Earth Day is Sunday, April 22! We've got the lowdown on the best events across the state.
Since 1970, April 22 has officially been designated as a day to celebrate and take care of our beautiful planet. In an age where we have to worry about pollution affecting our air, water, and land, it is more important than ever to make a conscious effort to be considerate of our environment. Not only is doing this extremely important, it can also be therapeutic to come together and connect with nature and each other for the sake of our planet. And you can do just that with these Earth Day events happening all over the state of Virginia this month!
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The theme for Staunton's Earth Day celebration this year is "Plastic Pollution Solutions," and it will be held on April 21 at the Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand. The event will feature hands-on activities, face-painting, nature exhibits, live music, and other entertainment. The day will also include a Litter Challenge and an Earth Day March, as well as many more activities that will be held the following "Earth Week."
This free event will be held on April 21 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Winchester Brew Works. Local environmental organizations will present educational activities suitable for all ages. Come enjoy live music, yoga, food trucks, and of course, Winchester Brew Works' beer. In fact, a portion of beer sales will go towards the Independent School of Winchester's new solar array.
Happening on April 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Mount Trashmore Park, this celebration will be very heavily focused on recycling. Mount Trashmore itself is an impressive environmental feat, as it is a park centered around large hills made entirely of solid waste and soil. Bring old electronics, light fixtures, ceiling fans, documents, power tools, lumber, and more to be recycled, and then stay for some live music, food trucks, and dumpster painting!
The RVA Earth Day street festival is happening in downtown Manchester on April 21 from 12 to 7 p.m. This year, the festival will have nearly 20 food and drink vendors, four bands, and plenty of kids' activities. Over 50 community vendors focusing on eco-friendly living will be providing education and resources to help integrate earth-conscious habits into the community. Proceeds will go to Feed RVA, which is a nonprofit that gives Richmond communities access to locally grown food, as well as nutritional education.
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The Alexandria Earth Day Festival will have something for everyone on April 28. This year, it will be held at Lenny Harris Memorial Fields at Braddock Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People are encouraged to leave their cars at home for this event, and DASH will be offering free bus rides to and from the event. You will have the opportunity to earn an Earth Day Badge if you volunteer two or more hours. These hours can be earned by doing a variety of things, such as exhibiting at the event, organizing a drive, participating in the Potomac Watershed Cleanup, or volunteering at a local farmer's market, among many other things.
So get outside, enjoy the weather, and give back to your community and planet with these awesome events this Earth Day. What is your favorite way to celebrate the earth? Share with us in the comments!
