earth Day event for several years because there tends to be many competing events (on) the leading/following weekend,” Leavitt, Westbrook’s sustainability coordinator, said. “We’ve done cleanups later in the spring so as not to compete.”

Setting the local fair in motion, Snyder reached out with the idea of an observance to Mayor David Morse at the end of last summer and Morse indicated that he was open to it. Snyder submitted a draft proposal and Leavitt responded.

“She was enthusiastic about hosting the celebration and Westbrook’s participation was launched,” Snyder said of Leavitt.

Leavitt designed the flyer to promote the fair and has posted them throughout the city, social media and businesses.

Snyder has taken flyers to the Student Affairs Office at the University of Southern Maine and school superintendent offices in Gorham, South Portland and Scarborough. “The administrators and teachers I have spoken with seem interested in the event,” Snyder said.

Leavitt said responses from the public and organizations have been positive.

“We made the choice to host the event on Earth Day rather than the weekend which makes drawing participates more challenging,” Leavitt said, “but I’m hopeful that we will have a good crowd and facilitate some solid interactions, fun and learning.”

Josh Caldwell, outreach manager at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said in an email that individuals can take action. “The best way to make a difference is to reach out directly to the elected officials representing you at the local, state and federal levels to let them know what you want prioritized for the environment,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell referred individuals to his organization’s “Take Action” page at nrcm.org/get-involved/take-action to learn more.