The annual celebration of the big blue ball we all live on is just around the corner, and Moscow’s ready to party. 

Inland North Waste will be hosting an Earth Day party from 3-6 p.m. on Friday at Moscow’s East City Park. 

Max Kirchner, content director for Appearances Marketing & Promotion, said Inland North Waste is an independent organization that handles garbage collection and other ancillary services for the rural Nez Perce County, Latah County and Moscow.

“Specifically for Earth Day, they wanted to provide a party for the community to give back to them as part of what they’re calling the ‘We Wave Back’ campaign, and they strive to be really friendly and positive members of the community,” Kirchner said. “This is a way for them to just sort of acknowledge all of the wonderful things that the Moscow community does to make our area more sustainable and a comfortable place to live, and hopefully preserve that for future generations.”

There will be a beer garden available for those 21 and older provided by Moscow Ale House, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. The event will also feature live music from The Kristie Project, Kirchner said. 

“One of their newly redesigned garbage trucks will be on-site, as well. [Inland North Waste] ran a recycling contest earlier in the year, and the person who won that is featured on their cardboard recycling truck which will also be available there,” Kirchner said. “They’ll have a professional photographer along to be able to take pictures of kids in and around those trucks; children sure do love garbage trucks.”

Alongside the many childrens’ activities that will be available, Paradise Creek Bicycles will offer free bike tune-ups, Kirchner said. 

 In addition to the Earth Day party, Inland North West is putting on Thursday night and Sunday morning.

“Thursday night at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, there’s going to be a showing of a documentary called ‘Kiss the Ground’ about regenerative farming. They’re showing that for free, and then there’s a 30-minute talk backed by one of the soil experts from the company there to provide some insight and flush out some bad ideas,” Kirchner said. “Then on Sunday, Charlie Sutton, who’s an Idaho-based musician, will be playing for free at One World Cafe.”

For every coffee that is bought during the performance between 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Inland North Waste will donate $1 to the Palouse Land Trust, Kirchner said. 

“It’s three different free events that are just meant to be a gift to Moscow, and the folks around, to enjoy and to celebrate the work that they do to make the world a better and more sustainable place,” Kirchner said.