It’s time to take action, South Florida.
The nonprofit EarthDay.org is calling on everyone to support clean air, water and energy, natural resources and climate stability with its theme for the 56th annual Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22: “Our Power, Our Planet.”
Get involved by planting trees or picking up litter in your neighborhood, participating in demonstrations, registering to vote or attending community meetings. There are a lot of options out there. The nonprofit VolunteerCleanup.org has a directory of Earth Day-related meetups in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and throughout the state.
In Palm Beach County, cities are planning to take part in Keep America Beautiful’s Greatest American Cleanup. The effort this year has a goal “to remove 25 billion pieces of litter from parks, waterways and public spaces by July 4” in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, according to the nonprofit’s website. The official cleanup day is Saturday, April 25, but events also are scheduled before and after that date. Find the full list at keeppbcbeautiful.org.
Below, we’ve rounded up 10 standout celebrations, festivals, cleanups and other special events taking place to honor Mother Earth this year.
Dozens of volunteers take part in cleaning up the shoreline in Dania Beach. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
Broward County
The Earth Day Celebration in Pompano Beach invites everyone to relax and recharge in the Patricia Davis Community Garden, 1089 NW Sixth Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18. Classes will be available on topics such as herbalism, homestead learning, bananas, composting, stretching and massage, flower pressing and bouquets. Other activities include meditation, yoga and tree plantings, plus a ladybug release by Pompano Proud at 11 a.m. Enjoy banana bread and lemongrass tea as well. Free admission. Visit pompanobeachfl.gov.
The Earth Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Sunrise Amphitheater, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd., will feature interactive educational booths and displays, tree and compost giveaways, food trucks, and children’s activities based on this year’s theme “Reduce, Reuse, Rewild.” Bring a chair to listen to music, and play giant lawn games. The city encourages attendees to carpool, walk or ride bikes to the event, as well as to bring reusable totes and water bottles, recycle and place food waste in compost bins. Free admission. Visit sunrisefl.gov.
This sixth annual Earth Day Beach Clean-up will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, April 20, at the Dania Beach Pier, 300 N. Beach Road. The theme: “One Nation. One Community. Protecting Our Future.” The event will include contests, prize drawings, refreshments, face painting and community service hours for volunteers. Free admission. Visit daniabeachfl.gov.
Ocean Rescue Alliance International will discuss the 1000 Mermaids Project at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts in Hollywood. (ORAI/Courtesy)
An Earth Day Celebration — Where Water Meets Fire will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, April 24, at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts, 3250 N. 29th Ave., Hollywood. The program is designed to explore how earth, air, fire and water create beauty and protect the planet. Lindsay Humbles, educational outreach and program coordinator at Ocean Rescue Alliance International, will conduct an interactive presentation about the work to restore marine ecosystems using artificial reef designs, such as the 1000 Mermaids Project and the Guardians of the Reef in Hollywood. Walk through the new “Splash!” exhibit with Louise Irvine, the museum’s executive director and curator, after the presentation. She will discuss glass and ceramics artists’ works inspired by the sea. Cost is $15. “In the spirit of Earth Day and to support their important conservation work, WMODA will also donate $15 to ORAI for every person who attends this event, up to a total of 40 people,” according to the museum’s website. Visit wmoda.com.
EarthFest, set for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25, at the Sawgrass Nature Center, 3000 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs, will feature mature exhibits, community garden information, raffles and vendors. The event honors both Earth Day and Arbor Day (officially observed on April 24). Spend the morning participating in goat yoga with 30-minute sessions at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Each class has a maximum of 30 people. Bring a yoga mat and sign up at the Downward Goat vendor booth. Free admission. Visit coralsprings.gov.
David Attenborough of National Geographic’s “Ocean with David Attenborough,” which will be shown at Glazer Hall in Palm Beach. (Glazer Hall/Courtesy)
Palm Beach County
National Geographic’s “Ocean with David Attenborough” will have its North American premiere at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Glazer Hall, 70 Royal Poinciana Way, Suite P70, Palm Beach. The film takes viewers on a journey through coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, with a live soundtrack by the Palm Beach Symphony and singers from the Palm Beach Opera. The screening is part of a science movie series put on in collaboration with the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach. Tickets are $275. Visit glazerhall.org.
Earth Day will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Daggerwing Nature Center in South County Regional Park, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton, with a slate of activities including animal presentations, crafts, a plant sale and ladybug release. The center has a 3,000-square-foot exhibit hall, butterfly garden and an elevated boardwalk. Admission is free, but some activities may require a cash donation to support Friends of Daggerwing Nature Center. Visit Facebook.com/daggerwing.
An Earth Month Celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Centennial Park and Amphitheater, 120 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach, will have tree giveaways, eco-friendly vendors and music by Paul Anthony and The Reggae Souljahs. Hosted in collaboration with Sea Turtle Adventures, an Earth Month Beach Clean Up is set for 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Oceanfront Park & Beach, 6415 N. Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge. Admission is free to both events. Visit Facebook.com/boyntonbeachcity.
The 14th annual Student Catwalk Fashion Show at Loggerhead Marinelife Center will showcase fashions made out of recycled materials. (Loggerhead Marinelife Center/Courtesy)
The Great American Cleanup and Resource Depot Student Catwalk Fashion Show will honor Earth Day on Saturday, April 25, at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach. From 8:30 to 11:30 a.m, participate in the cleanup on the beach behind the center. All equipment will be provided, and participants receive a free T-shirt while supplies last. Advance registration is required. Then, come to the center’s Brad & Joan Ingalls Amphitheater at 11 a.m. for the 14th annual Student Catwalk Fashion Show, in which students use reclaimed supplies to craft wearable designs inspired by sea turtles. Among other activities will be a screening of “Sea Turtles of the Palm Beaches” at 2 p.m., with a question-and-answer session to follow. Free admission. Visit marinelife.org for a full schedule.
Wellington’s Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration will feature multiple events on Saturday, April 25. Begin the day with activities starting at 9 a.m. as part of The Great American Cleanup. Call the Community Services Department at 561-753-2484 to register. Then, the Wellington Garden Club will have a plant sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. Proceeds benefit the Wellington Garden Club’s youth programs, scholarships, civic beautification and environmental efforts. The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Earth-friendly products and demonstrations, free native seedlings, raffle, giveaways and a visit with Smokey Bear. Learn proper tree pruning from the Public Works staff and get information about the garden club, as well as the Wellington Art Society and Wellington Tree Board. Free admission for all events. Visit wellingtonfl.gov.