Earth Day will be celebrated around the world on Tuesday, April 22, marking more than half a century since its inception as a grassroots environmental movement in the United States. The date has grown from a national campaign into a global day of action, with participants in more than 190 countries expected to take part this year.
First observed in 1970, Earth Day was created to galvanize public awareness and political action around environmental issues. The movement has since evolved into the world’s largest secular observance, with EarthDay.org estimating that over 1 billion people engage in Earth Day activities each year.
Though environmental challenges have shifted over the decades—from oil spills and air pollution to climate change and plastic waste—the spirit of Earth Day remains rooted in civic engagement and education.
Why It Matters
The origins of Earth Day lie in the environmental crises of the late 1960s, including the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and growing concerns about smog and polluted rivers. Democratic U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, known as the father of Earth Day, championed the idea of a nationwide teach-in to focus political attention on the environment.
Since it began, Earth Day has centered on civic engagement. In 1970, approximately 20 million people—representing 10 percent of the U.S. population at the time—gathered to demand stronger environmental safeguards, marking the inaugural Earth Day, according to EarthDay.org.
Those early demonstrations helped spur creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and passage of key environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
Today, the event connects local and global environmental goals, with participants engaging in activities from community cleanups and tree planting to legislative advocacy and sustainable living initiatives.
What To Know
This year’s Earth Day theme, set by EarthDay.org, is “Planet vs. Plastics,” calling for “a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040.” The organization states that it aims to “build a plastic-free planet for generations to come.”
The EPA encourages Americans to mark the occasion through educational events and conservation efforts. “You can make a difference by reducing, reusing, and recycling; conserving water and energy; and learning more about your local environment,” the agency says on its official Earth Day page.
The National Park Service is also promoting outdoor stewardship. “Many parks are hosting volunteer events and other activities throughout the week of Earth Day,” its website says. It highlights opportunities such as removing invasive species, planting native vegetation and participating in community science projects. “Lend a hand and be a steward of your public lands by volunteering for Earth Day or throughout National Volunteer Week,” the agency encourages.
Map shows how many events are planned for Earth Day on April 22. Map shows how many events are planned for Earth Day on April 22. EarthDay.org
List of Cities Hosting Events for Earth Day 2025
Cities all over the globe are hosting events to celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22. Events are registered on EarthDay.org and the full list can be found on the organization’s website.
Here’s a list of some events happening in each state on or around April 22:
- Montgomery, Alabama: Earth Day Safari Educational Event at the Montgomery Zoo, 9 a.m. April 24-25
- Anchorage, Alaska: In Context: Early-1900s Yup’ik Dance Mask, Yup’ik Tradition and Shorebird Conservation at the Anchorage Museum, 4 p.m. April 22
- Phoenix, Arizona: Earth Day Full Moon Hike at the Phoenix Mountain Reserve, 6:45 p.m. April 22
- Little Rock, Arkansas: Earth Day Fair at the Little Rock Zoo, 9 a.m. April 22
- Sacramento, California: Earth Day River Clean-Up on the American River Parkway, 9 a.m. April 26
- Denver, Colorado: Earth Week Cherry Creek River Cleanup at 2 p.m. April 23
- Hartford, Connecticut: Sierra Club CT Honk for Climate Action at 300 Capitol Ave., 8 a.m. April 22
- Dover, Delaware: Earth Day Seedling Potting at the St. Jones Reserve, 10 a.m. April 26
- Tampa, Florida: Earth Day Panel with the Cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Temple Terrace, 6 p.m. April 22
- Atlanta, Georgia: Comedy to Save the Planet Earth Day Comedy Show, 6 p.m. April 22
- Honolulu, Hawaii: Solano County Earth Day Cleanups, 10 a.m. April 26
- Boise, Idaho: Earth Day Showcase at Flying M Coffee, 9 a.m. April 27
- Chicago, Illinois: Foster Avenue Beach Cleanup, 9 a.m. April 26
- Indianapolis, Indiana: Arbor Week Seedling Giveaway at Crown Hill Arboretum, 8 a.m. April 21-26
- Des Moines, Iowa: City Nature Challenge, sponsored through the University of Iowa, April 25-28
- Great Bend, Kansas: Great Bend Earth Day Celebration, 11 a.m. April 26
- Danville, Kentucky: Boyle County Earth Day Festival, 9 a.m. April 26
- New Orleans, Louisiana: Earth Day Sound Bath at City Park, 6 p.m. April 22
- Brunswick, Maine: Earth Day for Kids at the Pejepscot History Center, 11 a.m. April 22
- Annapolis, Maryland: Quiet Waters Park Earth Day Celebration, 9 a.m. April 26
- Boston, Massachusetts: Earth Day n Night Experience 2025, 1 p.m. April 26
- Norton Shores, Michigan: Lake Harbor Park Cleanup, 10 a.m. April 26
- St. Paul, Minnesota: Earth Day Water Party at The Market At Malcolm Yards, 6:30 p.m. April 23
- Vicksburg, Mississippi: Plant & Preserve: An Earth Day Herb Celebration at Julia’s Memorial Community Garden, 3 p.m. April 22
- St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Earth Day Festival, 11 a.m. April 26-27
- Columbia Falls, Montana: Earth Day Flathead River Cleanup, 10 a.m. April 26
- Lincoln, Nebraska: Tree Climbing at Elmwood Park, sponsored by the Nebraska State Arboretum at 11 a.m. April 26
- North Las Vegas, Nevada: Junior Ranger Day at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, 9 a.m. April 26
- Keene, New Hampshire: Monadnock Region Earth Festival, noon April 26
- Princeton, New Jersey: Party Like It’s Your Earth Day, 11 a.m. April 27
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: Fair West Albuquerque NeighborWoods Tree Planting, 9 a.m. April 26
- Albany, New York: Downtown Albany Earth Day Cleanup, 11 a.m. April 22
- Davidson, North Carolina: Davidson Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m. April 26
- Mandan, North Dakota: Community Time Capsule & Earth Day Celebration, 5:30 p.m. April 22
- Pickerington, Ohio: Pickerington Earth Day Litter Clean Up, 9 a.m. April 26
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Zach Taylor and Canyon Park Earth Day Cleanup, 9:30 a.m. April 22
- Portland, Oregon: New Indigenous Short Films (“Earth Day”) at The Hollywood Theatre, 7:30 p.m. April 22
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup, 8 a.m. April 26
- Providence, Rhode Island: Spring Park Clean Up! at Roger Williams National Memorial, 9 a.m. April 26
- Columbia, South Carolina: Earth Day Celebration at the Richland Library Cooper, 3 p.m. April 22
- Watertown, South Dakota: Watertown 2025 Earth Day River Clean-Up, 10 a.m. April 26
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Earth Day Celebration for Rutherford County, 10 a.m. April 26
- Dallas, Texas: Earth Day Festival of Service: 2025 Dallas, 9 a.m. April 26
- Sandy, Utah: Sandy City Beautification Day on April 26
- Burlington, Vermont: University of Vermont’s Planetary Health Initiative, 11 a.m. April 22
- Richmond, Virginia: Film Screening: Underwater Projects, 2 p.m. April 26
- Seattle, Washington: Earth Day at Miller Creek Trail, 10 a.m. April 26
- Lewisburg, West Virginia: West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show, 5 p.m. April 26
- Sun Prairie, Wisconsin: Sun Prairie Earth Day 2025, 9 a.m. April 26
- Riverton, Wyoming: Wild & Scenic Film Festival, 6:30 p.m. April 25-26
What’s Next
In the U.S., the EPA will continue promoting its “Environmental Education” resources, while the National Park Service’s Earth Day Volunteer Week runs through April 27. Organizers are encouraging Americans to participate by visiting national parks, joining local service projects or simply making sustainable choices at home.
Whether through community involvement or personal habits, organizers emphasize that Earth Day remains a chance for individuals and institutions alike to demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility—and to inspire others to do the same.