Get your hippie on for the 40th Earth Day: Free Day takes over Hill's People's Parking Lot

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the vacant lot on E. Pine between Belmont and Summit will be full of barterers, musicians, artists and the curious. Hosted by People’s Parking Lot, Saturday's Earth Day Free Day community event will go from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“We’ll be loosely organizing, but the main goal here is to make it an event we create together, just by showing up and sharing,” said Sarah Kuck, People’s Parking Lot member and organizer for the group’s Earth Day Free Day celebrations. “If you’re a musician, bring your instrument. If you’re an artist, consider the lot your outdoor studio for the day, if you’re a baker or chef, bring us a taste of your latest creation, if you’re a dancer, think of the lot as your studio, if you love to talk and speak your mind, come find someone to chat with.”

Given the gravel and dirt that currently fill the lot, you'll want to bring a blanket, too.

People’s Parking Lot is a local group dedicated to utilizing vacant and unused city space in Seattle. Founded by Keith Harris, the group is planning a bunch of one-off events around the city, including helping with the Capitol Hill Community Garage Sale Day coming up in June. They get permits and logistics cleared for public community events in what could be dismal or abandoned areas of the city. They are now affiliated with Shunpike, a group that helps support fledgling art groups, so you can donate to the group through them.

The empty lot on E. Pine St. used to be an epicenter of nightlife on Capitol Hill, the block of the infamous Cha Cha lounge and Manray, among others.

“Once a vibrant, crazy, eclectic strip of culturally important businesses, the E. Pine lot now sits empty. This lot in particular inspired Keith to put a call out on the Internet for people to do something about this and other eye sores and empty spaces,” said Kuck. “This is our community, but others own the rights to the property that we live so close to. This can be frustrating. It made us ask ourselves, ‘How can we revitalize/make use of spaces we don't own?’”

Bring things to barter, trade or celebrate, but don’t go expecting to turn a profit. Money exchange at the Earth Day Free Day event is not allowed.

“Mostly, I just want people to come and enjoy themselves. Earth Day Free Day is about getting to know your neighbors, sharing what you have and celebrating that you get to live here,” said Kuck. “Just come have fun and celebrate being here!”

Check out their Facebook party invite and Earth Day Free Day blog post to get involved and for more information.

We'll feature more Hill Earth Day activities through the week. The official Earth Day is Thursday, April 22.