Some 28 years after the first Earth Day festival marked the start of the modern environmental movement, we continue to celebrate not just the day itself — April 22 — but the days leading up to it. Here’s just a sampling of green festivities around the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Great Race and Earth Day Festival: 9 a.m. April 14, 1900 Geng Road, Palo Alto. 5K run/walk and kids’ 1K fun run. Festival includes electric vehicle rides and drives, live music, food trucks, bird walk, guided bike ride, zoo animals, arts and crafts and more. $5-$25. https://bit.ly/2Idw6mu
Earth Song: Improv Singing in Nature: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 14, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, 3000 Atlas Road, Richmond. For people with any level of singing experience. Connect with your signature soul song and share it with the land on this nature walk. Bring bottled water, a small blanket or pad to sit on, your lunch/snack and a backpack. https://bit.ly/2Gxn5YZ
Earth Day at the Oakland Zoo: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 14, 9777 Golf Links Road. Over 50 hands-on Earth Stations and local environmental organizations. Live music with Asheba, a wild trapeze show with Trapeze Arts, animal encounters and more. All activities included with zoo admission. $18-$22. www.oaklandzoo.org/
Earth Day on the Bay: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 14, Marine Science Institute, 500 Discovery Parkway, Redwood City. Arts and crafts, touch-a-shark exhibit, music, workshops, environmental fair, animal exploration and more. www.sfbaymsi.org/earthday
Earth Day Celebration: 1-4 p.m. April 15, Westwind Community Barn, 27210 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills. “Live Wild Cats” education presentation by Leopards Etc. featuring a cheetah, ocelot and black leopard at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Also, bookmobile, Santa Clara County Fire rig, local environmental organizations and electric cars. Free. https://bit.ly/2J1sZz4
Spaceship Earth Day – A Buckminster Fuller Celebration: 7-11 p.m. April 16, Autodesk Gallery, One Market, Floor 2, San Francisco. Explore the inner reaches of outer space with immersive planetary and cosmic visualizations. Suit up in the astronaut photo booth. Music by DJ Timoteo Gigante. $30-$50. https://bit.ly/2JlvWuz
Earth Day Cleanup on North Fremont Street: 8:30-10:30 a.m. April 18, Monterey Lanes, 2161 North Fremont St., Monterey. Complimentary coffee and Monterey Donuts will be served prior to walking the North Fremont District of Monterey to pick up litter and help beautify the area. 831-594-1500, brickman@brickmanmarketing.com
Earth Day Taste and Talk : 6:30-8 p.m. April 18, San Mateo Main Library, 55 West Third Ave., San Mateo. Sample food from San Mateo restaurants, while discussing transportation priorities, programs and solutions. Free. https://bit.ly/2q91hrF
Oakland Earth Day: April 21. Groups and individuals of all ages and abilities are invited to join the 24th annual Oakland Earth Day cleanup and restoration projects at creeks, parks and neighborhood sites throughout Oakland. All tools are provided. Times and locations: https://bit.ly/2GCEApX
Earth Day 2018 at Albany Bulb: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 21, 1 Buchanan St., Albany. Help clean up Albany Beach and the Bulb. Learn about local efforts to protect San Francisco Bay watersheds and wildlife. Free refreshments. Tools and gloves will be supplied, but if you have your own pair of gloves and bucket, bring them. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen and bring water. Free. https://bit.ly/2H8Ynv4
Earth Day @ Upper Sand Creek: 9 a.m.-noon April 21, Upper Sand Creek Basin, 6600 Deer Valley Road, Antioch. Activities: Trash Talking Showdown, invasive species removal and local creek education. https://bit.ly/2JhDFdf
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 21, Coyote Hills Regional Park Visitors Center, 8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont. Create your own litter-bug craft, view an environmental puppet show (11:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m.), and play recycling games. 510-544-3220, http://www.ebparks.org/
Earth Day Community Clean Up: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 21, MacArthur Community Baptist Church, 2301 Rumrill Blvd., San Pablo. Clean Up on Rumrill Boulevard. Enjoy games, educational activities and more. Refreshments provided. All ages are welcome. Prizes for the team that collects the most litter. earthteam.net/node/1698
2018 City of Alameda Earth Day Festival: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 21, Washington park, 740 Central Avenue. Activities for kids, Earth Day games, exhibits and bike-powered spin art machine. https://bit.ly/2GYSy3q. Coastal clean-up: 8:30-10 a.m. Crown Memorial State Beach, Crab Cove Visitors Center. Registration required: https://bit.ly/2GUvEKu
John Muir Birthday – Earth Day Celebration: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 21, John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez. Music, recycled fashion show, silent auctions, and more. 925-228-8860, https://bit.ly/2F3NWeH
Earth Day Event: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 21, Danville Library, 400 Front Street. Environmentally friendly activities. https://bit.ly/2IdKESX
Earth Day Santa Cruz: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 21, San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota Avenue. San Lorenzo River clean-up, climbing wall, music, recycled fashion show, arts and crafts, face painting, compost workshop and more. https://scearthday.org/
Annual Earth & Arbor Day Festival: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 21, Civic Center and on Torre Avenue from Rodrigues to Pacifica, Cupertino. Learn about environmental issues and solutions in an interactive atmosphere with hands-on activities, live entertainment and electric vehicle demos, plus local food trucks. https://bit.ly/2GYIG9S
Earth Day San Francisco: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. April 21, Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. Celebrate the 49th year of Earth Day and the 100th anniversary of the Save the Redwoods League. Live bands, DJs, speakers, dance and performances, fashion show, chef zone and eco demo. Free. http://www.earthdaystreetfest.org/
Alum Rock Park Earth Day: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 22, 15350 Penitencia Creek Road, San Jose. Volunteer projects from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Festival 1-4 p.m. Learn about local pollinators and sustainable gardening, see live animals, and plant native seeds and a ceremonial tree at the end of the event. Free. https://bit.ly/2pR3TdL
Earth Day Hike and Wine Tasting: 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. April 22, Benziger Family Winery, 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. Chris Benziger will lead the hike, share stories about the historic Benziger property and biodynamic farming, and share the history behind some of the family’s favorite vineyard blocks. $30. 800-989-8890, wineclub@benziger.com, https://bit.ly/2q5otqU
Earth Day Celebration at Stinson Beach: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 22, South end of Stinson Beach, Marin County. Earth Day Celebration combines care for the environment with arts activities for all ages. Participants can help with beach cleanup or creek restoration, and join artists engaging the public in sculpture-making with natural materials, music, dance and more. www.earthdaystinsonbeach.org/
Annual Wildlife Festival: 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 22, Wagner Ranch Nature Area, 350 Camino Pablo, Orinda. Visit animals in the garden, dabble in DIY gardening projects and hands-on nature arts and crafts, play Earth Day games and more. Free. https://fwrna.org/wildlifefest/
A Heartful Earth Day Celebration: 1-3 p.m. April 22, Just Be Yoga, 2333 Boulevard Circle, Walnut Creek. Hear live music and stories from Nimo & Empty Hands Music, learn about Nimo’s work in India, do fun mindful movements and engage in Tinkergarten Earth Day projects. Free. https://bit.ly/2q4qkgs
Gloria Ferrer’s 2018 Bubbles & Blooms Festival: Noon-4 p.m. April 22, 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma. Meet experts on rose care, floral arranging and container gardening. Enjoy the eighth annual Trashion Fashion show and an array of bites paired with Gloria Ferrer’s award-winning wines. $90. www.gloriaferrer.com/blooms18/
National Geographic: Symphony for Our World: 8 p.m. April 22, Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. This event pairs National Geographic’s stunning natural history footage with an original symphony composed by Bleeding Fingers Music, performed live by a full orchestra and choir. $60-$191.50. Shnsf.com
