If there’s one thing we can all come together on, it’s the desire for a brighter future for our children and our world. And every April 22, we celebrate a holiday that encourages just that — Earth Day! Earth Day is typically observed over the entire month of April, and there are so many ways to honor our planet this month and throughout the year. Here are a few celebrations to join in the Boston area — plus a few ideas to try out at home!
Earth Day Flowerpot Craft :: Hyde Park
Tuesday, April 16
4-5 PM
Time to get creative with a colorful Earth Day project! This craft takes place at the Hyde Park branch of the Boston Public Library and is a wonderful way to add some beauty to our planet. Stop by the library’s children’s room to decorate and plant seeds in a small flowerpot to celebrate Earth Day. Appropriate for ages 3 and up.
Earth Day Celebration on Science Center Plaza :: Harvard Square
Saturday, April 18
12-2 PM
Join the Harvard Office for Sustainability and Harvard Common Spaces for an Earth Day Festival at the Science Center Plaza. Bring everyday items you no longer need, and pick up stuff for free at a Freecycle hosted by the Resource Efficiency Program and Harvard Recycling. No donation is required to shop! Have electronics to recycle? Harvard University Information Technology will collect them! Bring your bike to be checked, and commute safely and sustainably back home.
Charles River Cleanup :: Boston
Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20
The Charles River Cleanup is one of the largest Earth Day cleanups in the country! And this year is its 25th year — the perfect time to give back to the river and parks that are a centerpiece of the community.
2nd Annual Wicked Smaht Spring Festival: A Wicked Smaht Earth Day Celebration :: North Andover Common
Saturday, April 20
9 AM-4 PM
Shop local, eat local, and celebrate LOCAL with vendors, food trucks, special performances, face painting, and character photos.
Earth Day & Birthday Celebration :: Weston
Saturday, April 20
10 AM-2 PM
Join friends at Land’s Sake Farm to connect to the land and see all the ways Land’s Sake works to inspire stewardship and sustainability! Enjoy the outdoors while engaging in “education stations” all over the farm, with fun activities like face painting and rock painting, animal visits, and meet-and-greets with farmers! There will also be live music and great local food trucks on site.
Earth Day Celebration :: Boston
Saturday, April 20
10 AM-2 PM
This free community celebration at Boston Building Resources will include live music, free food fresh from the grill, tie-dye fun, and activities like starting a sunflower from seed, a plant swap, resources for saving energy, and bike safety tips from the Boston Cyclists Union.
Earth Day with the Friends of the West End Branch Library! :: Boston
Saturday, April 20
1-3 PM
This Earth Day celebration will feature starter plants and nature book giveaways for all ages, vegetable planting in the library’s raised beds, and enjoying the daffodils and other delights starting to burst forth.
Earth Day BioBlitz (Adults Only) :: Easton
Monday, April 22
6-7:30 PM
$10-12
This “BioBlitz” celebrates and acknowledges the incredible abundance of life around us! Participants (adults only) will try to find and identify as many different plant, animal, and fungi species as possible, documenting as much life as they can. Participants will be using the iNaturalist app to help identify and record whatever they find.
Earth Day Celebration at the Head of Boston Harbor :: Boston
Sunday, April 28
11 AM-3 PM
Come together with fellow earth enthusiasts to celebrate, learn, play, and take action to protect our environment. Earth Day at Pier 5 is at the foot of Bunker Hill, neighboring USS Constitution Museum, near the Korean War Memorial, and on the Freedom Trail — it offers vast sky views to the Harbor Islands and the Boston skyline!
2024 Wake up the Earth Festival :: Boston
Saturday, May 4
11 AM-6 PM
Wake up the earth from its winter sleep and join your diverse local communities in unity and harmony! There will be four performance stages, local farmers market and food vendors, and a multitude of activities for children and adults! The festival will take place on the Stony Brook deck of the Southwest Corridor Park.
Celebrating at Home
If you’ve had your fill of community celebrations and cleanups, there are other ways to honor the earth this spring with activities you can do at home with your family.
Start by brainstorming
For ideas on how to make an impact, check out this action toolkit from earthday.org. It offers some great ideas to celebrate Earth Day for parents, teachers, schools, and more. There is even a social media toolkit for parents and kids who want to spread the word online!
Take a walk
Level up your family’s next nature walk with these fun activities from Project Learning Tree. From scavenger hunts to seed collecting to cartography, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy!
Try a science project
For more STEM-minded activities, check out Science Buddies — there are ideas ranging from understanding your eco footprint to creating a box garden or a water filtration system.
Create art from nature
Nature art is a family favorite in my home. From leaf prints to fairy houses to painting rocks, there is no shortage for creativity when it comes to nature. Just be sure to only use what’s “dead and down” — don’t pick from plants and trees that are actively growing! Messy Little Monster has some great ideas for crafting with nature!
Whatever you do to celebrate our Earth this month, carry it with you and your littles throughout the year!
