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There’s no better day than Earth Day to teach your children about preserving the environment for future generations to come. New York has countless events and activities for families to do their part in helping the environment and celebrating Earth Day this year. And with warmer days ahead, it’s also a great time to start exploring New York beaches for families, where kids can learn more about coastal ecosystems and enjoy outdoor fun.
Psst.. Check Out EarthFest at AMNH: Fun Family Events to Celebrate Earth Day
Manhattan
Earth Day 2026 Festival in Union Square
East 17th St. and Park Ave. South, Union Square
Sunday, April 19, noon – 6 pm
All ages
Free
Hosted by Earth Day Initiative, the free annual festival brings together dozens of environmental nonprofits, climate campaigns, green living experts, sustainable businesses, performers, artists, educators, and community groups from across New York City. Official programming includes interactive workshops, live performances, climate art, kids’ activities, and sustainable foods.
Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, 4881 Broadway St., Inwood
Wednesday, April 22, 4 – 6 pm
All ages
Free
This Earth Day, celebrate the past and present pollinators that have made Dyckman Farmhouse’s garden possible! Enjoy a pollinator-inspired puppet show, bring paper butterflies, bees, and birds to life with stop motion animation, discover who’s who in the bird world, and get fluent in birdwatching with the Urban Park Rangers! Plus, make wildflower seed bombs, and take your best shot around the Hessian Hut! Visit again in a month to see your sprouts in action!
Flatiron Plaza, 23 5th Ave., Flatiron District
Saturday, April 25, 10 am – 4 pm
All ages
Free
One of New Yorkers’ favorite days returns when streets are closed to vehicular traffic for Car-Free Earth Day. In partnership with NYC DOT, Flatiron NoMad Partnership will be closing down Broadway from 31st to 20th Streets for cars, allowing bike riders and pedestrians to enjoy moving through the district’s main thoroughfare safely and freely. Riders and non-riders alike can look out for interactive, family-friendly activities on the Flatiron South Plaza.
5th Annual Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert photo Michael Hull
5th Annual Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert
Duffy Square, Broadway between 45th & 47th St., Times Square
Saturday, April 25, 11 am – 3 pm
All ages
Free
This free public performance brings Broadway’s voice for the planet directly to the Crossroads of the World. The event will blend performances from Broadway talent with over 100 students and performers from local schools and community groups. The plaza will feature a special exhibit from The Climate Museum and be full of family-friendly activities from leading partners in climate advocacy, including Headcount, Materials for the Arts, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, for a complete day of art meeting action.
Randall’s Island Park, 20 Randall’s Island Park, Urban Farm + Fields 62/63, Randall’s Island
Saturday, April 25, noon – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Join this family-friendly day packed with seasonal fun and hands-on activities. Play games, get creative with nature-inspired crafts, snap photos beneath the beautiful cherry blossoms, enjoy live performances, and soak up the park’s springtime magic.
HRPK’s River Project Dig Into Earth Week
Habitat Garden at Hudson River Park, West Side Highway between W 26 St.–W 29 St., Chelsea
Saturday, April 25, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
Join Hudson River Park in the Habitat Garden to celebrate Earth Week during this family-friendly event. The garden is planted with only native trees and plants, helping it to support a diverse range of bird and insect species. This free event invites participants of all ages to enter this protected habitat area to discover the garden as it begins to bud and blossom. Dig into these activities: nature walks led by park naturalists, garden scavenger hunts, native plant crafts, and seed potting.
Bronx
Earth Day Weekend at Wave Hill
Earth Day Weekend
Wave Hill, 675 W 252nd St., Riverdale
April 18–19, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 5:30 pm
All ages
Most programming is included with admission: $4-$10
Join Wave Hill in the Garden to reflect on the beauty and resiliency of nature. Take a guided garden or wellness walk and see the signs of spring. Connect with the earth and support Wave Hill during our Woodland Community Volunteer Workday. Families can enjoy an Earth Day-themed Family Art Project and theatrical puppet show DIRT: The Secret Life of Soil, by Arms-of-the-Sea Theater.
Earth Day at Eastchester Road Community Garden
Eastchester Road Community Garden, 3634 Eastchester Road, Eastchester
Saturday, April 18, 11 am – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Celebrate Earth Day with hands-on activities for the whole family. Volunteers can help prepare garden beds, assist with composting, plant seeds and flowers, and get the garden ready for the growing season. There will also be arts and crafts activities you can create and take home.
Francis Martin Library, 2150 University Ave., Morris Heights
Wednesday, April 22, 1:30 – 6 pm
All ages
Free
Enjoy an afternoon packed with free activities, free compost, and free seeds for Earth Day! Meet community partners, engage in STEAM activities, and get free books and seeds! Choose from one of two sessions to clean up the local playground and plaza, followed by refreshments inside the library. Take part in the Plant Swap when you bring a plant, you can take a plant. Hop on the BioBus where your curious scholar will explore the sciences. Learn how to plan your growing season and pick up some seeds at the Seed Library. Enjoy a dance program from Indian Dance with Sloka that will have you feeling centered and in tune with nature. Plus, a compost giveaway (while supplies last), and more.
Starlight Park, 1490 Sheridan Blvd., Crotona Park East
Saturday, April 25, noon – 4 pm
All ages
Free
The 2025 Bronx River Open House takes place during Earth Week and includes free canoeing on the Bronx River, free produce distribution by RAP4Bronx, Tree Giveaway from 1 – 3 pm (registration required!), “Pitch in” park cleanup volunteer activity, walking tours, kid-friendly educational & art activities, and more! Please note that the activities being run by the Bronx River Alliance, including canoeing, are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nature in Your Neighborhood: Earth Day
Roberto Clemente State Park, 301 West Tremont Ave., Morris Heights
Saturday, April 25, 1 – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Explore Earth Day through hands-on crafts, games, sensory play, and more! Learn how to take care of our planet and create a take-home seed starter! Art supplies are first-come, first-served.
Pollinator Puppet Making with Esther Crow
Pollinator Puppet Making with Esther Crow
Tremont Library, 1866 Washington Ave., East Tremont
Saturday, April 25, 2 – 3 pm
Ages 6 – 12
Free
Join this special program inspired by Earth Day. In this workshop, Esther and her puppet, Bernie the Bee, will assist kids in creating bee, bat, and butterfly puppets and will teach about how these creatures pollinate many of the fruits and vegetables we eat, and how important they are to maintaining healthy ecosystems. Materials will be provided. This super fun workshop inspires both creativity and sustainability.
Brooklyn
Farmhouse Family Day: Waking up the Farm
Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, East Flatbush
Saturday, April 18, 11 am – 3 pm
Ages 4 – 12
Free
After a bitter winter, it’s time to savor the sweetness of spring! Join the Wyckoff House and other local initiatives in Celebrating Earth Day. You can’t spell earth without ART! Enjoy spring and help wake up the farm with nature-based art-making activities!
Monument Plaza in Fort Greene Park, Myrtle to Dekalb Aves, Edwards and Cumberland Sts., Fort Greene
Saturday, April 18, 11 am – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Celebrate Earth Day at Fort Greene Park for a fun, family-friendly day dedicated to celebrating and caring for the Earth. Enjoy workshops, crafts, and games put together by community organizations and neighbors that help you show your appreciation for the world that sustains us. For those who participate in 8 of the activity stations, there’ll be a free prize.
Downtown Brooklyn Car-Free Earth Day 2026
Albee Square, Albee Square W & Fulton St., Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 18, noon – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Join an afternoon of Earth-friendly and car-free activities, including music, fashion, bike lessons, soccer, and more.
Prospect Farm’s Annual Earth Day
Prospect Farm, 1194 Prospect Ave., Windsor Terrace
Saturday, April 18, noon – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Visit Prospect Farm for the garden group’s annual Earth Day celebration. Local band Protectors of the Wood will be performing original music! There will be a bake sale, yard sale, and plant swap, with all proceeds going towards the garden. There will also be arts & crafts activities for all ages (e.g., potato stamping, egg carton seeding), loose-leaf tea blending, a compost giveaway, and tours around the garden, including native plant species.
Invent & Imagine An Earth Day Celebration
Invent & Imagine: An Earth Day Celebration
Atlantic Terminal Plaza, 139 Flatbush Ave., Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 18, noon – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Register in advance
Come together to celebrate our planet and spark creativity in the name of sustainability! At the Inventor’s Lab, explore the magic of simple machines and build new inventions using recycled and found materials with KoKo NYC.
Forces of Nature: Create, Move, and Renew
Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy., Prospect Park
Sunday, April 19, noon – 5 pm
All ages
Included with admission: $14 – $20; free for ages 19 and younger
Celebrate Earth Day with an afternoon of activities that explore our connection to the natural world. Move your body, engage your senses, and create and appreciate art that responds to the planet’s beauty, power, and fragility.
Brooklyn Bridge Park, 334 Furman St., DUMBO
Saturday, April 25, 11 am – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Join Brooklyn Bridge Park to celebrate Earth Day with special programming! There will be activities led by BBP’s horticulture and education teams, hands-on volunteer opportunities, talks and workshops including “Ask A Gardener” and “Build A Bird’s Nest”, fun crafts, partner activities, and more. There will also be a recycling collection for textiles, gently used books, gently used children’s clothing and toys, and e-waste.
Hoyt St. bet. Atlantic Ave. and State St., Cobble Hill
Saturday, April 25, noon – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Bring the family out to Hoyt Street for a plant giveaway, kids’ activities, education by The Nature Company, and great vibes. You can also chat with representatives from the New York City Department of Transportation.
Queens
Highland Park Earth Day Celebration
Highland Park, Jamaica Ave. and Elton St., Ridgewood
Saturday, April 18, noon – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Take part in some arts and crafts, planting, and tree stewardship activities to show our park some love.
Forest Park Earth Day Celebration
Sobelsohn Playground in Forest Park, Park Ln S., Richmond Hill
Sunday, April 19, 11 am – 1 pm
All ages
Free
Enjoy an afternoon filled with sustainable crafts, terrarium building, and tree-care activities.
Hillcrest Library, Queens Public Library, 18705 Union Tnpk., Flushing
Wednesday, April 22, 3 – 4 pm
Ages 5 – 8
Free
Join the Library for a story and art project celebrating Earth Day! Please wear clothes that they don’t mind getting paint on.
CLDC: Ms. Butterfly – Earth Day Everyday, Upcycle Suncatcher
Central Library, Queens Public Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica
Saturday, April 25, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Celebrate Earth Day every day with Ms. Butterfly in this creative Upcycle Suncatcher workshop! Participants will learn about caring for our planet while transforming everyday recycled materials into beautiful, light-catching art. Through hands-on crafting and gentle environmental lessons, explore how reusing materials can reduce waste and spark creativity. Take home a colorful suncatcher and a reminder that small actions can make a big difference for the Earth.
Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing
Sunday, April 26, 2 – 4 pm
All ages
$6
Join the Garden for instrument making, a parade, and a performance with Bash the Trash. This collective of musicians uses musical instruments created from trash to make connections to science, the environment, arts and culture, all while rocking the planet!
Staten Island
Earth Month Intro to Composting
Blue Heron Nature Center, 222 Poillon Ave., Annadale
Saturday, April 18, 11 am – 12:30 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn the basics of composting. You will learn how to start and maintain a compost bin as well as the different ways you can keep one in an urban setting. Then put those skills to the test and make your own bottle compost bin. Bring your own plastic bottle or they will be provided.
Earth Day Nature Hike at Ocean Breeze
Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex, 625 Father Capodanno Blvd., Ocean Breeze
Saturday, April 18, noon – 5 pm
All ages
Free
Join in a hike to celebrate Earth Day at Ocean Breeze with a hike led by the Urban Park Rangers! Participants will help beautify the park with a planting project throughout the nature walk. Ocean Breeze is home to many diverse plants, animals, and landscapes.
Little Movers Storytime: Happy Earth Day
Mariners Harbor Library, 206 South Ave., Mariners Harbor
Wednesday, April 22, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Ages 3 and younger
Free
Celebrate Earth Day with stories all about our planet! Read, sing songs, and get those wiggles out as you help your active child build important early learning skills. Discover ways to promote early literacy at home and meet other caregivers in the neighborhood.
NYPL Green: Happy Earth Day Recycled Earth Collages
Tottenville Library, 7430 Amboy Road, Tottenville
Wednesday, April 22, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Ages 6–12
Free
Drop in to create an Earth collage from recycled materials! Join staff from the Library for a fun and exciting program about recycling! Talk about reducing the effects of climate change by recycling!
Unitarian Church of Staten Island, 312 Fillmore St., Randall Manor
Saturday, April 25, 11 am – 4 pm
All ages
Free
All ages are welcome for a day filled with connection, creativity, and care for our planet. Enjoy a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, including live music, drum circle, crafts, games, and more.
Psst… Check Out 10 Best Free Kids & Family Activities in NYC
