The first official Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, and was a day of nonviolent demonstration for a cleaner, healthier planet. Many consider that Earth Day to be the beginning of the modern environmental movement.
More than 50 years after the first Earth Day, it is still a time of environmental action 鈥� both locally and globally. Here are a handful of Earth Day events and activities happening in the D.C. area this weekend.
Arlington, Virginia
April 23: (9 a.m.-noon)
Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia, invites you to finish your spring cleaning by dropping off leftover hazardous materials like paints, pesticides and solvents, plus old electronics, metal, batteries, and more.
Also accepted: items containing Mercury, printer cartridges, and lighting fixtures. Unused bicycles are collected by for use as cheap, dependable transportation overseas.
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April 23: (9 a.m.-noon)
The annual event takes place on April 23 this year, which also coincides with National Picnic Day. EcoAction Arlington will have extra gloves on hand, all the trash and recycle bags needed, a First Aid Kit, extra masks and hand sanitizer.
For more information and to register, .
Alexandria, Virginia
April 23: (8 a.m.-9 a.m.)
This year is also the 150th anniversary of the first Arbor Day. Members of the Alexandria City Council will plant a tree at 411 King Street near City Hall and read their 2022 Earth Day proclamation at 8:30 a.m., just before their scheduled public meeting.
April 23-24:
At any of the area鈥檚 four major farmers markets, you can find Alexandria staff sharing everything you could want to know about how to begin composting in the area as well as free composting buckets while supplies last.
Visit .
Fairfax County, Virginia
April 23: (10-11 a.m.)
According to the website, you can 鈥淐elebrate Earth and say thanks with face painting, poetry, pictures and puppets! Make a special Earth Day craft and help us decorate a tree. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.鈥�
Green Spring Gardens
4603 Green Spring Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22312
Cost: $10 |
April 23: (2-4 p.m.)
Join others at Hidden Pond to learn about some of the ecological concerns in Fairfax County and what you can do about them. Make a craft using recycled materials, and help with a project to keep our park maintained.
Hidden Pond Nature Center
8511 Greeley Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22152
Cost: $9 | .
Wheaton, Maryland
April 23: (11 a.m.-5- p.m.)
Brookside Gardens will be hosting Montgomery County’s GreenFest on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is one of the county’s largest Earth Day festivals. Some activities include:
- Face painting and children鈥檚 activities
- Interactive musical petting zoo and games
- Kids’ tree climbing
- Plant and tree giveaways
- Green Arts & Crafts Fair
- Over 60 exhibitors featuring environmental nonprofits
- Children鈥檚 yoga
- Electric vehicle and car show: World鈥檚 first electric truck (Rivian) will be on display!
- Food trucks (vegan options available)
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D.C.
April 23: (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Join and the Green Realtor, Sidney Aquino in a rally to raise awareness against unnecessary killing of trees in your local communities and a global end to deforestation.
Freedom Plaza
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C., 20001
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April 23: (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Join for Earth Day Service at Theodore Roosevelt Island on April 23, a day of cleanup and preventing litter from entering the Potomac so the national river can remain beautiful.
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