Happy Earth Day! 6 places to celebrate in California this weekend

Earth Day is officially marked every April 22 -- and there are lots of ways to celebrate.

You can volunteer at a community cleanup, take family and friends on a nature hike, check out a green festival or learn how to plant a native garden.

Here are six things to do this weekend (almost all are free) in California that can help connect you to the outdoors and put you in a planet-loving mood.

--National parks: Entrance to national parks are free through Sunday in honor of National Park Week. It’s a good weekend to load up the car and head to a park -- without having to pay the $25-plus admission usually charged at Joshua Tree or Yosemite.

--L.A. River: Learn the history and future plans for L.A.’s channelized waterway in a presentation titled “Reimagining the Future of Our River� at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday. Presentations last about 30 minutes; the event is free and open to the public. Marsh Park, 2999 Rosanna St., Los Angeles; (310) 858-7272, ext. 131

--Yosemite National Park: Visitors can enjoy a free Earth Day Festival that includes ranger demonstrations, games and a salute to the 150th anniversary of the California state park ranger. You can also grab a free shuttle into the park from Merced and Fresno too. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

--Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks: Junior Ranger events provide an opportunity for kids to promise to “explore, learn and protect� national parks. In Grant Grove, Junior Rangers explore the big trees (particularly the Grant Tree) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and help kids earn a Tree Friend certificate. Kids also will receive a badge at Giant Forest by participating in special activities at 10, 11 and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Get an early-morning workout in an Earth Day 5K/10K run Sunday at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

--Descanso Gardens: Run a flower-lined route around Descanso Gardens before it opens to the public at the Earth Day 5K/10K run. You could stop to smell the native plants and watch the ducks at the woodland pond in the fun runs that start at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Entry costs $45. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.

--Ocean Institute: Earth Day activities runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. You can take native plant garden tours, learn how to build your own butterfly garden and participate in a buy-one, give-one native plant sale (for each plant you buy, a second plant goes to the Ocean Institute).

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