You probably need no reminder that Earth Day celebrations are this weekend. But maybe you’re looking for some ideas on how to celebrate in a meaningful way with other people. The Bay Area is jam packed with Earth Day celebrations this year, and we’ve got the roundup for you.
Saturday, April 20th
North Bay:
Plant a Seed to Feed those in Need, Novato
9.30am- 12pm, free
Volunteer to help maintain Homeward Bound’s garden at the New Beginnings Center. The food cultivated will feed the homeless and support the Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, Homeward Bounds job training program. Please bring gardening gloves, a water bottle, and any small shovels/hand trowels you own. Please register here.
San Francisco:
San Francisco Civic Center Earth Day Festival
10am – 6pm, free
Celebrate Earth Day in the heart of North America’s “greenest city”- San Francisco. Activities include: sustainability discussions and workshops, DIY activities, eco art and fashion exhibits and plenty of activities for the kids.
San Francisco Community Clean Team
9am – 12pm, free
Join San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor London Breed, and the Community Clean Team to clean and green the center of San Francisco in District 5. Volunteers will plant trees, work on landscaping and gardening projects, paint over graffiti, and help clean up litter around the neighborhood.
9am- 12pm, free
The weather’s supposed to be great, so spend the day on Ocean Beach cleaning up litter. Free Peet’s Coffee will be provided for all volunteers. Please register online before hand.
East Bay:
9am- 12pm, free
The Berkeley Shoreline needs your help. Meet at the Shorebird Park Nature Center for a brief safety talk followed by directions to various clean up sites. Please call: 510- 981- 6720 or email naturecenter@cityofberkeley.info to register.
Emeryville Earth Day Shoreline clean up
9am- 12pm, free
Head over to Emeryville to tackle the Shorebird Park shoreline, Point Emery Park shoreline and everywhere in between. Meet at Shorebird Park/Chevy’s Parking Lot (on the I- 80 frontage road by the Watergate Office Towers).
9am- 1.30pm, free
Register to join one of the many work party groups to clean up El Cerrito. Past projects have included pulling weeds at Baxter creek, removing invasive scotch broom from the Hillside Nature area, and picking up litter along Ohlone Greenway. Work parties will conclude with a free lunch at the El Cerrito Community Center from 12pm- 1.30pm for all volunteers. Register here.
Earth Day at Richardson Bay Audubon Center
9.00am- 1.00pm, free
Celebrate Earth Day by bringing your family and friends for a morning of naturalist led explorations, bird watching, restoration and clean-up. Please bring a re-useable water bottle, gloves and bucket if available. To RSVP please call Wendy Dalia on, (415) 388- 2524 or email: wdalia@audubon.org
Join hundreds of volunteers to clean and green Oakland. This is one of the largest events in the Bay Area. More than 80 parks, recreation centers, creeks and waterways are participating in this year’s clean up. Activities include weeding, picking up litter and lots more ways to get your hands dirty. Visit the website for a full list and to sign up.
Martinez Earth Day at the John Muir National Historic Site
10am- 4pm, parking and admission free
The boyhood home of naturalist John Muir, a federal historic site, will host this year’s Martinez Earth Day celebrations. The house grounds will feature more than 50 educational exhibit booths, live entertainment, self guided tours and a presentation from Gary Bogue, wildlife columnist for the Contra Costa Times.
Alameda Earth Day Festival in Washington Park
10am- 3pm, free
Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint by building a clean, healthy and sustainable community at Alameda’s Earth Day festival. Start out with a beach cleanup at Crab Cove Visitor Center from 8:30-10 am. Then head over to Washington Park for Scout-led activities and projects, farm-fresh produce vendors and educational exhibits. Special events include an Upcycling Team Sculpting Contest from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sunday, April 21st
North Bay:
11am- 5pm, free
At Earth Day Marin, you’ll hear inspiring speakers, meet local community groups and pick up your copy of Bay Nature from our very own table! At 5pm, check out the new showing of “Do the Math,” a 350.org film about the growing climate movement. The event will be held at Redwood High School, 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur.
San Francisco:
11am- 5pm, activities included in museum admission
Create a mural to spread environmental awareness, watch artists create natural masterpieces and see live presentations, exhibitions and workshops about the animals and environments you know and love.
East Bay:
Berkeley Earth Day Open Garden
10am- 1pm, free
Interested in urban gardening and garden education in the East Bay? Visit a diverse array of local community and school gardens open to the public on Earth Day. The day will feature self-guided tours with handouts provided to explain the history of each garden.
Lafayette’s 8th Annual Earth Day Celebrations
11am- 3pm, free
Enjoy a community lunch with food from local vendors, listen to live music in an outdoor amphitheater, get inspired by local groups and learn how to reduce Lafayette’s waste.
Peninsula:
CuriOdyssey, San Mateo Earth Day program
12pm- 5pm, free with admission
The celebrations start with a 10am clean up of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Afterward, head over to the museum for hands-on activities and experiments. Experiment with scientific instruments, learn about honeybees, watch falcons fly, and more.
Saturday, April 27
North Bay
8am- 4pm, free
Santa Rosa is putting on an Earth Day festiva, starting with a park and creek clean up at Prince Memorial Greenway and Juilliard Park followed by a celebration at 12pm at Courthouse Square that will include local food vendors, live entertainment, local environmental organizations and volunteering opportunities.
East Bay
9:00 am – 12:30 pm, free
Have fun cleaning up the Albany shoreline. Help pick up litter along the waterfront, create fun art with objects found, and learn about efforts to protect our watersheds. Tools and gloves will be provided, but if possible bring your own. Refreshments provided. Meet at the Albany waterfront, at the end of Buchanan Street.
This list is by no means complete. Keep looking for your Earth Day event here.
Alessandra Bergamin is a Bay Nature editorial volunteer.
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