Events taking place and icons switching off for Earth Hour

Get involved in Earth Hour!

There is something for everyone to do during Earth Hour, especially for those who are willing to be creative. The idea is to find interesting and practical ways to celebrate the hour on March 29.

Whether you’re a budding astronomer or true romantic, up for a night of community celebration, or keen for a night out on the town to watch the lights go dim - Earth Hour provides a great many opportunities for everyone to get involved.

If you’re looking for something interesting to do on the night, consider the tips outlining 'Ten Things To Do During Earth Hour' (also found on the ‘news’ page of the Earth Hour website) or get inspired and take heed from other communities around the world who have accepted the Earth Hour challenge (events listed below).

We have only listed the events we know of. If your city is planning a big event, please let us know via earthhour@wwf.org.au.

AUSTRALIA

NSW

ICONS GOING DARK: Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Centre Point Tower, Kings Cross Coca-Cola sign, NSW Parliament, Town Hall, Kirribilli House and Luna Park. CBD buildings facing Circular Quay and Blues Point Tower.

EVENTS:
Sydney:

• RSVP.com.au is hosting the SkyTower Singles Dinner. Members can register for a 5 course degustation dinner by candlelight to celebrate Earth Hour while enjoying spectacular views and meeting other singles.
• The Make Poverty History Sydney Volunteer Group is running an Earth Hour challenge for its members, culminating in a picnic in Circular Quay to watch Sydney city go dark.
• A torch-lit beach party on Avalon Beach will feature Fire Trybe Nation fire twirling, live music by Mista Lyon, Tully Dingle and The Shady Band, with all entertainment delivered via solar-powered amps. Residents are encouraged to bring beeswax candle and a picnic dinner. Party begins at 7.30pm, with preceding Eco-Living Expo from 3pm-6pm at the Avalon SLSC.
• Earth Hour SkyTower Torch-lit Tours is holding its Skywalk Tour, reaching SkyTower’s Observation Deck at 8pm and giving less daring souls a once in a lifetime view of a darkened city from above.
• Sydney Observatory is holding an Earth Hour Open Night, giving all budding astronomers the chance to utilise a city in darkness for optimal star gazing.
• Canterbury council is encouraging residents to create lanterns from recycled materials to float on the Cooks River which can be viewed from Gough Whitlam Park at 8pm on the 29 March.
• In Northbridge, the North Shore Climate Action Group and Willoughby Council Sustainability Street are organising a picnic by candlelight for local residents at Warner’s Park Environment Centre.
• Manly Council has organised drumming and didgeridoo performance complemented by fire dancing to celebrate Earth Hour.
• Mars Hill Café in Parramatta is hosting a live acoustic session with local musicians by candlelight.
• Steel Park, located at Illawarra Rd, Marrickville will feature an acoustic performance. Residents are invited to bring a rug and picnic.
• The Sydney couple who married last year in Sydney on Earth Hour night are celebrating their first anniversary. Bride Jo Elvey’s husband has written a song which he’ll played to his wife during Earth Hour on a Baby Grand Piano by candlelight at The Intercontinental Hotel, Sydney.

REGIONAL NSW

• In Warragamba, the Silverdale Business and Community Centre is holding an Earth Hour event in conjunction with the Warragamba Workers and Sporting Club. Organisers are encouraging locals to turn off the lights and appliances at home and come to the club for free nibblies and a lucky door prize between 8pm-9pm on Saturday 29 March, 2008. The Club will be turning off all non-essential lighting and the bistro will have a “candlelight” hour for diners.
• The Sandbar & Restaurant in East Ballina will hold a special Earth Hour dinner in the dark with local musicians playing acoustic sets and the chefs cooking by lamplight.
• The MUDsingers gospel-inspired choir will perform unplugged at the Milton Theatre and by candlelight for an hour as support act for Christine Anu.
• Eco-friendly farm Taroona in Warrinya NSW will celebrate Earth Hour by hosting a candlelight dinner for the local farming community for the second year in a row. Taroona’s 2007 event was a paddock affair centering around a custom-built wrought iron candelabra - in line with the 'lights off' ideals of Earth Hour. For the farmers in Wirrinya, embracing Earth Hour is 'a pro-active response to the ongoing drought and the challenge of climate change, giving us something positive and empowering to focus on at this extremely difficult time.'
• Inspired by the cause, 1,000 people will be cycling from Lithgow to Mudgee on a 13-day trip. The journey, sponsored by Bicycle NSW, focuses on the enjoyable and environmentally-friendly nature of human-powered transport.
• Red Hill Environmental Centre is holding a major Earth Hour event in Gulgong on Earth Hour night.
• The Byron at Byron Resort in Byron Bay is going to host an Earth Hour dinner.

VICTORIA
ICONS GOING DARK: The Arts Centre, Rialto Towers, Luna Park (St Kilda), Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Towers Skydeck, SkyWheel Birrarung Mar, The Jam Factory, Federation Square, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Zoo and Chadstone Shopping Centre.

EVENTS:

• If you’re one of the few with no plans on 29 March at 8pm, consider attending one of the following, or get inspired and plan your own! Earth Hour is all about the difference individuals can make, so no matter how, please get involved!
• At Melbourne’s Federation Square at 6pm an Earth Hour extravaganza will be hosted by Melissa and Matt Heatherington. Acts will include:
• Richard Gill, Music Director for the Victorian State Opera will lead a community based performance, Megan Washington - Project Feat - Paul Grabowsky, Alana Scanlan Dance Production - a contemporary dance production with fire, award winning break dancers, Wicked Force, rapper Phrase, Michael Paynter and a hot new act from Tasmania, Bridget Pross. After 9, “Green Screen” at Fed Square will feature a series of environmental documentaries late into the night.
• Also at Federation Square, members of the Astronomical Society of Victoria will be providing telescopes for the public to view the stars once the city lights are switched off. Astronomy experts will be available.
• Melbourne Aquarium and Sarti Restaurants, a rooftop vantage point for the southern city, will host private weddings by candlelight.
• Over 40 of Melbourne's top restaurants, in Melbourne’s CBD and suburbs, will be hosting ‘dinner in the dark’ by candlelight. A number of restaurants in regional Victoria will also be holding Earth Hour themed dinners.
• Tatura’s Criterion Hotel will be hosting a pyjama party for patrons. Free beer will be available for those who bring in a black balloon - Melbourne City’s symbol of an individual's carbon footprint.
• Grampians YHA Eco-Hostel is organising a night walk spotlighting tour for travellers to enjoy Earth Hour.
• The CARNI project, an events lounge in South Preston, will be hosting ‘Earth Hour unplugged’, a night of African rhythms and Celtic dance (don’t ask us, we’re just the messengers!). All performances will be unplugged and live, and patrons are encouraged to bring along a candle, candelabra or coloured lantern to help light the way. Go CARNI!
• Icons going dark include the Arts Centre, Rialto Towers, Luna Park (St Kilda), Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Towers Skydeck, the SkyWheel at Birrarung Marr, Chapel Street’s Jam Factory, Federation Square, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Zoo and Chadstone Shopping Centre.

ACT
ICONS GOING DARK: Parliament House, Old Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, Telstra Tower, High Court of Australia, National Museum of Australia, Australian Institute of Sport and the Royal Australian Mint.

EVENTS:
Canberra:

• Public entertainment will feature in Canberra’s CBD. A public screening of The Day After Tomorrow will start at 8:15pm at Garema Place Civic, followed by an acoustic music session featuring The Big Score, Marianne and Jonathan Mettes, Jason Recliner, John Loll Back and The Roving Jugglers. There will be karaoke by candlelight and the poetry slam competition.
• The Canberra Raiders will play 7:30pm at Canberra Stadium. The stadium’s lighting will be offset throughout the day and night by green energy from ActewAGL. Lights will be dimmed in corporate boxes during the game.
• Civic’s King O’Malley’s Bar will be hosting ‘Guinness by candlelight’.
• West Row’s Anise Restaurant, Rydges Lakeside, Canberra’s Southern Cross Clubs (Canberra wide), and Dickson Tradies will also be hosting ‘dinner by candlelight’.
• ACT Rugby Union Club in Barton will be screening rugby on the big-screens by candlelight.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
ICONS GOING DARK: Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide Central Markets, Victoria Square Fountain, The Advertiser Building, Westpac Building, South Australian Brewery and Hilton Adelaide.

EVENTS:
Adelaide:

• If you’re looking for somewhere to watch the lights go out on Saturday night, go to Victoria Square in the CBD or to Windy Point - a good vantage point outside of the city.
• The Hilton Hotel and Chianti Classico, a well known Hutt Street restaurant, will be hosting Earth Hour dinners by candlelight.
• Amande Bed and Breakfast, a solar-powered B&B in McLaren Vale will be running a cooking school by candle light, headed up by local cuisine gurus, the Gourmet Blokes.

QUEENSLAND
ICONS GOING DARK: Conrad International Treasury Casino, Story Bridge, City Hall, Victoria Bridge, William Jolly Bridge, Brisbane Square, many State Government buildings.

EVENTS:
BRISBANE

• Numerous Earth Hour community parties and BBQs are taking place, featuring games by candlelight.
• Brisbane City Council is encouraging Brisbane families to view a darker city at vantage points Mt Coot-tha and Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
• Suncorp’s Super Screen will host a public screening of Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”.
• Many of Brisbane’s top restaurants will be hosting ‘dinner in the dark’ by candlelight. They include Ecco, Gianni’s, Restaurant Two and Three, Rydges Hotel Grey St, Kingley’s Steak and Crab House at Eagle St Pier, and Stone Restaurant, Grey St, Saville Hotel.
• The Stamford Hotel’s will feature drinks by candlelight.
• Regatta Hotel and Brisbane’s Coffee Club will go dark for hour.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ICONS GOING DARK: Parliament House, The WACA (WA Cricket Ground), Kings Park, the Narrows Bridge, BankWest Tower, London House, the CityWest Dome, Dumas House, Governor Stirling Tower and Allendale Square, State War Memorial, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, the Bell Tower and David Jones Stores (nationally).

EVENTS:

• Numerous Earth Hour community parties and BBQs are taking place, featuring various activities and games by candlelight
• Many of Perth’s top restaurants will be hosting ‘dinner in the dark’ by candlelight. They include C Restaurant, Red Cabbage Food and Wine, Adelphi Steak House, Origins, Globe Wine Bar & Restaurant, and Friends.
• The Fremantle Dockers will host Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval and Earth Hour advertising will featured on the big screens to promote awareness about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• The City of Fremantle are holding a eco-friendly festival at Parmelia Park in South Fremantle featuring musical entertainment and greens all powered by solar energy!
• Piney Lakes Environment Centre in Winthropare hosting an Earth Hour night with a BBQ, live music and a telescopic tour of the night sky.

TASMANIA
ICONS GOING DARK: Tasmanian Government Departments, Tasman Bridge.

EVENTS:
Hobart:

• Numerous neighbourhood and community events are taking place to celebrate Earth Hour. Children are encouraged to bring torches. At Strickland Avenue, local entertainers will be performing.

GLOBALLY:

ANTARCTICA

EVENTS: In an extraordinary turn of events, Antarctica’s Casey Research Station, located in the Windmill Islands just outside the Antarctic Circle, will be hosting an Earth Hour dinner for its 19 members. Special candelabras have been being made for candles on the night, and sleeping areas and outside will be turned off.
The Casey team has gone to extraordinary efforts to embrace Earth Hour. Based in Antarctica, they’ve witnessed the devastating effects of climate change on this unique landscape first hand. The team recently shrugged off the bitter Antarctic cold to don Earth hour tees in the freezing ice. See image above! Casey, we applaud your efforts and are thrilled to have you on board!


UNITED STATES:

• CHICAGO ICONS: Sears Tower, John Hancock Building, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, Boeing Headquarters Building, Merchandise Mart, Drake Hotel, Chicago City Hall, CNA Building, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Building, Chicago Theatre Marquees, Chicago Cubs, Hard Rock Café Logo at Wrigley Field, Over 480 McDonald's, United Center, Navy Pier and Museum Campus at Adler Planetarium.
• ATLANTA ICONS: Coca Cola Headquarters, Georgia Aquarium, Bank of America Plaza, the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Georgia Dome, Westin Peachtree Plaza, the Varsity, Turner Field, Freedom Parkway and Wachovia Building.
• SAN FRANCISCO ICONS: Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge San Francisco Town Hall, Hewlett-Packard Headquarters, Coit Tower, Ghiradelli Square, Alcatraz and AT&T Park.
• SAN FRANCISCO EVENTS FOR EARTH HOUR:
  AT&T Park will be going dark on the night and have been supporting earth hour by presenting videos in lead-up events.
• PHOENIX ICONS: Phoenix Public Buildings, US Airways Arena Marquee, Chase Field Marquee, Phoenix City Hall and Cooper Square.
• NIAGAGRA FALLS: Niagara Falls will be going dark for Earth Hour 2008.
• BUFFALO CREEK: Buffalo Creek Dream Makers Conservation Club will give back three hours by holding a Conservation Fun Day that will have various activities during the day. At 8pm the lights and all electrical items will go out and everyone will enjoy a campfire with storytelling, singing, nocturnal creature studies, and stargazing until 11pm. A candle light service will be held.

CANADA:

• TORONTO ICONS: City Hall, CN Tower, Ontario Science Center, Ontario Place, Honest Ed's, Toronto Eaton Centre, Harbour front buildings, Exhibition Place, Yonge-Dundas Square, Sony Centre, Pearson International Airport, Roy Thompson Hall, Air Canada Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame, Roger's Centre. Toronto Financial District, Queens Park and Royal Ontario Museum.
• TORONTO EVENTS FOR EARTH HOUR:
  Nelly Furtado, an official Earth Hour ambassador, will be headlining an Earth Hour concert at Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall. The event will also feature candle light festivities. View Nelly’s Earth Hour message on You Tube http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-VvFvYB3vOw&NR=1

DENMARK:

• COPENHAGEN ICONS: Tivoli, the famous amusement park, Town Hall, Opera, Glyptoteket, Magasin, Kgs, Nykredit & Rådhuspladsen (main square towers), Carlsberg, Valby (famous Danish Brewery), Irma-hønen, søerne (famous neon light) Radisson Royal Hotel, Kgl Teater in Kgs. Nytorv, Vor Frue Kirke and Palads.
• AARHUS ICONS: Musikhuset, Town Hall, Århus Domkirke and Hotel Royal.
• AALBORG ICONS: Rosdahls Restaurant (famous restaurant at Harbourfront) Jobcenter and Princes Juliane.
• ODENSE ICONS: Town Hall, Flakenhaven (main city square) and Brandts Klædefabrik.

PHILLIPINES:

• MANILA ICONS: Roxas Boulevard.

ISRAEL:

• TEL AVIV ICONS: Rabin Square, City Hall and Azrieli Tower.
• TEL AVIV EVENTS FOR EARTH HOUR:
  A "green" concert, featuring over 40 local entertainers will be held at Tel-Aviv’s main square for the evening of Earth Hour. The event will be unplugged. All energy supplied to the stage and minimal lighting required for safety will be created on call with renewed and alternative energy.

GREECE:

• AEGINA EVENTS FOR EARTH HOUR: A small community of 14,000 people will come together with local municipality and schools, non-government agencies and other groups to celebrate Earth Hour in Aegean. Screenings of An Inconvenient Truth and the 11th Hour are on the agenda for the evening.

UNITED KINGDOM:

• LONDON: A live music event in London will be held at a park cafe. The event will feature acoustic performances by candlelight and the cafe will serve cold foods. Please contact Paul Richards at paul.richards@brazenbunch.com

To list your event, please e-mail details to earthhour.org.au