Rain or shine, the Earth Day festivities at the Travilah Quarry will go on. This marks the 12th year that the quarry, on Travilah Road, has sponsored earth day activities. Typically the event which runs on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is held closer to Earth Day, April 22. This year, organizers pushed the date back in order to accommodate construction along Piney Meetinghouse Road.
The event was started in order for the quarry to play a role in the surrounding areas.
“Everyone needs to be a part of the community,” said Debbie Levi, one of the organizers. Levi estimates that over the previous 11 Earth Day celebration, over $35,000 have been raised. She said that all proceeds from Earth day are given to local elementary schools and to the Quince Orchard Library.
The event typically draws approximately 3,700 people, and Levi hopes the numbers will be about that this year.
Featured activities include a petting zoo, clowns, giant slide and face painting. A tour of the 450-foot-deep quarry is also available. Also, visitors will be able to enter a pie-eating contest and register to win prizes such as tickets to see the Orioles, Wizards and Mystics.
Admission to the quarry is free. Some activities and t-shirts carry a charge.