Earth Day
2013

“We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”
– Pope John Paul II

Events

Earth Day was conceived in 1969 by Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wisconsin, and his assistant Dennis Hayes, after a trip they took to Santa Barbara following the devastating oil spill off the Southern California coast. According to legend, the men were so outraged by what they saw that upon returning to Washington, D.C., Nelson introduced a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the Earth. The date was chosen to help commemorate the birth of famed naturalist and conservationist John Muir, who was born on April 21, 1838.

It’s estimated that 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day in 1970. By the year 2000, formal events celebrating Earth Day were being observed in 184 countries, and more than 500 million people participated in those events.

This year marks the 43rd observance of Earth Day. Events are planned throughout the month of April – and even into May -- in dozens of communities throughout California. (Note: Please contact event organizers to confirm information provided in this listing.)

Statewide

• The California State Parks Foundation seeks volunteers to help clean up and restore dozens of state parks throughout California on Saturday, April 13. This annual parks restoration program is now in its 16th year. Register online by April 8 at earthday@calparks.org.
• Celebrate Earth Day (April 22) with free admission at any of the nearly 400 national parks. Park admission fees are being waived April 22-26 for the annual observance of National Park Week.

Bay Area

• Alameda: Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint by attending the city’s annual Earth Day Festival in Washington Park. This year’s event runs 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. Learn how to build a clean, healthy sustainable community. The event will feature Scout-led activities and projects, kids’ activities, farm-fresh produce vendors, educational exhibits, entertainment, and more. Special events include an Upcycling Team Sculpting Contest from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and a beach cleanup at Crab Cove Visitor Center, 1252 McKay Ave., from 8:30-10 a.m.
• Berkeley: A holistic celebration of Earth Day is the inspiration for the 3rd annual Berkeley Vegan Earth Day celebration from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way. The event will feature speakers, films, exhibitors, workshops, eco-art, food demonstrations, an eco-chef competition, and more. Learn about the benefits and savings from adhering to a vegan diet. The program is sponsored by the San Francisco Vegetarian Society. Admission is limited to 300 people; paid admission required (discounted tickets sold in advance from the website).
• Berkeley: Celebrate the Earth Day message by helping to spruce up Shorebird Park on Saturday, April 20, beginning at 9 a.m. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Shorebird Park Nature Center, 160 University Ave., for a safety briefing and for directions to the cleanup area. Register for the cleanup by calling (415) 981-6720 or by e-mail at naturecenter@cityofberkeley.info.
• Castro Valley: Residents are invited to participate in a community cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27. The Castro Valley Sanitary District has identified five cleanup project sites: the city’s senior center, Adobe Park, Cull Canyon Recreation Area, Castro Valley Creek, and the city’s BART parking lot. Cleanup projects get under way at 9 a.m.; participants will be treated to a continental breakfast. Separately, a large-item recycling and compost giveaway will operate from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Canyon Middle School. Used mattresses and tires will be accepted for recycling, and residents can drop off up to 10 bankers boxes filled with documents for shredding. Three 1-cubic-yard bags of compost (to Castro Valley residents or business owners only) will be given away while supplies last.
• Cupertino: Learn about the latest in sustainability and protecting the environment at the 5th annual Earth Day and Arbor Day Festival from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 6, in Civic Center Plaza. Join more than 100 nonprofit and business partners in exploring new and fun ways to help create a healthy, safe, and environmentally vibrant community. The event will feature hands-on activities, educational exhibits and presentations, live entertainment, food truck sampling, and more.
• El Cerrito: Celebrate the spirit of Earth Day with a community cleanup on Saturday, April 20. Those interested in participating are asked to register in advance, either online or by visiting the Environmental Services Division at City Hall. Work parties will fan out across the city from 9 a.m. until noon; volunteers and their families are then invited to return to the El Cerrito Community Center for a free lunch.
• Emeryville: The city’s biggest celebration of the year is a tribute to the environmental message of Earth Day, and it will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in Doyle-Hollis Park. The event will feature educational and environmental exhibits, live music and entertainment, an eco-art exhibition, food and drink, children’s activities, a climbing wall, an e-waste collection site, and more.
• Fremont: Washington Hospital and the City of Fremont invite all to the “Let’s Go Green Together” program, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in the hospital’s Conrad Anderson Auditorium, 2500 Mowry Ave. Learn about recycling, waste reduction, composting, and sustainability. The event will include a farmers market, children’s games and crafts, and more. Fremont residents can stop by to safely dispose of medical sharps, unwanted/expired medications, old eyeglasses and mercury thermometers. Free shredding will be available for your old confidential documents.
• Lafayette: Family-friendly activities and educational exhibits will be part of the 8th annual Earth Day Picnic and Celebration, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. The event will feature educational and vendor booths, an environmental film, a Self-Propelled Parade, and an array of kids’ activities.
• Larkspur: Partake in a “Climate Change Solutions Day of Action” during Earth Day Marin 2013. This year’s event runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Redwood High School, 395 Doherty Drive. This free family-friendly event will feature speakers, educational and environmental exhibits, hands-on activities, comedy, live entertainment, food booths, haiku, and Greenwood School’s Sea Party Fest for Kids. Free raffle tickets will reward your climate change actions during the event.
• Los Altos Hills: Westwind Community Barn will play host to the city’s annual Earth Day celebration from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Wildlife Associates will present the popular educational animal presentations, featuring a North American porcupine, great horned owl, sloth, lynx, and alligator. The event will feature a number of educational and environmental exhibit booths, an electric vehicle display, and a chance to do some “green shopping.” Reduce your carbon footprint by walking, biking, or carpooling to the event and by bringing a reusable water bottle.
• Martinez: The boyhood home of naturalist John Muir, a federal historic site, will host the city’s annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It was Muir’s birthdate (April 21) that influenced the day selected for this annual global salute to the environment, and the Martinez event includes a John Muir birthday celebration, complete with free slices of birthday cake for attendees. The Muir House grounds will feature more than 50 educational exhibit booths, live entertainment, a fashion show featuring clothing created from recycled materials, junior ranger activities, children’s activities, food booths, self-guided tours of the historic Muir home, silent auctions, and more. Gary Bogue, a longtime wildlife columnist for the Contra Costa Times newspaper, will be keynote speaker.
• Menlo Park: Save the Bay and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are co-sponsoring their annual Earth Day work party at Ravenswood Pond, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 20. Volunteers are needed to help clear out invasive species as part of an ongoing effort to protect, restore, and celebrate San Francisco Bay. No experience necessary. Gloves, tools and instruction are provided. Each event is led by Save the Bay staff certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid, and all site projects have been planned to ensure safety. Due to the sensitive nature of the restoration site, space is limited and RSVPs are requested.
• Napa: Celebrate the spirit of Earth Day at the annual festival sponsored by the Environmental Education Coalition of Napa County. This year’s celebration runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in downtown Napa. The event will feature family-friendly games and activities, live entertainment, lunch and beverages sold by local providers, a beer/wine garden, and vendor/educational booths. Free bike valet parking available on Main Street near First Street. Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it for free at the event’s water station (bottled water will not be offered for sale during the event).
• Oakland: Learn about renewable energy sources as well as hidden power from the Galaxy Explorers in a series of special Earth Day activities planned for Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd. The programs are included in the center’s regular admission fee.
• Oakland: Enjoy environmental activities, special kids’ events, animal exhibits and more when the Oakland Zoo presents its annual salute to Earth Day with a Party for the Planet program on Saturday, April 13, with events offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The zoo grounds will feature more than 50 earth stations and demonstrations, booths hosted by dozens of environmental nonprofit organizations, face painting, and more. Bring an old cell phone for recycling and receive a free ticket to ride the zoo’s train.
• Oakland: In the spirit of Earth Day, help spruce up the city at one of about 100 community cleanup and beautification projects from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20. Details are available on the city’s website.
• Oakland: Learn all about the birds of Lake Merritt during a special Earth Day program sponsored by the Junior Center of Art and Science on Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. “Birds of a Feather” will include hands-on workshops, face-painting, art activities for all ages, and a chance to meet the animals. Paid admission required; discount tickets are available by registering in advance.
• Pacific Grove: Learn about the environment during an Earth Day work party from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Asilomar Conference Center. California State Parks is donating 100 Monterey Pine tree seedlings to plant in the local community. Volunteers will learn about the native ecology that thrives in the coastal dunes and forest preserve while helping to plant the seedlings. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. Sign up for the event at www.volunteermontereycounty.org
• Palo Alto: Film projects focusing on environmental stewardship and actions that can minimize environmental impacts are being sought by organizers of the city’s annual Greenlight Earth Day Film Festival. There are three entry categories: students in grades 6-8, students in grades 9-12, and an “open” category for students and adults of all ages. An eco-fashion show, featuring student-designed and -modeled eco-fashions, will be presented during intermission. The fashion designs will illustrate inspirational ways to repurpose and reuse a variety of items into wearable clothing. The Greenlight Film Festival will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Cubberly Theater, 4000 Middlefield Road.
• Palo Alto: Save the Bay and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are co-sponsoring their annual Earth Day work party at Palo Alto Baylands, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Volunteers are needed to help clear out invasive species as part of an ongoing effort to protect, restore, and celebrate San Francisco Bay. No experience is necessary. Gloves, tools, and instruction will be provided. Each event is led by Save the Bay staff certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid, and all site projects have been planned to ensure safety. Due to the sensitive nature of the restoration site, space is limited and RSVPs are requested.
• Redwood City: The Marine Science Institute hosts its annual Earth Day on the Bay from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The family-friendly event promotes awareness of marine life along with an appreciation of the environment. The event will feature ocean-related arts and crafts, an environmental information fair, special aquarium events (including a shark feeding), live entertainment, and more. Two-hour educational tours of San Francisco Bay aboard the Institute’s 90-foot research vessel “Robert G. Brownlee” will be offered for an additional fee.
• San Francisco: Educational displays and programs will be part of an Earth Day Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. There will be educational displays from local environmental businesses and organizations, hands-on crafts projects featuring upcycled recycled materials, information about how to establish an urban rooftop garden, and more. Food booths will showcase locally grown organic foods.
• San Francisco: The Bay Area Rapid Transit District will celebrate Earth Day and its 40th year of service to Bay Area commuters with its annual Blue Sky Festival, scheduled for Friday, April 19, in Justin Herman Plaza at the Embarcadero. The free event runs 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and will feature live entertainment and dozens of information and vendor booths featuring businesses, public agencies, and nonprofit groups that provide green products and services.
• San Francisco: Volunteers are needed for a special Earth Day beach cleanup at Ocean Beach from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 20. Peet’s Coffee is providing free beverages for workers. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is encouraging pre-registration for this event. The Conservancy is also sponsoring habitat restoration projects on April 20 at Lands End and Fort Funston Nursery and is seeking volunteers to help with those activities, too.
• San Francisco: Civic Center Plaza will host the annual San Francisco Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Spread out over the plaza’s several blocks will be scores of educational booths, guest speaker stages, workshops, multiple entertainment venues, sustainable foods cooking demonstrations, an eco-village, youth activity zones, a fashion show featuring Earth-friendly materials, art exhibits, food and beverage vendors, a wide range of programs focusing on sustainability and environmental concerns, and more. Organizers say the event focuses on local and planetary challenges and will help attendees learn how to integrate sustainable practices in their everyday activities.
• San Francisco: A full week of activities to celebrate Earth Day will be presented April 20-27 at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The Earth Week programs range from live chats with scientists, hands-on activities, special film screenings, nature walks, family nature crafts, and a “little naturalist” program designed for children ages 3-5. For the more ambitious, the Academy will offer a two-day conservation photography workshop for people 18 on April 20-21 and older that includes a Saturday afternoon workshop at the Academy and an all-day Sunday field trip to the Point Reyes National Seashore. (Workshop tickets sold in advance.)
• San Francisco: Volunteers are needed for two habitat restoration projects in Golden Gate Park from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 27, as part of the city’s Earth Day celebrations. Both projects are being coordinated by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, and advance online registration is requested.
• San Jose: Learn what you can do to promote a healthy planet at the annual Earth Day San Jose program, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, April 19, on the San Jose State University campus. Most events take place on the San Carlos Paseo, while the Guadalupe Room in the Student Union will host afternoon panel discussions on climate change and environmental career options. Hundreds of educational and commercial vendor booths will be set up in the San Carlos Plaza from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., along with keynote speakers, organic healthy foods, eco-friendly crafts, art displays, and more. Late afternoon/evening events in San Carlos Plaza include live entertainment and the Associated Students’ annual Trashion fashion show.
• San Jose: Area youngsters can learn a bit about the city’s past, celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day, and earn a Junior Archaeology certificate during a special program on Saturday, April 20. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at History Park San Jose, 1650 Senter Road. Children ages 4-12 and their families can take part in a mock excavation and uncover a part of San Jose’s past. Children ages 6-10 also can register for the Recycle to save the Earth promotion, where they can bring used, useable toys, clothes, books, games and puzzles that can be bought, sold, or traded with others participating in the event. Admission fee charged.
• San Leandro: Get an insider’s look at one of the region’s largest recycling facilities on Saturday, April 20, during a special Earth Day event sponsored by Waste Management. Tours of the Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex, 2615 Davis St., will be offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The facility processes, sorts, and diverts more than 2 million pounds of recyclable and compostable material daily. The Davis Street facility incorporates state-of-the-art technology and provides nearly 300 green jobs for the community.
• San Mateo: Gain a greater appreciation of the environment through hands-on activities and experiments at CuriOdyssey’s annual Earth Day program, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Experiment with scientific instruments, learn about honeybees, watch falcons fly, and more. Gourmet lunch/dessert food trucks will be on site for visitors. Get a head start on the conservation programs by taking part in a San Francisco Bay beach cleanup from 10 a.m.-noon. CuriOdyssey is located at 1651 Coyote Point Drive.
• Santa Clara: Mission College is celebrating Earth Day with an EcoFair and e-waste recycling event on Thursday, April 18. The EcoFair runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Quad, but will be moved indoors to the Main Building Center Space in case of rain. More than 20 educational and environmental exhibit booths are planned. The e-waste collection event operates during the same four-hour period in Parking Lot D of the campus, 3000 Mission College Blvd. Metech Recycling will collect old computers and electronics, plus batteries, cameras, VCR tapes, telephones, small appliances, and microwaves.
• Santa Cruz: Learn about the environment while having fun with art at a special Earth Day Jubilee program on Friday, April 19, 5-9 p.m., at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History at the McPherson Center. There’ll be a special Kids Happy Hour from 3:30 to 5 p.m. with art activities designed for families with young children. The evening program will provide visitors with information about sustainability and suggestions for adopting a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Admission fee charged for visitors 12 and older; museum members get in free.
• Santa Cruz: San Lorenzo Park will be home to the community’s annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Planned activities will include arts and crafts booths, an electric vehicle display, kids’ gymnastics, a fashion show spotlighting recycled materials, live entertainment, children’s activities, environmental workshops, and more. Free bike valet parking will be offered, too.
• Suisun City: Celebrate Earth Day with the community’s third annual Earth Day Celebration along the waterfront on Saturday, April 20. The event runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Sheldon Plaza. The event will feature live entertainment, food, family-fun events, a recycled art exhibition, and dozens of Earth-friendly resource booths and vendor exhibits. Kayak 4 Kare sprint races in the Suisun Slough will be held every 15 minutes, beginning at 10:15 a.m.
• Tiburon: Learn about the waterfowl of San Francisco Bay during a special Earth Day program sponsored by the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Enjoy a naturalist-led nature walk and bird-watching, take part in a beach cleanup or bay restoration program, and learn about our importance in the Pacific Flyway. Educational activities will be offered throughout the morning in Rosie’s Cottage. All participants are asked to sign a liability waiver; for youths under 18 the waiver must be signed by a parent/guardian.
• Vallejo: Combine healthy eating with an enhanced awareness of the environment during an Earth Day 2013 Celebration at the downtown Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Visit information booths, a petting zoo, recycled crafts exhibits, California native plants, and more. Sponsors will be offering a mercury thermometer exchange program, too.

Central Coast

• Camarillo: Enjoy fun, food, and fellowship on Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., when the First Baptist Church of Camarillo hosts a Community Garden 2013 Earth Day celebration. Enjoy food, fun, and activities for the entire family. The event will include environmental speakers, community garden tours, children’s storytelling, plant and bake sales, music, and more.
• Lompoc: The Vandenberg Village Farmers Market is playing host to the city’s annual Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be Earth-friendly demonstrations and presentations, Earth-friendly crafts, a seed exchange, kids’ activities, a free raffle, family-friendly fun events, and more.
• Ojai: In celebration of sustainable living, global awareness, and the joy of nature, four Ojai-based organizations – Food for Thought, the Oak Grove School, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, and Ojai Valley Green Coalition – team up to host this once-a-year community event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The day will include local school involvement, environmental exhibits, arts and outdoor activities for all ages, live entertainment, world foods and more. Everything takes place under the trees on Oak Grove School’s 150-acre campus, 220 W. Lomita Avenue, Ojai.
• Oxnard: Downtown Plaza Park will host the annual Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6. This family-friendly event will include live entertainment, children’s activities, community displays, educational exhibits, food and beverages, and more.
• San Luis Obispo: Free public transportation will be available for guests planning to attend the annual Earth Day SLO celebration from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 21 in El Chorro Regional Park. This festival attracts thousands of residents for a day filled with music, dance, educational displays, and a chance to improve on their environmental awareness. SLO Transit and the Regional Transit Authority will be offering free bus service to Cuesta College, located across the street from the festival grounds. More than 100 vendor booths, nonprofit groups, and environmental agencies will have displays throughout the park. A Kids’ Zone will feature games, crafts, face-painting, and more.
• Santa Barbara: Learn how to make the planet a better place for animals and humans during a special Earth Day program at the Santa Barbara Zoo from 10 a.m.-3p.m. Saturday, April 20. The zoo grounds will feature an array of interactive eco-friendly activities. Paid zoo admission is required. Zoo staff also will be taking part in the city’s weekend Earth Day Festival in Alameda Park.
• Santa Barbara: The coastal community where a 1970s environmental disaster inspired the creation of Earth Day will host a two-day tribute to the environment and celebration of progress being made to protect the planet. The event is planned for the weekend of April 20-21 in Alameda Park. Event hours will be 1 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 21. A wide array of events will include live entertainment, a green car display, a children’s activity area, an environmental heroes presentation, scores of educational exhibit booths, a clean technology pavilion, “live green” demonstrations, food and drink vendors, educational seminars, and more.
• Thousand Oaks: Residents are invited to a combined celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in Conejo Creek Park. This annual city-sponsored festival will feature a fun, family-oriented setting to celebrate the environment and learn about the latest advances in sustainability. Planned activities include a household hazardous waste collection event in addition to educational and environmental exhibits, special children’s activities, live entertainment, and more.
• Ventura: A wide array of activities are planned for the city’s annual Earth Day EcoFest on Saturday, April 20, at Promenade Park. Organizers say the annual event is designed with children in mind. The event will include live entertainment, children’s activities, a green automobile display, an education pavilion, more than 100 environmental and educational exhibits, and more.

Inland Empire

• Rancho Cucamonga: Inland Empire residents are invited to an Earth Day Celebration at Frontier Project on Saturday, April 6. Event hours will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The environmental celebration is co-sponsored by Frontier Project and the Cucamonga Valley Water District. Planned events will include an environmental fair, entertainment, eco-landscaping workshops, educational exhibits, and complimentary document shredding. Frontier Project, a sustainability resource center, is located at 10440 Ashford St. in Rancho Cucamonga.
• Palm Desert: Educational programs, along with fun and exciting activities for the entire family, are part of an Earth Day Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at The Living Desert. An admission fee will be charged, but museum members will be admitted for free. Bring a recyclable item to the event and trade it for a native plant grown at The Living Desert. The Living Desert’s 1,200-acre grounds include wild animal exhibits, aviaries, extensive gardens, a wildlife show, a discovery center, children’s rides, restaurants, and more.

Los Angeles/Orange Counties

• Beverly Hills: Combine healthy eating with an enhanced awareness of the environment during a Farmers Market Earth Day program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 14. Participants will find recycling displays, energy conservation tips, emergency preparedness exhibits, and more, all located amid the popular weekly open-air market. Special events will include free battery and printer cartridge recycling. Free 20-pound bags of compost will be given away while supply lasts. The farmers market is located along Civic Center Drive between Third Street and Santa Monica Blvd.
• Burbank: Celebrate the spirit of Earth Day during an open house/festival at the Burbank Recycling Center, 500 S. Flower St. The event runs 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be hands-on activities, educational and informational booths, recycling center tours, live entertainment, and an array of food trucks to satisfy any appetite. Pick up some free compost, and enjoy complimentary coffee/iced tea while relaxing at the “cafe.” Parking in the area is limited, so visitors are encouraged to carpool, bike, or use public transportation. Free bike valet parking will be offered, too.
• Calabasas: All are invited to an Earth Day Celebration/Green Expo on Saturday, April 13, from 2-5 p.m. The event will take place at the Las Virgenes Creek site on Agoura Road, behind the Starbucks retail outlet at 26531 Agoura Road. More than 50 exhibitors are expected to participate with educational and environmental displays. Numerous children’s activities are planned, too. Last year’s event attracted an estimated 2,000 visitors, according to event organizers.
• Catalina: The city of Avalon will host a combined Spring Festival and Earth Day celebration from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, April 18, along Crescent Avenue. Enjoy food, games, live entertainment, green living demonstrations, and more. The Catalina Conservancy is presenting a recycled art project; the native plant nursery will have an extensive exhibit of Catalina Island plantings.
• Culver City: STAR EcoStation hosts its 13th annual Children’s Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 21, with activities taking place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Activities will include children’s exhibits, environmental presentations, eco-friendly food, arts and crafts, games, and eco-friendly vendors.
• Dana Point: The Ocean Institute celebrates Earth Day with special programs and activities on Sunday, April 21. Learn how to make eco-friendly crafts, explore marine life, and take part on other hands-on activities. An admission fee will be charged. Volunteer for a beach/harbor cleanup earlier in the day, starting at 7 a.m., and get free admission.
• Hawthorne: Get rid of potentially toxic products in your home this year while Earth Day is on your mind. A one-day household hazardous waste and e-waste community collection roundup will be offered from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center, 3851 West El Segundo Blvd. Items that can be brought for proper, environmentally safe disposal include paint, household chemicals, batteries, motor oil, expired pharmaceuticals, antifreeze, used fluorescent light bulbs, computer monitors, televisions, keyboards, printers, and cellular phones.
• Huntington Beach: A free family fun day to celebrate Earth Day is planned for Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. There will be hands-on activities for young and old alike, guided tours, children’s games, animal exhibits, habitat restoration exhibits, native plants, and more. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is located at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.
• Inglewood: Helpful advice on creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable place to live will be theme of the city’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the south lawn of Inglewood City Hall, 1 West Manchester Blvd.
• La Canada Flintridge: Celebrate the environment amid a lush, serene setting when Descanso Gardens presents its annual Earth Day program on Saturday, April 20. This year’s Earth Day theme focuses on the vital role birds play in the environment. The outdoor public gardens has Earth Day events that can be enjoyed by all ages, ranging from hands-on nature programs designed for children to an afternoon concert of country-flavored rock music by the Mobile Homeboys in the Under the Oaks Theater. The gardens’ eco-friendly farm stand will be offering locally grown organic foods, and author Debra Prinzing (“The 50 Mile Bouquet”) will present a “Slow Flowers” lecture showing how to create vibrant bouquets using locally sourced materials. An admission fee will be charged.
• Long Beach: For the 12th year, Aquarium of the Pacific is planning a special Earth Day program for aquarium visitors on the weekend of April 13-14. There will be a number of family-friendly activities designed to celebrate the environment and to teach everyday tips for sustainable living. A number of Earth-friendly organizations will staff exhibit booths, and guests can take part in a number of hands-on learning demonstrations. An aquarium admission fee will be charged, but the event is free for Aquarium of the Pacific members.
• Long Beach: A combined celebration of Children’s Day and Earth Day is planned at Recreation Park on Sunday, April 28, beginning at 10 a.m. The event will be filled with fun, uplifting, and educational activities. Enjoy arts and crafts and lots of games, too. Guests can enjoy food booths and two entertainment stages. A children’s parade inside the park begins at 1 p.m.
• Los Angeles: Celebrate Earth Day with an afternoon of environmental activities on Saturday, April 20, at the Augustus Hawkins Natural Park, 5790 Compton Ave. From noon to 4 p.m., there will be hikes of the 9-acre urban park, ranger-led nature presentations, kids’ crafts, and face painting. Details are available by calling the park at (323) 581-4498.
• Los Angeles: Radio station K-EARTH 101 is teaming up with the Los Angeles Zoo to present Earth Day Expo 2013 at the zoo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 20-21. This year’s program revolves around the theme of “Celebrating California Wildlife.” Exhibit areas located throughout the zoo grounds will feature education, conservation, and recycling information in an interactive and fun, Earth-friendly environment. Paid zoo admission is required.
• Los Angeles: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents a special Earth Day program on Sunday, April 21. The museum will offer programs and activities for all ages, including artist-led workshops, tours of the museum collection, a nature-inspired poetry workshop of adults, sketching from nature, an instrument-making workshop using recycled materials, and more. Free museum admission will be offered to those who bike to the museum or use public transportation that day.
• Los Angeles: The city’s largest Earth Day celebration, World Fest, returns to Woodley Park in Encino again this year, from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, May 19. The daylong solar-powered celebration will feature more than 100 environmental exhibits and vendor booths, educational workshops, kids’ activities including storytelling and face painting, live entertainment, an expansive food court, and more. Special programs and lectures will be held in designated “eco-tent” and “healthy hut” structures. Paid admission is required, but tickets will be offered in advance at a discounted price.
• Manhattan Beach: Earth Day will be celebrated with a day of entertainment and education in Polliwog Park from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Enjoy live entertainment, speakers and presentations on the Eco-Education State, a composting class, children’s activities, an eco-shopping area, free bike valet parking, food and beverage vendors, an alternative fuel vehicle display, and more.
• Mission Viejo: A combined Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration is planned for Saturday, April 27, 8 a.m.-noon, at the Norman Murray Community and Senior Center. The event kicks off with a free compost giveaway, starting at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of Oso Viejo Park (bring your own shovel and container). A “green expo” will feature a home composting workshop, Earth-friendly crafts, and more. Environmental exhibits will offer tips about water conservation, pollution prevention, recycling, and more. Participants are also invited to take part in an Oso Creek cleanup or Arbor Day plantings.
• Newport Beach: The Newport Bay Conservancy is sponsoring Day at the Bay 2013 on Saturday, April 20. The event runs 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive. The free event will feature an environmental film festival, environmental exhibits, science discovery and craft booths, scavenger hunts, face painting, live entertainment, a raffle, and more. Local food trucks will have items for sale, too.
• Redondo Beach: The city’s annual Earth Day Celebration takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at The SEA Lab, 1021 N. Harbor Drive. The event begins with a beach cleanup from 10 a.m.-noon. Special events include a home composting workshop at 11 a.m., a “gently used” work attire reuse drive, and a plastic bag-for-reusable-tote exchange. Enjoy children’s activities, environmental exhibits, and more. Free parking will be provided at Redondo Beach Marina with a copy of the city’s downloadable event flier; bike to the event or take public transportation and receive a free gift.
• San Pedro: Join in a coastal cleanup, and learn about coastal bird species during a special Earth Day program at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on Saturday, April 20. The event begins with a beach cleanup from 8-10 a.m., followed by an “Earth Day Bird Fest” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There’ll be games, interactive activities, Earth-friendly displays and demonstrations, live entertainment, food and drinks, and more. Join fellow bird watchers at the Salinas de San Pedro Salt Marsh. Learn how to make your home more eco-friendly.
• Santa Ana: The message of Earth Day is celebrated during a “Party for the Planet” on Saturday, April 20, at Santa Ana Zoo. This all-zoo event will feature special booth exhibits throughout the zoo grounds promoting conservation and environmental awareness. Zoo hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Paid zoo admission is required.
• Santa Clarita: Learn about the importance of a green lifestyle and caring for planet Earth at a combined Earth Arbor Day celebration, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road. The park site will feature six interactive zones: alternative transportation, community organizations, tree zone, energy zone, eco zone, and water conservation zone. This zero waste event will include live family-friendly entertainment, free tree and compost giveaways, solar cooking demonstrations, vendor booths, and more.
• Santa Monica: Multiple events have been planned as Santa Monica College celebrates Earth Week from April 22-26. The events range from special speakers and film screenings to the campus EcoHero Awards luncheon, a “Honey Bee Celebration Day,” an open house hosted by the campus Center for Environmental and Urban Studies program, a campuswide materials exchange program, and a beach cleanup along Santa Monica Beach.
• Topanga: A two-day Earth Day celebration/music festival is planned for the weekend of April 20-21 at the Topanga Community Center. The zero-waste event will include scores of environmental and vendor booths, local artisans, workshops, lectures on topics ranging from organic gardening to meditation tips, an environmental film festival, live entertainment, children’s activities, and food booths.
• Torrance: Caring for the environment begins at home, and South Bay residents can make a start by taking part in a special Earth Day recycling program offered by the city of Torrance on Saturday, April 20. The event runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Torrance Courthouse, behind City Hall near Maple Avenue and Torrance Boulevard. Among the free services offered that day will be document shredding; garden mulch giveaways; a drop-off zone for recycling e-waste, used clothing, and used shoes; and proper disposal of used motor oil and used engine oil filters.
• Whittier: Thousands of guests are expected when the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County hosts its annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 13. The event runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the district’s administrative offices, 1955 Workman Mill Road. The facility’s parking lot will be converted into a giant environmental celebration, with dozens of educational and vendor booths, interactive workshops, arts and crafts, activities for children, music, train rides, and much more. Free tours will be offered of the nearby water reclamation plant and landfill. Visitor parking will be at 13181/13191 Crossroads Parkway North, with free shuttle service to and from the event.

North Coast

• Fort Bragg: Noyo Food Forest presents its 7th annual Earth Day Festival from noon-5 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Fort Bragg High School Learning Garden, 300 Dana St. Enjoy live music and entertainment, a culinary showcase featuring local chefs, hands-on sustainable living workshops, children’s activities, a community art project, and a plant sale. This free family-friendly event supports the local school district’s Farm to School Program.
• Hopland: Solar living will be the theme when the Real Goods Solar Living Center hosts its annual Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Wineries, farmers, and ranchers from along the U.S. 101 corridor will be on hand to offer free tastings and information about their organic and sustainable practices. Visit solar companies, sustainable living authors, a green architect, and more. The event will feature children’s activities, educational presentations, free tours of the 12-acre Solar Living Center, and more.
• Santa Rosa: The city’s 4th annual Earth Day Fair will be presented from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in Courthouse Square. Enjoy environmental exhibits, eco-friendly crafts, children’s activities, local vendor booths, food and beverages, live entertainment, a raffle, and more. Safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications, too.
• Windsor: A combined Earth Day and Wellness Festival is planned for Sunday, April 21, along Windsor Town Green, 701 McClelland Drive. Hours will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature health and wellness information, educational activities and presentations, children’s games and crafts, live entertainment, a “green rummage sale,” a farmers market, and free bike valet parking. Youngsters are encouraged to participate in a Youth Bike Rodeo, too.

Sacramento Valley

• Chico: The spirit of Earth Day will be well represented in Bidwell Park’s Cedar Grove on Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., during the 34th annual Endangered Species Faire presented by the Butte Environmental Council. The event will include educational booths, interactive activities, music, and more. The event is highlighted by the annual “Procession of the Species: A Parade for Endangered Species” in which all are invited to participate. Details are available at the event website.
• Grass Valley: The Sierra College campus, 250 Sierra College Drive, hosts its annual Earth Day program from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. There will be environmental, humanitarian, and educational exhibits by nonprofit organizations and local businesses. Live music, dance, and poetry readings are also planned.
• Redding: Celebrate the environment when the city presents its annual Whole Earth and Watershed Festival on Saturday, April 27, at Redding City Hall and Sculpture Park, 777 Cypress Ave. This year’s program runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Organizers say the event will feature more than 100 educational, environmental and commercial exhibitors, live entertainment, hands-on educational activities, a “build-it bazaar,” children’s programs, an environmental and recycling art show, a food court, and more. Local transit buses will offer free rides that day.
• Rocklin: ECOStudents at Sierra College in Rocklin are sponsoring a two-day celebration of Earth Day on April 24-25. “Biodiversity – There Is No Place Like Home” is the theme for 2013’s events, which will promote sustainability at home, at work, and in the community. ECOS (Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students) also will be presenting a John Muir play on Friday, April 26.
• Roseville: The city’s sixth annual Celebrate the Earth Festival takes place Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Mahany Regional Park, 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd. This year’s event will include local green vendors, an electric vehicle display, live music and entertainment, children’s activities, wildlife presentations, environmental arts and crafts, Dr. Solar’s Traveling Medicine Show, and more. A secure bike parking area will be provided.
• Sacramento: The Sacramento Zoo is planning its annual Earth Fest—Party for the Planet on Saturday, April 6. Special exhibits, programs, and activities will be offered throughout the zoo from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors will be treated to special wildlife shows, informative talks by animal keepers, and more. Special events for children include zoo-themed arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting, hands-on artifacts in the zoo’s Discovery Room, and interactive Wildlife Wagons. Parents will enjoy a Recycle Rummage Sale taking place in the Kampala Center. Educational and environmental exhibitors will be featured throughout the zoo grounds. Paid admission is required.
• Sacramento: The Sacramento Children's Museum is partnering with Assemblyman Ken Cooley to host Children's Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Kids will have the opportunity to learn Earth-friendly lessons through interactive activities led by event participants, including the City of Rancho Cordova, CalRecycle, SMUD, Sacramento Air Quality Management District, Sacramento Regional Transit, the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, the Sacramento Food Bank, and many more. All children wearing green save 50 percent off the regular admission price. The Children’s Museum is located at 2701 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova.
• Sacramento: Celebrate the planet and learn about the benefits of adopting a sustainable lifestyle during the annual Sacramento Earth Day celebration at Southside Park. This year’s festival runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. The event will feature dozens of environmental and educational exhibit booths, games and activities for children, live entertainment, and more. The event, now in its 7th year, is presented by the Environmental Council of Sacramento.

San Diego

• La Jolla: In honor of Earth Day, visitors to the Birch Aquarium can participate in a “Party for the Planet” on Saturday, April 20. Special programs will focus on the importance of marine life (more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered in water). Visitors can take part in special hands-on activities, create eco-friendly crafts, and learn more about scientific exploration activities. The aquarium is located at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UC San Diego, 8622 Kennel Way.
• La Mesa: Education, entertainment, and the environment will be the focus of the annual East County Earth Day celebration, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Mt. Helix Park. The event will feature dozens of educational and vendor exhibit booths; an Earth Day Scavenger Hunt; face-painting; arts and crafts; live entertainment; seed plantings; guests speakers from the San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium, and Hummingbird Rescue; a children’s Endangered Animal Arts Contest; and more.
• Oceanside: The annual Green Fair on Saturday, April, 27, is the north county’s largest Earth Day celebration. Activities will be offered from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Junior Seau Amphitheatre, located on the south side of the Oceanside Municipal Pier. The event will be loaded with fun and engaging activities for everyone, including dozens of environmentally friendly booths promoting products and organizations.
• San Diego: In honor of Earth Day, a month-long celebration of the environment is planned throughout April at the Sealife Aquarium at Legoland. The aquarium will offer an Earth Month-themed daily dive show at 10:30 a.m., along with special “green” learning activities and crafts events daily between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Legoland says its goal is to inspire children to do their part daily to help care for the oceans. Aquarium activities are included in the price of park admission.
• San Diego: Students, faculty, and staff at UC San Diego have planned a full week’s worth of events to celebrate Earth Day 2013. Events are planned from April 17-24 on the campus. Events range from a Muir Earth Day organic lunch on April 17 to a Muirstock music festival on April 19 and campus e-waste collections on April 23-24. Other events include a campus cleanup, community garden work party, arts and crafts workshop, healthy cooking demonstration, and a wellness workshop.
• San Diego: The annual Earth Fair in Balboa Park, billed by sponsors as the world’s largest Earth Day celebration, will be presented from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 21 in Balboa Park. Organizers say the event, now in its 24th year, usually attracts between 65,000 and 70,000 participants. The wide-ranging festival will include five entertainment stages, a Children’s Earth Parade, hundreds of environmental and commercial exhibitors, educational workshops, an electric vehicle/clean car concourse, food pavilion, eARTh gallery, and more.

San Joaquin Valley

• Bakersfield: Bakersfield College combines environmental awareness and a salute to home gardening with Garden Fest, its annual springtime garden open house. The event runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in the college’s Renegade Park. What began as a modest plant sale promoting the school’s environmental horticulture and agriculture programs has evolved into a community celebration. More than 150 vendor booths will be available with information on gardening, pets, cooking, outdoor leisure, arts & crafts, and environmentally-friendly home improvement ideas. The annual farmer’s market will have fresh fruits and vegetables ripe and ready for purchase. Bakersfield College’s Culinary Arts Department will have freshly-prepared food available throughout the event.
• Fresno: A fun, and tasty, celebration of Earth Day and our fragile ecosystem is planned for Saturday, April 13, when Fresno Chaffee Zoo presents its annual Breakfast with the Animals and Party for the Planet program. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee/milk. After breakfast, participants are treated to exciting Earth Day-inspired programs, including the Winged Wonders Bird Show, special animal presentations, and more. Paid admission is required; discounted tickets can be purchased in advance.
• Fresno: Amateur runners and fitness enthusiasts are invited to join the annual Earth Day Run for the Reef on Saturday, April 20. The 5K run/2 mile walk-run is sponsored by the Aquarius Aquarium Institute and benefits efforts to build an aquarium in Fresno. The annual footrace takes place along the city’s scenic Sugar Pine Trail. The race will be followed by the annual Water Planet Adventure Day the Center Court of The Shops at River Park Shopping Center, beginning at 9 a.m. Kids of all ages can enjoy a morning of fun with our living California tide pool touch tank, water conservation information booths, crafts booths, face painting, live entertainment, and a student Watershed Art Show.
• Fresno: Courthouse Park in downtown Fresno will host Earth Day Fresno from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Enjoy fun-filled activities, dozens of educational and environmental exhibits, and dozens of local vendor booths.
• Modesto: Graceada Park will host the city’s annual Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The event features educational and environmental exhibits, scores of vendor booths, hands-on activities, entertainment, a Modesto Police Department K-9 demonstration, and fun for all ages. Drop off your recyclables at the Boyett “B Green” Recycling Event along Stoddard Avenue, between Park and Sycamore Avenues, and help support Modesto’s parks program in the process. Boyett Petroleum will match the value of all recyclables brought to the drive-through event that day. Items accepted for recycling include: CRV bottles and cans, plastic, scrap metal, e-waste, and computer printer toner and ink cartridges. Onsite document shredding offered, too (limit of five file boxes or grocery bags per person). Free shuttle buses offered to the festival site from the parking lot of nearby Crosspoint Community Church, 1301 12th St.
• Porterville: Earth-friendly presentations and solutions will be featured when the Prospect Education Center hosts the city’s 8th annual Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 11. Educational presentations will focus on creating an Earth-friendly garden, safely disposing of e-waste, tips for recycling, energy conservation tips, fire safety, and more. Sign up to attend by visiting The Prospect Education Center page on Facebook, or by sending an email to sreynolds@portervilleschools.org.
• Reedley: All are welcome when Reedley College hosts its 5th annual Green Summit, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. The event will feature speakers, educational and commercial exhibit booths, live entertainment, and a “trashion” fashion show.
• Selma: Volunteer workers are being sought for an Earth Day community cleanup and beautification project, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 27. City officials have identified projects for Pioneer Village, Lincoln Park, and downtown Selma. To participate, contact Bob Allen, the city’s volunteer director of recycling, at (559) 891-2200.
• Stockton: “Celebrate Earth Day Every Day, Every Way” is the theme for this year’s Earth Day Festival in Victory Park (behind Haggin Museum) on Sunday, April 21. Activities will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., but the annual Family Fun Bike Ride and Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. The city’s annual Earth Day celebration blends entertainment with an environmental message of education, conservation, and recycling. There will be dozens of educational and environmental exhibit booths, entertainment, hands-on activities, exotic arts and crafts, and an extensive food court. More than 100 commercial vendor booths will be set up throughout Victory Park. Visitors are asked to bring canned or boxed food donations for the Stockton Emergency Food Bank, or slightly used clothing donations for the homeless served by the Gospel Center Rescue Mission.
• Visalia: Help clean up the community and learn about ways to protect the environment at the city’s Earth Day 2013 Celebration from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 20. The event takes place along St. Johns Riverwalk Park (Ben Maddox and St. Johns River). In addition to educational exhibits, the event will include a beautification and art project for participants.

Sierra Nevada/Foothills

• South Lake Tahoe: Celebrate Earth Day with a daylong community festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27 in Bijou Community Park. Planned activities include educational and environmental exhibits and workshops, a children’s activity area, educational booths, live entertainment, hands-on arts and crafts activities using recycled materials, local food and artisan booths, and a special Earth Day raffle.
• Tahoe/Truckee: The Village at Squaw Valley will again host a community Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 20, with events planned from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. There will be scores of educational and vendor exhibit booths, children’s entertainment, live music and dance performances, a “trashion” show, a hands-on arts and crafts activity area, and a raffle.
• Yosemite National Park: Celebrate Earth Day at perhaps the most scenic region in all of the Golden State. Park rangers are planning a two-day celebration for Earth Day April 19-20, with events for young and old alike. Friday events include an afternoon Earth Day Bike Ride in the Yosemite Valley and an evening Family Night program at Yosemite Lodge featuring music, entertainment, and lots of fun activities. Saturday’s events on the Village Mall will include National Junior Ranger Day activities, a children’s crafts tent, an Earth-friendly product fair, sustainable salad bar tastings, volunteer stewardship projects, photography walks, and more.