The plunk of bags bouncing into metal buckets welcomes visitors to the “Let It Flow” display at the corner of Cherry Hill Road where the Langston Earth Day event is taking place on Sunday, April 26. Four-year-old Grant Hines yells, “I got one” as his green bag flies through the air and disappears into a bucket. The game is an Arlington Art Truck project developed with the County Pollution Control Plant to educate users on the best way to dispose of waste.

The block is filled with displays of clothes, baskets, jewelry, cards, pottery and soap made with natural materials and with booths promoting recycling, environmental education, eliminating food waste, natural art and promoting the advantages of biking.

Joe Diliberto and his 8-year-old daughter Sophie have stopped to add yarn to a wire structure already decorated with bits of other colorful materials. Joe says, “I think this is to show us that we can create art out of anything.”

Booths line the block down the street including Karina Gaul’s handmade fabric buttons, vinyl pouches and other small decorated bags. Apothecary Spices advertises, “Try our bacon salt.” Paloma Vintage announces “Reclaim the Past, Wear the Future.”

A crowd has gathered in the middle of the block attracted by the sounds of a mariachi band. Some are standing at the green-topped tables with their pizza boxes and others seated in wooden chairs in front of the stage are clapping to the beat. As the Mariachi Estrellas Band begins playing a catchy tune about the girls in the highlands, a toddler runs out in front of the stage and starts bouncing to the music, much to the delight of his relatives in the front row. 

At the other end of the block Francisco Ban mans the King of Pops stand where popsicles are advertised at $5 each. “Cookies and cream is the best seller today although my favorite would have to be the raspberry-lime for sure.”

Nearby The Truck Library on the Move offers a chance to spin a wheel of numbers for a prize or fill a small pot with dirt and plant a seed. Maddy Frick, a seven-year old elementary school student who attends Taylor Elementary, carefully scoops a small shovelful of dirt into a pot which could be transplanted pot and all, into a larger pot. She carefully places two nasturtium seeds into the pot, gives it a spray of mist and proudly carries it over to show her dad.

Liz Hutcheson, Arlington owner of Fast Snails, stands in front of a large display of cards which she says she designs herself and then draws by hand. “The most popular design today has been the fox cards which were inspired by the fox in the Little Prince.”

Down the way Clare from Wild Birds Unlimited on Harrison Street offers a free small bird feeder filled with Nyjer thistle and sunflower chips. “It will attract finches and other small birds like nuthatches.” 

Melinda Miller from Oak Lane Soap offers a variety of soaps made with natural ingredients and essential oils. The most popular choice today has been honeysuckle. “Weather plays a big part in the choice. Right now spring is coming, and the flowers are up.” Miller, a former Arlingtonian, says she makes the soap in her kitchen where she lives now in Vermont and comes back twice a year for these events.

Across the way the Italian Store is offering small plastic cups of its new pasta salad mixture of shells, kale and sausage. County Board member Julius Spain stops by for a taste after explaining the Board has been very busy with the Arlington County Budget which was just announced. Despite the especially tough choices this year, he says he is proud they didn’t cut the Department of Human Services serving Arlington’s vulnerable population which was his top priority.

The ranger at Long Branch Nature Center, has a snake entwined around his neck and down his chest. He is explaining to a young observer that the jar of water on the demonstration table contains a bullfrog tadpole. “If you look closely you can see the tadpole is just getting its back legs. It wasn’t like that a week ago.”

Vision Zero sponsored by the County’s Department of Environmental Services has a display of questions soliciting resident input by May 4 on the draft transportation safety action plan. 

The Long & Foster Arlington office is advertising a free shredding and junk removal event on Saturday May 2 just down the block at 4600 Cherry Hill Road. Their brochure asks for a canned food donation for AFAC at the event.

Earth Day was established 56 years ago with this year’s theme “Our Power, Our Planet.”