Raleigh and the surrounding towns are rife with ways to support the planet and community this Earth Day.
Get your hands dirty by volunteering for cleanup and landscaping opportunities at local parks, share a workout outdoors with friends, or walk the red carpet at a sustainability-focused gala. Read on for all the ways to get out and give back.
Raleigh Arbor Day
Friday, April 19, 5–9 p.m.
Celebrate trees and the natural environment — and even take home a free seedling — at a jam-packed Arbor Day event at Dorothea Dix Park. Learn the proper way to plant a tree, how to grow native plants from seed, and how to make a rain barrel. Play trivia for a chance to win prizes. Watch a puppet parade, drum circle, or ceremonial dance. Ask an arborist your burning questions on a walk through the flower fields. Plus food trucks, crafts, and much more!
Wakaboomee Earth Day Gala
Wakaboomee Earth Day Gala
Saturday, April 20, 6–9 p.m.
Get glammed up for a night of dinner, live music, and inspiring speakers on the theme of Cultivating Change & Empowering Lives for a Sustainable Future at City Club Raleigh. The gala will also recognize nine individuals and three organizations for their commitment to sustainability. Arrive early to take photos on the red carpet beforehand.
Earth Day Extravaganza
Sunday, April 21
The Great Raleigh Cleanup and RALtoday are bringing a full day of activities to Moore Square. Start the day with a 2-mile fun run/walk through downtown or an Earth Day-themed yoga flow. Shop from environmentally conscious vendors at an Earth Day Market, complete with food trucks. Bring cuttings and seeds to The Greatest Plant Swap Ever, plus stop by the repotting station to give your plants an upgrade. And catch Wall-E on a big screen in the afternoon. You can also volunteer or donate to the event.
SustainabiliDAY
Saturday, Apr 20, 1–4 p.m.
Teach your kids how to support a greener future at Marbles Kids Museum. Learn about sustainable resources, practices, and careers through a number of fun activities.
Earth Day Cleanup
Monday, April 22, 1–4 p.m.
Volunteer to help NC State beautify its 75-acre Lake Raleigh, located on Centennial Campus, by picking up litter. All volunteers must attend a safety briefing at 1 p.m. and can stay to help with cleanup as long as they like. Start locations at the Lake Raleigh Fishing Pier and Park Alumni Center. Wear closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle. Gloves and supplies provided. RSVP requested.
Dix Park
Raleigh Parks Volunteer Sessions
various dates
Raleigh Parks lists volunteer opportunities on an easy-to-use signup platform. Sessions include helping greenhouse staff prep 23,000 pots for fall annuals, spreading mulch at local parks, taking photos of wildlife at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, removing invasive bamboo, and many other ways to beautify the town and support the local community.
Apex EarthFest
Saturday, April 20, noon to 4 p.m.
Celebrate the planet at an interactive community festival on the Apex Town Hall Campus. Bring broken household items like jewelry, toys, small appliances, or furniture and repair them with the help of a knowledgeable coach. Fill your belly from the low-waste food truck rodeo while you enjoy live and roving entertainment from the Asheville Cats, the Poetry Fox, and the Bubble Man. Do a recycled instrument activity with The Scrap Exchange or make recycled butterfly art.
Earth Day Lane at Spring Daze
Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival brings 170 North Carolina artists to Bond Park, plus food, cultural arts representatives, live entertainment on three stages, and more. Visit Earth Day Lane for garden and recycling tips, maps of local greenways, a compost bin giveaway, and even free trees.
Earth Day Film Series
Sunday, April 21, 2 p.m. & 5 p.m.
The Cary Theater will screen two documentaries that celebrate Mother Earth and the people working to preserve it. Inventing Tomorrow follows six high school competitors in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair as they develop innovative solutions for environmental problems in their communities. A panel discussion will follow the screening. Wild Life chronicles the journey of two conservationists as they work to establish national parks in Chile and Argentina after a career with Patagonia, The North Face, and Esprit. Reserve free tickets in advance.
Morrisville Earth Day
Saturday, April 20, 8 a.m. to noon
The Western Wake Farmers Market will include Earth Day activities and information on a theme of “Water You Know about H2O?” Get the kids involved in water cycle activities, a themed book list and activity from the Morrisville Community Library, and a passport book with raffle prizes for visiting educational booths. Learn about native and drought-resistant plants and how to attract pollinators to your garden. Bring a small vase to learn how to grow herbs in water at the Morrisville Education Garden booth.
