21 Earth Day Events around the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Once a year a holiday comes around that is all about giving back and celebrating what we have been given. Trees are often an integral part of this celebration, which involves families coming together to celebrate and volunteer. It is Earth Day, of course! (What were you thinking it was?)

Earth Day began in 1970 as a nationwide rally for the environment. Since then it has evolved into a day of education and service. Local and national organizations around the country hold events and celebrations. Attending an Earth Day event is the perfect way to get your family outdoors and learn what you can do to help the environment.

Here are 21 Earth Day celebrations happening this month around the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Maryland

Anacostia Tree Planting
April 16, Riverdale

Help plant 200 native trees and shrubs along the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River with the Maryland-National Capital Parkand Planning Commission and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. This is a great opportunity for students to gain community service credit hours while helping the environment. Get some exercise and learn about the Anacostia River at the same time.

Green Week
April 16-23, Baltimore

Baltimore Green Week (BGWeek), now in its eighth year, is a week-long series of educational workshops, lectures and events. During BGWeek, members of the public can learn about, voice their concerns and take action on issues such as climate change, sustainable food and agriculture, water conservation and home efficiency. BGWeek kicks off with the EcoFest, an outdoor festival with music, yoga classes, bike rides and more than 100 local, sustainable vendors and exhibitors.

Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum Earth Day Celebration
April 23, Baltimore

The Banneker Park & Museum’s Earth Day Celebration is sure to be filled with environmental fun! Activities will include arts and crafts, guided nature hikes, a planting workshop, climate change lecture and presentation, astronomy presentation by a NASA scientist, Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society presentation, and a composting display and Q&A session with a Baltimore County Master Gardener.

Earth Day at the Salisbury Zoo
April 23, Salisbury

Come and celebrate Mother Earth during the Salisbury Zoo’s annual Earth Day celebration! The event will feature more than 20 earth-friendly exhibitors that will teach attendees how to help the environment. There will be green demonstrations on the Zoo stage, recycled craft activities, educational activities, zookeeper talks, food and more!

Pacers' Third Annual Earth Day 5K
April 30, Silver Spring

Want to help the Chesapeake Bay while also getting your morning workout? Register for the Pacers’ Third Annual Earth Day 5K! Proceeds from the race go to the Nature Conservancy’s Bay restoration work. Last year, the event sold out. Each of the 1,200 runners who participated helped seed the Chesapeake with 5 million baby oysters (called “spat”), a critical part of restoring the Bay. Don’t feel like running? No problem! You can still make an online donation.

Earth Day at the Izaak Walton League
May 7, Gaithersburg

The Izaak Walton League will host a free Earth Day Celebration for people of all ages. Participate in a rain garden planting, build a nest box, talk with Master Gardeners, or hike along a new environmental education trail. Students will have the opportunity to receive their Student Service Learning hours. The first 100 attendees will also receive a free tree seedling!

Virginia

Earth Day Staunton
April 16, Staunton

What better way to spend Earth Day than educating yourself about environmental issues in your community! If you live in the Staunton area, take the whole family to the 5th Annual Earth Day Staunton event. Earth-friendly organizations like Wild Virginia and the Virginia Native Plant Society will host interactive educational booths, while kids can take part in activities like face painting, live music and a 3-D “Planet Earth” art demonstration. Get an up-close look at some live native wildlife from the Wildlife Center of Virginia, and then learn how you can protect these animals. There will also be a native plant sale with Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions.

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Earth Day Celebration
April 23, Chantilly

Celebrate Earth Day by getting dirty! Volunteer to plant native trees and shrubs during the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Earth Day Celebration. You can also help prevent erosion in the park by mulching and repairing park trails. End the celebration by recycling your household materials into new items.

Earth Day Festival
April 23, Richmond

More than 5,000 people attended last year’s Earth Day Festival in Richmond, and you can be one of them this year! Enjoy local food and music while participating in environmental workshops, speaking with local vendors and helping your kids learn about the environment.

Alexandria Earth Day
April 30, Alexandria

Come to Ben Brenman Park on April 30 to celebrate Earth Day with a Trashion Fashion Show! To raise awareness about the importance of recycling, local residents and students were asked to design an outfit made of recycled items. The event will also include exhibits from the Audubon Society, Sierra Club and more!

Run for the River
April 30, Louisa

Join the second annual Run for the River and enjoy beautiful, historic farm views while helping to protect the South Anna River. The race will feature both 5K and 10K routes along gravel roads through the pastoral Green Springs National Historic Landmark District. Stick around after the race for an environmental fair, where you can learn some simple ways to protect the river and the Chesapeake Bay.

Earth Day 2011 Mount Trashmore Park
May 1, Virginia Beach

Help make our world a healthier place by discovering and exploring ways to green your lifestyle at this Virginia Beach Earth Day event. Enjoy live music, delicious food and fun children’s activities at this former landfill-turned-beautiful park. Bring your old computers, hard drives and waste paper to be recycled safely and confidentially, and pick up a rain barrel or composter!

Washington, D.C.

American University Earth Week 2011: Green Campus, Green Communities
April 18-22

Join the students and faculty of American University for EarthWeek 2011. Each day of the week has a different theme, such as transportation, food and water, and a day of service. All of the week’s activities lead up to an Earth Day celebration on the 22nd! The public is invited to participate in all activities, from tree plantings to workshops.

National Zoo Earth Day Celebration
April 22

Celebrate Earth Day at the National Zoo! The event will feature crafts made from recycled materials and information about the Zoo’s sustainable practices. Be sure to bring old electronics like cell phones, batteries and accessories, which will be recycled to help raise money for the Zoo’s environmental activities!

Pennsylvania

The Great American Cleanup of PA
Various dates and locations

The Great American Cleanup of PA provides listings of restoration events throughout Pennsylvania to help citizens get involved in their local community. Events are organized by county. The Great American Cleanup of PA website lists many events ranging from tree plantings to roadside trash pickups. Celebrate Earth Day by picking an event that suits you in your area!

Earth Day 2011 at Penn State University (Harrisburg Campus)
April 21, Harrisburg

Come to Penn State Harrisburg’s annual Earth Day Event and tree planting for activities such as tie dying, container gardening and a mechanical bull! The event will also feature food, music, presentations on environmental issues and more.

Earth Day 2011
May 1, Reading

Come to Riverfront Park for a fun, day-long event dedicated to learning about the health and wellness of people and the earth. Enjoy music from local bands while stopping by eco booths and participating in workshops. Local eateries will serve food while your kids participate in free Earth Day-related activities!

West Virginia

2011 Art and Earth Celebration
April 16, Martinsburg

Bring the whole family to War Memorial Park on April 16 for a day full of fun and environmental education. There will be free Earth Day activities for kids including a recycled costume contest. Fill your free recyclable shopping bag with crafts from local artists while you enjoy music by local bands.

Panhandle Earth Day Celebration
April 23, Shepherdstown

The 3rd Annual Panhandle Earth Day Celebration will be held at Morgan's Grove Park, just outside of Shepherdstown. This family-friendly, community-oriented event will include music, art, crafts, food, kids’ activities, demonstrations, environmental and conservation groups, activists, vendors, a farmers market and more!

Delaware

DSWA Earth Day Festival
April 16, Felton

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority's annual Earth Day Festival is the largest such celebration in southern Delaware. The event will feature fun and exciting "EcoStations" complete with hands-on displays that teach visitors about soil, forestry and wildlife issues. There will also be crafts and games for the children daring enough to venture through "Trash Can Dan's EcoWorld."

New York

Earth Fest 2011
April 30, Binghamton

Earth Fest 2011 will be held at MacArthur Park and School in Binghamton. Sponsored by Earth Day Southern Tier, Earth Fest is one of the longest-running continuous Earth Day celebrations in the nation.

Still looking for an Earth Day event in your area? Visit the Earth Day Network. And if you know of an upcoming Earth Day event that we haven't listed here, let us know about it in the comments!