Celebrate Earth Fest at Audubon Zoo

March 9, 2011                                                                                                             New Orleans, LA

Earth Fest, powered by BP, happens Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20, 2011, at Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine Street in New Orleans. Earth Fest is a New Orleans family tradition and a fun way for Zoo visitors to learn about saving the environment.
 
NEW this year – Saturday, March 19, only - “Marvel Heroes – Operation Green”
Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron-Man and even the Green Goblin come together to teach families and children ways to go green and protect the environment.
 
Also on Saturday, March 19 -  The New Orleans Book Festival comes to Audubon Zoo. This festival-within-a-festival brings local authors like Johnette Downing, Troy Gilbert and Debra & Joe Gould together to promote their books. It includes book signings, book giveaways and much more.
 
On Sunday, March 20, winners of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Crescent City Talent Showcase perform from 10am to 12pm on the main stage. Top winners come from Ponchatoula, Prairieville, Thibodaux and New Orleans.

Exhibitors both days include groups from non-profit, government, and private businesses, all involved in a wide range of environmental issues. Zoo visitors are encouraged to spend time with  exhibitors, engaging in dialogue and exploring issues at the forefront of conservation efforts.
 
Local restaurants and caterers sell taste-tempting fare such as BBQ ribs, onion mums, fresh-roasted nuts, and hot dogs and hamburgers for kids.
 
Audubon Zoo’s Education Department combines coffee with conservation by serving shade grown, fair trade hot and cold coffee at Earth Fest. All revenue from Education Department coffee sales benefits Audubon Zoo’s Conservation Education programs, which include teaching materials, small grants and partnerships in South America and Africa.
Artisans showcase unique handmade items such as semi-precious stone pendants, jewelry from recycled materials, hand beaded jewelry, magnets, wood-carved baskets and cutting boards.
 
Home Depot presents hands-on crafting fun for kids and grown-ups alike, and everyone can play the Earth Quest game by finding out important environmental facts to win prizes.
 
Earth Fest is powered by BP.  Home Depot is a contributing sponsor.
 
About BP

BP has been investing and building ties within Louisiana for many years.
BP is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the U.S., and in the Gulf of Mexico. We are the largest leaseholder and have the largest reserves base of any Gulf of Mexico operator.   

Onshore in Louisiana, BP has a number of business activities representing significant capital investment. They include:

• Major pipeline operations and a re-supply facility at Port Fourchon and Grand Isle
•  A training and transportation/logistics facility at Houma, Louisiana
• An operations center in Lafayette
• The Castrol lubricants facility in Baton Rouge
• Biofuel/Alternative Energy facility in Lake Charles
• Records storage facility in Hammond

BP has also invested in the community, particularly in education.  Since 2008, approximately $4 million has been directed to math and science, job training and community initiatives. The most significant was our $2.25 million commitment for education initiatives to Dillard
University, Delgado Community College, Fletcher Technical Community College, Southern University, Sowela Technical College and Xavier University.

BP also provided support to the region in its effort to rebound from natural disasters. More than $18 million was provided to Gulf Coast communities to recover from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav. The company made a donation of the 71,130-acre White Lake Wetland Conservation Area for conservation.  

In addition, BP has invested more than $2 billion to support the Gulf Oil Spill recovery efforts.

Admission to Earth Fest is included in regular admission to Audubon Zoo, which is $14.95 for adults, $9.95 for children ages 2-12 and $11.95 for seniors 65 years of age and over.  Audubon Zoo members admitted free of charge.  Festival hours are 10am to 5pm. No outside food or beverage allowed at zoo special events and festivals.
 

***  Visitors receive $3 off adult admission and $2 off  child’s admission
(up to four people) when bringing in a cell phone for recycling to benefit Audubon Charter School or a dozen Mardi Gras beads for ARC of Greater New Orleans.  ***

For information, call 504-581-4629 or visit www.AudubonInstitute.org/earth-fest

MUSIC and FUN on CAPITOL ONE STAGE for EARTH FEST 2011:
 
SATURDAY, MARCH 19
10:45 am – 11:15 am      Super Heroes Show: Operation Green
11:45 am – 1:30 am        The Flavors of New Orleans
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm         Super Heroes Show:  Operation Green
3:00 pm – 4:45 pm         Los Po-Boy-Citos
 
SUNDAY, MARCH 20
10:00 am – 12:00 pm     Winners of the 2010 Ronald McDonald House
                                                Crescent City Talent Show
12:30 pm – 2:15 pm       Kayla Woodson & Louisiana Lightnin’
2:45 pm – 4:30 pm         The Creole String Beans

Media Contact:
Sarah Burnette
sburnette@auduboninstitute.org
504 212-5335