Photo by Megan Pratz.

Earth Day is coming up on April 22. And in Maryland, many residents are shifting their focus from the earth to the water – the water of the Chesapeake Bay, that is.

The bay’s pollution is sparking people into action on a day when protecting the environment is the main focus.

Earth Day events in the Annapolis area are a tradition. There are festivals, a foot race and even a happy hour. But these activities are not just fun and games.

Jim Brennan, coordinator for the 7th annual Earth Day festival, told the Annapolis Capital the festival is about, “education and action – the ways we can improve the local waterways and the local environment.”

This year’s Earth Day is taking a political turn as well. Linda Forsman, co-founder of the environmental social networking group Green Drinks, said about the call to action, “we always come back to the fact that it’s political activism at this point.”

Forsman said that people need to press lawmakers into action to save the bay.

But, at least for now, Earth Day the Chesapeake Bay way is going to be a big party, for a good cause.

Here is a list of Earth Day events throughout the bay watershed.