MURFREESBORO -- Join Murfreesboro Electric Department April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Historic Downtown Square for the 18th Annual Earth Day Celebration. This year's theme, "S.O.S. Save Our Species: Protect, Don't Neglect TN Wildlife," focuses on local species on the verge of extinction.

Tennessee is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, with hundreds of distinct species of fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. But as of July 2016, 75 of those native species were listed as endangered and another 18 considered threatened.

"It's important to remember that we are part of an ecosystem where we rely on other plants and animals to play roles that are crucial to our own survival," said 2019 Earth Day Celebration Committee Chair and Murfreesboro Electric Director of Marketing Amy Byers. "Earth Day is a great time for people to learn how we can create a better balance within our ecosystem while still having fun with their friends and neighbors."

The event is zero-waste and completely free, thanks to sponsors like Rutherford County, City of Murfreesboro, General Mills, Kroger, Lewis Family Bakery, MaxShred, and Clark Iron and Metal. Republic Services will sponsor the Kid's Zone area which will include an inflatable bounce house and an obstacle course. There will also be booths from Stones River National Battlefield; Blackman High School Agricultural Department, offering plants and farm-fresh eggs for sale; Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center, promoting awareness about endangered species with a hands-on activity and live animals; and many more. To find out who else will be participating, visit Murfreesboro's Earth Day Celebration page on Facebook.

The entertainment lineup includes Hardin Draw at 10 a.m., MTSU Jazz Trio at 11 a.m., Creative Rhythm Percussion Team at noon and the Northfield Drumming Ensemble at 1 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, fun children's activities and live entertainment while learning about the environment. Local students will also show off their designs based on the Earth Day theme for a poster contest sponsored by Rutherford County Solid Waste Department and Murfreesboro Water Resources Department, while Murfreesboro Electric will be giving away 500 Sargent crabapple seedlings at their booth.

Murfreesboro Electric Department founded the Earth Day Celebration in 2001 to promote TVA's Green Power Switch Program, which gives customers the opportunity to buy a $4 block of green power generated by wind, solar or methane gas. Visit Murfreesboro Electric's booth at the celebration for more information, or visit www.greenpowerswitch.com.

Murfreesboro Electric Department, established in 1939, brings reliable, affordable energy to more than 60,000 customers in the city of Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro Electric has repeatedly been designated as a Reliable Public Power Provider by the American Public Power Association, which places it among the best public utilities in the nation.