Earth Day 2021: Restore Our Earth

Celebrate Earth Day all year long! A small action, like picking up litter, can have a big impact. (Photo courtesy of Active Passion)

For more than 50 years, Earth Day has been a yearly reminder of environmental conservation and has celebrated giving back to our planet. Earth Day 2021 takes place Thurs., April 22 and this year's theme is Restore Our Earth. Below, find ideas of how to celebrate Earth Day in our communities. 

Planting Palooza
City of Bellaire
All month
In a city-wide effort to renew and revitalize the horticulture in the City of Bellaire, the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department will host Planting Palooza the month of April. Help keep Bellaire healthy and full of life by participating in a event hosted by community partners, including the Bellaire City Library, Nature Discovery Center, and Evelyn’s Park. To get involved, share your projects, or for more information, contact [email protected]. Get started right away by entering in the Planting Palooza Coloring Contest (deadline: April 23). Upcoming events include Outdoor Explorers on April 15 from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Nature Discovery Center and Walk on the Wild Side on April 17 from 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. at the Nature Discovery Center. Find details and upcoming events here. 

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Earth Day celebration includes nature hikes, Earth-friendly take-home activities, and more. This free event is open to all and no registration is necessary. (Photo courtesy of Houston Arboretum)

Earth Day Celebration at Houston Arboretum
4501 Woodway Dr.
Houston, TX 77024
April 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Celebrate Earth Day at the Arboretum. Explore informative booths, nature hikes, fun displays in the Discovery Room, and Earth-friendly take-home activities at this free event. Check out their website and social media for more ways to celebrate our beautiful Earth the whole month long.

Trees for Houston Giveaway 
2001 W 34th St.
Houston, TX 77018
April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
To celebrate Earth Day, Trees for Houston is giving away 1000 trees for free. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or while supplies last. The pickup process will be an easy and quick drive-through process. Open the trunk of your car or unlock the back seat and choose between American Sycamore, Arrowwood Viburnum, Crape Myrtle, Red Maple, Redbud, and White Oak. Then, the tree will be loaded into the car. 

Celebrate Earth Day at Discovery Green! (Photo courtesy of Discovery Green)

Earth Day presented by Green Mountain Energy at Discovery Green
1500 McKinney
Houston, Texas 77010
April 18, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
On the Anheuser-Busch stage, a series of short films will be shown from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. For the last hour of the event, a panel discussion on The Nexus of Energy, Climate, and Equity in Houston will be held. Don’t worry if you cannot attend in-person, the panel discussion will also be streamed virtually. Churrascos and Urban Harvest food trucks will be serving food for the extend of the afternoon and local artists will be completing murals that celebrate and display the diverse and rich community in Houston. 

Party for the Planet at the Houston Aquarium
410 Bagby St.
Houston, TX 77002
April 22, 10 a.m.-4p.m.
Party at the Houston Aquarium for Earth Day. With the regular price of admission, join the Downtown Aquarium for a new and exciting activity, exhibit, or scavenger hunt every half hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hope Farms and MFAH will host an art class to celebrate Earth Day and encourage kids to get creative and passionate about the earth. (Photo courtsey of Hope Farms)

Children’s Art Class at Hope Farms 
10401 Scott St. 
Houston, Texas 77051
April 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Recipe for Success Foundation and Museum of Fine Arts Houston have teamed up for a children’s art class at Hope Farms. This 1-hour art class will be taught by Raquel Garcia del Real, programs coordinator of MFAH. The class, inspired by the museum’s Hockney Van Gogh exhibit, will have students creating vibrant landscapes with pencils and pastels. Stick around after the class to explore Hope Farms and learn more about growing your own food sustainably. The class is free, but requires registration prior to the event.

Pick up Litter On the Go, or plog, along the Bayou with Active Passion to celebrate Earth Day. (Photo courtesy of Active Passion)

Earth Day Plogging at Active Passion
803 Usener St.
Houston, TX 77009
April 24, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Each Saturday, Active Passion hosts a community 5k fun run. Once a quarter, the fun run becomes a plog (which stands for Pick up Litter On the Go). The run begins at Active Passion and heads to the White Oak Bayou trail. Runners are asked to pick up as much litter as they can along the 5k route. The event is open to all, and ploggers receive an in-store discount at Active Passion. Trash bags and gloves are provided. Social distancing measures will be in place and masks are available.

Clean & Green Program with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Year round, Buffalo Bayou Partnership is committed to keeping the Bayou clean. Trash, litter, and pollutants not only negatively impact the ecosystem of the bayou but also affect the appearance of the waterway. Five days a week, BBP’s Field Operations and community volunteers clear litter and debris from the waterway. Houstonians can choose to participate in this program anytime. 

Editor's note: Read more about plogging here. Find more upcoming events on our online calendar here.