WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight simultaneous Earth Day festivals are being planned across the country for April 20 with the flagship event on the National Mall in Washington.

Organizers plan to stage free outdoor concerts in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Producers of the Green Apple Festival, which began three years ago in New York, and organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970 are staging the
events in landmark parks.

The D.C. event will feature political leaders, scientists, celebrities and bands.

Producer Peter Shapiro says more than a dozen music venues in each city will be enlisted to help carry the environmental message throughout the weekend. Details at http://www.greenapplemusicfestival.com.