What better place in Colorado Springs to celebrate Earth Day, a worldwide environmental movement dedicated to saving the planet from manmade issues like climate change and pollution, than the 1,341-acre natural playground known as Garden of the Gods?

Earth Day is celebrated annually April 22, but Garden of the Gods is getting an early start, holding its 29th annual celebration on Saturday. The city-owned regional park typically draws thousands of people for the April event, from outdoor enthusiasts, to animal lovers, to conservationists and activists.

To some, Earth Day is a celebration of the Earth’s natural beauty. To others, it serves as an international peaceful protest and a plea for citizens to make a concentrated effort to be more responsible stewards of our planet.

“Each person has their own meaning for Earth Day,” Bret Tennis, Colorado Springs’ city parks administrator, told The Gazette prior to last year’s event.

Dozens of vendors from Colorado Springs and across the state will be on hand for the free event, which promises free family fun for attendees of all ages. Interactive activities, educational booths, demonstrations and “live animal experiences” are among the many offerings scheduled for the day, officials said.

The nature celebration runs from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. No registration is required.

Residents who may not wish to attend the event are encouraged to celebrate Earth Day in other ways, including cleaning up litter, reducing water use for the day, taking a bike ride in lieu of a drive or simply spending part of the day outdoors, officials said.