People of all ages, adorning colorful paper mache masks, paraded around Chintimini Park to the beat of a unified drum as a part of Planet Palooza, a community event celebrating Earth Day, on April 19. 

Hundreds of people, from local kids to Corvallis Mayor Charles Maughan, gathered at Chintimini Park to learn about sustainability and to celebrate Earth Day. 

The event included live music from local band Wild Hog in the Woods, tables from dozens of local nonprofits and environmentally focused organizations, an Oregon State University Waste Watchers club repair fair, a clothing swap from Corvallis High School’s Green Teens and crafts and activities for kids. The festivities ultimately culminated with the parade, named the procession of the animals, around the perimeter of the park. 

Planet Palooza, which has been put on annually in various forms for over 25 years, is jointly organized by the Ashbrook Independent School, Corvallis Parks and Recreation and the Corvallis Environmental Center.

Erik Olsen is a primary organizer of the event and teaches at the Ashbrook Independent School, and has been involved in the event since its inception. 

“It was probably 25 years ago, and we were looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day, and we were kind of fishing around, because there really wasn’t much of anything, and so we have to come up with something that’s fun, fun for regular people, kids,” Olsen said. 

Taking inspiration from Olympia, Washington’s Earth Day parade, a parade through Corvallis’ downtown to the farmers market was organized. People wore fun animal-style masks created by hundreds of local school kids at the Ashbrook Independent School, a tradition that continues to today. After many years of hosting a parade, the celebration became the Planet Palooza event at Chintimini Park. 

“So we just get a band, and we get some music, and we have some food, and then we just ask all these different organizations if they want to come and just do something, teach people, hang out, maybe get some volunteers,” Olsen said.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Montana Burack

Masks created by local students displayed at a tent for the Ashbrook Independent School at Planet Palooza on April 19. The masks were available for borrowing by event attendees for the procession of the animals.

According to Olsen, the Planet Palooza celebration has continued to grow. 

“This year, it’s probably 40, 45% bigger than last year. So it’s been growing steadily. The first time we did the big party, the Planet Palooza thing was only a few years ago, and there were only, I think, five or six tables.” Olsen said. “Wow, five or six tables. And then it’s just gotten bigger every year.”

One of the people tabling was Nina Dominici, the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Mary’s River Watershed Council, who had a watershed activity for kids. 

According to Dominici, Mary’s River Watershed Council is an environmental restoration organization that has initiatives to make it easier for fish to navigate waterways and to mimic beavers’ positive effects in ecosystems and engages in public education, such as graduate student presentations on environmental topics called Ecology on Tap. 

Another organization present at the event was Third Act’s Corvallis chapter, which was founded six months ago. According to Cindy Bethell, who founded the chapter, the organization consists of older members in their “third act of life,” who have the time, skills, and resources to protest, call decision makers and do other advocacy.

The repair fair, organized by OSU’s Waste Watchers club, included stations to help community members repair everyday items. According to club leader Kasey Gratc, “We have all these volunteers who teach people how to fix things themselves. So the next time, they don’t have to find someone to repair it anymore. Then they can do it themselves.”

Ashley Stolp, an education ambassador at the Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, sported a snake around her neck and educated attendees about the reptile. According to Stolp, the center focuses on rehabilitating creatures back into the wild and getting community members excited about animals. 

It was entirely free for organizations to table at the event. All community members were also welcome to borrow an animal mask from Ashbrook’s cache, which has been growing steadily each year.

For Olsen, the event is an opportunity to build community and get people involved in environmental initiatives. 

“I get the impulse that people have to want to go and protest because there’s so much stuff that needs to be done. But every once in a while, like once a year, we should sit back and just look at all the stuff that we’ve already put in place. We’ve done a lot and all these things are already here,” Olsen said. 

Olsen also noted that decision-makers, such as the mayor, several city council members and “big wigs” from OSU were in attendance and were looking for ideas. But he also emphasized that in order to move the needle on environmental solutions, everyone needs to get involved.

“People have a habit of, I want some government agency, I want someone out there to fix it. Like, no, no, the only way it’s gonna get fixed is if everyone gets up on the couch and goes and plays a role and then it will get done,” Olsen said. “But it’s got to be a community effort. So the only way to get that to happen you got to build community. So that’s why doing something like this is the way to go, build community and celebrate what we already do.” 

“We’ve invented organizations. Find one that’s working already in the area that you’re interested in. Just get involved. Donate an hour a year, if that’s all you can do. Just do whatever you can.”