Earth Day 2023: Ways to Celebrate our Earth

Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of taking care of and celebrating our Earth every day. Earth Day 2023 is this Saturday, April 22, and there are lots of fun ways to celebrate. Happenings this week include:  

City of Houston’s Earth Day HTX
The City of Houston is hosting Earth Day HTX 2023 downtown this Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m., including demonstrations, hands-on activities, displays, food, and interactive booths showing city initiatives. Leading up to the Earth Day Festival, the City of Houston is hosting a fascinating speaker series. 

Children’s Museum’s Earth Rocks WonderWeek
Children’s Museum Houston is offering a week full of Earth-themed activities for kids, including Recycled Gardens, Earth Day Fans, Recycling Wheel, and more. Activities will be available Tuesday-Sunday at the museum. 

Celebration: Earth 2023 at HMNS 
HMNS is celebrating Earth Day all month long in April with special exhibits, tours, and activities that raise awareness about the issues affecting our environment and what we can do to continue to protect the Earth. Various lectures and activities are available virtually - enjoy from home. The Gaia – Earth installation by Luke Jerram continues through May 1. This 23-foot diameter sculpture floats above your head in Glassell Hall. On the big screen, learn about the Great Barrier Reef, Death of the Dinosaurs, and more. In addition, the Cockrell Butterfly Center recently reopened! 

Pollinator Walk Along Buffalo Bayou
Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other creatures transfer pollen among flowers, enabling the incredible diversity of plants on our planet to flower and fruit. Dr. Gabriela Sosa, BBP’s Conservation Manager, and Brandi Keller from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, will lead visitors on a walk to identify those native plants and flowers that attract the necessary pollinators that the Buffalo Bayou ecosystem relies on. The walk takes place Saturday, 9-10:30 a.m. and is $5/person.

Earth Day Events at Houston Botanic Garden
Houston Botanic Garden is hosting a full day of educational programs on Earth Day, including: “How to Heal Our Planet: Tools to Combat Climate Change by Shifting Perspectives” (10-11:30 a.m.); “Save the Earth with Citizen Science: There Are Apps for That” (2-4 p.m.); Demystifying Mosquitoes: Buzzzz on Houston’s Most Dangerous Animal Foe (5-6 p.m.). Explore the beautiful garden to immerse yourself in nature, and visit Steve Tobin’s Intertwined: Exploring Nature’s Networks for sculptures by the world-renowned artist. 

Celebrate Earth Day at the Houston Arboretum on April 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Earth Day 2023 at the Houston Arboretum
The Houston Arboretum’s Earth Day celebration, sponsored by Champion Energy Services, takes place on Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet some real local superheroes: wildland firefighters, park rangers, wildlife rehabilitators, and other incredible conservation professionals. Enjoy interactive booths, nature hikes, fun displays in the Discovery Room, and learn how to be a hero for our planet. Special guest Smokey Bear will be on site with Texas A&M Forest Service. Food trucks Mesquite Wood-fired Pizza and Berry’s Ices will be in attendance as well.

Evelyn’s Park's Picnic in the Park and Earth Day Celebration
Celebrate Earth Day and Evelyn's Park’s 6th Anniversary at Picnic in the Park on Saturday, 12-4 p.m. Highlights include a free 5,000 seedling giveaway donated by Trees For Houston; a community rock painting project hosted by The City of Bellaire Arts Board; Crush the Can activity hosted by The City of Bellaire Environmental Sustainability Board, who will provide recycling education; The Outliers Band live at the Gilman Subaru Southwest Entertainment Zone; T2 Dance and Instruction; F45 Training Central Houston exercise challenges; crafts; BubbleLick flavored edible bubbles; Tie Dye Shirts; Scavenger Hunts at theAlice and Wonderland Move One On Sculpture; face painting; vendors; birthday-cake cutting; and more.

Discovery Green Conservancy, in partnership with Citizens Environmental Coalition, hosts this year’s Green Mountain Energy Earth Day, combined with the popular Houston Public Works’ Water Works Festival. The free event will take place on Saturday, April 22, from 12 – 5 p.m. and feature live music, performances, interactive exhibits, and more. (Photo: Morris Malakoff)‍

Green Mountain Energy Earth Day and Houston Public Works’ Water Works Festival
Discovery Green Conservancy, in partnership with Citizens Environmental Coalition, hosts this year’s Green Mountain Energy Earth Day, combined with the popular Houston Public Works’ Water Works Festival. The free event will take place on Saturday, April 22, from 12 – 5 p.m. and feature live music, performances, interactive exhibits, and mor. This year’s Green Mountain Energy Earth Day is themed around one of the most vital natural resources, water. The event will also feature a bike valet service and an electric vehicle petting zoo with the world’s first electric vehicle, the Mars Rover. Visitors will enjoy a Magpies and Peacocks fashion exhibit made from Trash Recycled materials, Mad Science demonstrations, photo opportunities, and chalk painting. Other speakers include environmental justice activist, Hilton Kelley and Space City Weather journalist, Eric Berger. Lacy Johnson, co-editor of More City than Water, and other writers will be on site collecting flood, storm and water stories from Houstonians. Food trucks will be on-site selling food and drink. This free event will be zero-waste, and patrons are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles and utensils; exhibitors will ensure waste is minimized by only providing reusable or compostable items.

Earth Day Celebration at Memorial Park
Join for an Earth Day celebration at Memorial Park’s Eastern Glades on Saturday, 6-9:30 p.m. The evening will include educational activities for kids, food trucks, and a children’s story time. Once the sun sets, there will be a screening of the nature documentary Deep in the Heart, focusing on the incredible nature found throughout the state of Texas.

Find more upcoming events on our online event calendar.