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Learning the lessons of Earth Day

Temple's Ambler campus offers dozens of fun opportunities.

A child gets a close-up view of a tarantula, one of the many fascinating creatures the Insectarium brings to EarthFest each year.
A child gets a close-up view of a tarantula, one of the many fascinating creatures the Insectarium brings to EarthFest each year.Read moreRYAN S. BRANDENBERG / Temple University
    by By Monica Peters, For The Inquirer
    Published 

EarthFest 2010, an outdoor educational celebration promoting environmental awareness in honor of Earth Day, will be presented Friday at Temple University's Ambler campus.

The free event, rain or shine, is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 85 exhibitors, including the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Phillies, Sesame Place, and Adventure Aquarium, will participate.

The Insectarium will bring tarantulas and other creepy creatures for visitors to observe up close. The Franklin Institute's "The Energy Show" will demonstrate how energy is used to power everything from power plants to our bodies. The Philadelphia Zoo will present "Climate Change Alert," an interactive program showing how animals are directly affected by climate change. "Cool Science," presented by Wondergy, explores how matter changes from solid to liquid - see a nail hammered into solid wood with a banana. The Elmwood Park Zoo will present a half-hour live animal show called "Recycling - Animals Do It Naturally!" EarthFest will include garden tours departing every hour from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's "Kids Grow Expo" celebrates the theme "Planting Seeds, Growing Lives," including educational exhibits, service learning projects, and competitive classes.

Storybook Ball at Please Touch Museum

On Saturday, kids and their parents can dress as their favorite storybook characters for an evening of enchanted entertainment at Please Touch Museum's Storybook Ball.

From 6 to 9 p.m., families can enjoy a dance performance by the Gesu School Ballroom Dancers and music and dancing with DJ Prince Charming, meet storybook characters, hear read-alouds in the Story Castle, and more. The event, whose theme this year is "Pirates and Princesses," will include carousel rides, a performance of There's Something Under My Bed by the Please Touch Playhouse, family-friendly cuisine catered by Max & Me, and more activities. Guests can meet the winning 2010 Please Touch Museum Book Award author and receive a free copy of the winning book.

The Storybook Ball is presented by the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation. This year's sponsors include Candlewick Press and VIST Insurance. Proceeds will benefit the Please Touch Museum's interactive exhibits and programs.

'Briar Rose: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty'

Dutch Country Players Children's Theatre presents

Briar Rose: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty

on Saturday, based on the Brothers Grimm story.

Adapted by Stephen Hotchner and directed by Patsy Miller with a comedic twist, the production portrays the story of Briar Rose, who touches the thorns of roses given to her by the evil Thirteenth Fairy. Now under the fairy's curse from touching the thorns, Briar Rose and the royal family fall asleep for 100 years. A prince may be able to break the curse by giving Briar Rose a kiss. However, the prince has a phobia of kissing.