Earth Day: Find activities to celebrate the Earth and help clean up the environment

Staff reports
Updated ·6 min read

Earth Day is April 22. Find activities here to celebrate the Earth and clean up the environment on Earth Day and in the days leading up to it.

Earth Day Cleanup & Social: 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. April 22, Explore Asheville, with support from Asheville GreenWorks and RiverLink will host its inaugural Earth Day cleanup event, encouraging local businesses to contribute two to three staff members. The program includes a one-hour cleanup, and a post-cleanup social. Participants can choose to clean in one of five neighborhoods, including downtown, West Asheville, Amboy Road, River Arts District and South Slope. Participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and an invite to a post-cleanup social with local brews and light bites. For further details and registration visit 2024 Explore Asheville Travel & Hospitality Earth Day Cleanup Tickets, Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite.

Earth Day Festival: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 17, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Victoria Road. Environmental booths, drum circle, photo booth, t-shirts, flower pot painting, puppet making, lunch, T-shirts, parade. Also a Hard to Recycle collection.

Upcycle Art Auction and Creative Reuse: Exhibit opening and reception 5-8 p.m. April 18, Madison County Arts Council, 90 S. Main St., Marshall. Daily viewing and bidding April 18-27, Monday-Saturday. Bids taken online April 24-27. Visit https://chcmadisoncountync.org/reclaim/upcycle-auction/.

Hendo Earth Fest: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20 in downtown Hendersonville with exhibits and music. Visitors are encouraged to bike to the event where Blue Ridge Bicycle Club will offer free bike checking services. Email Ann Twiggs at hville3twiggs@gmail.com to volunteer.

Ride your bike to Hendo Earth Fest
Ride your bike to Hendo Earth Fest

Earth Day Fair: 9 a.m.-noon April 20, Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Drive, Asheville (Enka). Environmental education workshops, free eco-crafting, bird house and feeder building activities, greenhouse effect activity and more. Free.

A Family Earth Day Celebration: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 20, Kanuga Conference Center, 130 Kanuga Chapel Drive, Hendersonville. Featuring performances by Billy Jonas at 1 p.m. and Free Planet Radio at 3:30 p.m., canoeing, hiking and other outdoor activities, food for purchase. $15, free age 12 and younger. Visit www.kanuga.org/earthday.

Earth Day 5K and One Mile Fun Run: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 20, The Outpost at Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road, Asheville. Event supports Green Built Alliance's programs that promote sustainability and serve the community. Post-race celebration and awards ceremony. Booths from sponsors and local environmental organizations. Virtual 5K also available. $30-$40. Register at www.adventuresignup.com or https://www.greenbuilt.org/earthday5k/.

Earth Day Clean Up: 9 a.m.-noon April 20, Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Park Road, Arden. Call (828) 250-4260 or email parks@buncombecounty.org.

Haywood Road clean up: 10 a.m.-noon April 20, New Belgium Brewing, 21 Craven St., Asheville. Breakfast and post-clean up rewards. Sign in at New Belgium Brewing at 10 a.m., grab some breakfast, receive instructions and gear, and head out as a group to pick up trash along Haywood Road and side streets. Visit www.ashevillegreenworks.org. Plant sale follows the clean up.

To participate in Earth Day, join a group to pick up roadside litter. In this file photo, volunteers pick up litter along Hayes Run Road in Marshall in Madison County.
To participate in Earth Day, join a group to pick up roadside litter. In this file photo, volunteers pick up litter along Hayes Run Road in Marshall in Madison County.

Great Madison County Litter Sweep Contest: April 13-27. $3,500 in prize money for helping keep roadsides in Madison County litter free. Create a team of 4+ people. Group members must be residents of Madison County and age 12 and older. Awards ceremony at 3 p.m. April 28 at Laurel Community Center. Call (828) 656-2845 to sign up, choose a location and get supplies. Visit www.facebook.com/littersweepmcnc.

Drive Electric Earth Day: Noon-4 p.m. April 21, Tanger Outlets, 800 Brevard Road, Asheville. Share your experience and/or show your electric vehicle. Electric cars, electric bikes, solar energy. Ride an E-Bike, take a ride in your favorite EV, learn from owners of EVs, get the latest information about solar energy, battery storage and tax credits. Hosted by Blue Ridge EV Club. Bring food to donate to Loving Food Resources pantry. Visit www.driveelectricearthmonth.org.

Running of the Goats 5K and Nature Walk: 7:30-10 a.m. April 21, WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Several options for runners and walkers. Post-race party, contests, swag. Register at www.wildwnc.org/runwild. After April 19, register in person at the event.

Earth Day interfaith worship service: 4 p.m. April 21, Transylvania County Library's amphitheater, 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard. Hymns and songs that celebrate creation, scripture readings about caring for God’s creation and a presentation by church youth groups. After the service participants are invited to stay for fellowship and discussion about the significance of Earth Day in this community at a bring-your-own picnic. For more information, contact Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at (828) 883-3680 or email lcgs@comporium.net.

Goodwill is going plastic bag-free: As of April 22 Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina is celebrating Earth Day by no longer offering plastic shopping bags. The first 25 shoppers this day will receive a free reusable tote bag with purchase. Reusable bags will be sold for $1.29.

Earth Day Celebration: 5-7 p.m. April 22, The Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Ave., Asheville. MountainTrue volunteers receive a complimentary drink. Homeowners or business owners can bring in their power bill for one complimentary drink ticket on behalf of Sugar Hollow Solar. Food available from The Funkatorium. Visit www.mountaintrue.org.

Take & Make Kit: Earth Day Papier Mache Hot Air Balloon: Available April 22 at all Haywood County Public Library branches, while supplies last. Make a mini hot air balloon craft using mostly recyclable materials to celebrate Earth Day. All supplies included. Ideal for elementary-aged students. For more information, contact Sara Reiser at sara.reiser@haywoodcountync.gov or call (828) 356-2511.

Planet vs. Plastics: Earth Day Press Conference: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 22, Silverline Park, 1050 Riverside Drive, Woodfin. Local elected officials from Buncombe County, City of Asheville and towns of Black Mountain, Weaverville and Woodfin join forces with community advocates to address the urgent issue of plastic pollution. Local leaders will unveil new proclamations committing their jurisdictions to phase out plastic bags, single-use plastics and Styrofoam. They will also call on residents and businesses to reduce their plastic footprint.

Arbor Day event: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 26, Sand Hill Community Orchard at Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle, Asheville. Installation of 10 new fruit trees 10 a.m.-noon. Councilwoman Kim Roney will read the Arbor Day proclamation from the City of Asheville and check presentation from sponsors Duke Energy and ArborZen noon-12:30 p.m.

There are some practical ways to teach your kids how to celebrate Earth Day every day.
There are some practical ways to teach your kids how to celebrate Earth Day every day.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Earth Day: Activities to celebrate the Earth and clean up environment