The Earth Day Festival of Service 2026 is part of The Walls Project’s Reactivation Program and reflects a long-term commitment to youth ownership, environmental literacy, and civic participation.
It’s in honor of Earth Day, which is officially on Wednesday, April 22.
The event is happening on Saturday, April 18, at Mill City in South Dallas and will host more than 200 community partners for a full day of activities to bring together thousands of people to volunteer through hands-on education, beautify their neighborhoods, and more.
The event will include free food, tree giveaways, a new mural installation at Mill City Teaching Farm, and a kickball festival.
Also at the event will be the Seniors Serving Seniors initiative. Rival football seniors from Lincoln High School, James Madison High School, and South Oak Cliff High School will band together to distribute fresh produce for older adults in South Dallas.
“Seniors Serving Seniors is a simple but powerful idea—bring student athletes together to serve the elders of their community and, in doing so, reshape how they see one another,” Paul Franklin, Head of Dallas Community Outreach for The Walls Project, said. “More than a community service effort, this initiative is a proactive approach to reducing senseless violence. When students serve side by side, they form real relationships that follow them beyond the program. The next time that they encounter one another, they don’t see an enemy; they see someone they’ve worked with, laughed with, and stood beside in service.”
The event will also feature wellness experiences for older adults and fresh fruit giveaways.