Earth Day is coming up on April 22. A time of celebration, exploration, and sharing in an appreciation for nature and this remarkable planet we call home, the state of Maryland will be getting the festivities underway a little earlier this year, with various ongoing events slated for the weekend preceding the official date. From festivals to cleanup celebrations, there are plenty of environment-related endeavors to enjoy. Here are just some of the exciting Earth Day events happening around the state this weekend.
Aberdeen’s Earth Day Event
This Saturday, April 20, Festival Park in Aberdeen will be kicking off their highly anticipated Earth Day Event. Sponsored by the City of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Main Street, this family-friendly, free-to-attend happening begins at 11 a.m. and will remain in full swing until its 3 p.m. conclusion.
Onsite offerings throughout the day will feature a range of activities and interests catering to folks of all ages. These include Earth Day-themed fun for children, vendors showcasing amazing upcycled crafts and handiwork, games incorporating recycled materials, delicious food, prizes, and so much more. Click here for additional details, including directions and parking information.
BLISS Meadows Earth Day Volunteer Activity
Feel good in mind, body, and spirit when you come out to BLISS Meadows in Baltimore to take part in a most unique Earth Day volunteer experience this Sunday, April 21. Hosted by Backyard Basecamp, things will get started at 10 a.m. with a morning yoga session led by Diamond Bruns of Wealth in Wellness. Following that, attendees will get to work in the orchard, tasked with planting new fruit trees. The day’s free event will conclude at 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided although attendees are asked to bring their own water bottles. You can learn more by clicking the events link. Discover more about BLISS Meadows—Backyard Basecamp’s 10-acre land reclamation project here.
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration & Park Clean-Up
Head to Shafer Park in Boonsboro on Sunday, April 21 to experience the ultimate dual Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration and clean-up combo event. The three-hour engagement will begin with an Arbor Day proclamation at the Shafer Park Gazebo by Mayor Howard Long at 1 p.m. Following that will be the official dedication of the Arbor Day Tree. Next, volunteer attendees will get to work in the Park and onsite stream cleaning efforts. The day will conclude at 4 p.m. following a tree inventory of the Park’s existing trees.
This event is free and open for all willing volunteers to attend. Go to the Town of Boonsboro website to learn more.
Earth Day Celebration at Salisbury Zoo
Anytime is a great time to head to this free-admission zoological park in Salisbury, Maryland. But visit this Saturday, April 20, and you’re in for even more family-friendly follies. As a way of promoting wildlife respect and environmental awareness in honor of Earth Day, the Zoo will be hosting a series of ongoing events between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Meet and mingle with ambassador animals, check out onsite Lower Shore exhibitors and craft vendors, and be intrigued by “discovery boxes” for kids’ nature education.
Featured events for the day will include Story Time: Fantastic Forests (11 a.m.), Flamingo Talk/Macaw Training (11:30 a.m.), TREEmendous Trees: Talk and Exploration (noon), Burrowing Buddies: Animal Presentation (1 p.m.), Lynx Enrichment (1:30 p.m.), Beneficial Butterflies: Talk and Exploration (2 p.m.), Bear Enrichment (2:30 p.m.), Wonders of Water: Animal Presentation Half-Hour Animal Talks/Feeding/Enrichment at Exhibits (3 p.m.), and Bison Enrichment (3:30 p.m.).
In addition to the Zoo’s Earth Day celebration, the annual Zoo Stampede 5K, sponsored by Vernon Powell Shoes, will be taking place onsite early on in the morning. Visit the Salisbury Zoological Park website for additional information on both events.
Earth Day Cleanup & Celebration at CareFirst Engagement Center
Another unique volunteer cleanup celebration slated for Saturday, April 20, is happening at CareFirst Engagement Center in Baltimore. Free for all to attend, participants will get down to work in doing good for the planet starting at 10 a.m. Lunch will be part of the package as well as listening to guests speak on the importance of a clean environment. The event concludes at 1 p.m. Service hours can be earned by attending. Follow the link to learn more.
Earth Day Festival at Slayton House Theater
Over in Columbia, Maryland, the Wilde Lake Community Association is presenting its own Earth Day Festival on the green outside their resident Slayton House Theatre this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a goal of both celebrating and raising environmental awareness in Howard County, the day promises a host of onsite happenings for all ages. These will include crafts, green-based activities, live music and other entertainment, demos, great food, and even a plant exchange. Visit the Wilde Lake Community Association calendar link for all other information.
Earth Day on the Farm
Another exciting celebration set for Saturday is Earth Day on the Farm at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center in Cockeysville. Taking place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., this free-for-all family-friendly folly provides the ultimate farm-focused endeavor. Come out and support local area farmers via the vast market setup laden with freshly picked produce, cut flowers, honey, preserves, plant starts, and more. There will even be garden supplies on sale while they last.
In addition to sales, ongoing activities, games, crafts, and live entertainment will keep the day lively and vibrant. And delicious food vendors will keep you nourished. Guests are also sure to have fun touring the Ag Center Farm Park via ongoing hayrides. Visit the Baltimore County Ag Center website to learn more.
Earth Day Party for the Planet at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is celebrating Earth Day with a three-day event, kicking off on Friday, April 19, and continuing through Sunday, April 21. Taking place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. all weekend long, this family-friendly Earth Day Party is free to all visitors with regular Zoo admission or membership. You’re in for a blast with zookeeper-led discussions, educational activities, and more. The exciting event schedule includes participating in the mobileOperation: Conservation activity (and winning a prize for it), learning about protecting native species by visiting the partnering local organization tables throughout the Zoo, discovering the importance of turtle tracking, crafting activities in the Penguin Education Center, and finding out how you can prevent the spread of invasive species with horticulture experts in Pawprint Park (Main Valley). Discover more about this event and other general Zoo-related information at the official Maryland Zoo website.
Elk Neck Earth Day Celebration
Over in Cecil County, there’s another Earth Day folly happening on Saturday. This one is the much beloved Elk Neck Earth Day Celebration, held on location at the Elk Neck State Park’s resident nature center (in the campground) between 10 a.m. and noon. As a working event, participants will join park staff for a host of hands-on improvement tactics. You will even make your very own seed ball to take home. Click here to learn more about this and other events at Elk Neck State Park.
FULL: Earth Day Bird Walk
If a little bird told you about an upcoming Earth Day Bird Walk by the Howard County Bird Club this Saturday, then they were right. A free event at Mt. Pleasant Farm, this excellent opportunity to spot as many as 50 different bird species will get started bright and early at 8 a.m. A wonderful opportunity for avid birders and first-timers alike, everyone is encouraged to bring their best pair of binoculars and adequate hiking shoes. You’ll be outside until at least 11 a.m.
Although this is a free event, space is very limited, and you must reserve your space in advance. Beware, however, as this event is a pretty big deal and available spaces fill up fast. Visit the Howard County Bird Conservancy website for all other details.
Progress360 Earth Day
What better way to look towards a brighter future than with a retro flashback video dance party? That will be the scene at The Barking Dog on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the Cocktail and Retro Video Dance Party Celebrating Earth Day 2024. Made possible by ForestPlanet, head on over to The Barking Dog in Bethesda for a happy hour laden with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and exhibits. The evening will progress into a flashback video dance party, starting with a 1970s funk/disco vibe before transforming into an 80s/90s switchover.
Partying will continue through the night until closing. The cost for attending is $45 in advance and $60 at the door. Visit the events link to learn more or to purchase your tickets.
Spring Open House and Earth Day Celebration in Frederick
Doubling as a Spring Open House as well as a community-wide Earth Day celebration, the City of Frederick Department of Parks and Recreation is putting on the ultimate free-for-all party on Saturday, April 20 at Talley Recreational Center and Baker Park. Occurring between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., this ultimate spring and nature combo celebration will provide plenty of onsite crafts, activities, and entertaining endeavors galore. It will also serve as a delightful vendor setup for many programs folks may consider signing up for, including camps, workshops, and spring/summertime recreations. Click here for all other information and more detailed descriptions.
Earth Day at Summerseat Farm
Historic Summerseat Farm in St. Mary’s County will play host to its own Earth Day celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A free event that’s open to the public, the day promises a host of ongoing family-friendly fun, including onsite activities, working demos, environmental-based vendors, food, live music, free native plant giveaways, live animal encounters, and so much more. Find additional details by clicking this link.
Takoma Park Earth Day Celebration
Saturday’s Earth Day celebration by the City of Takoma Park packs yet another exciting option. In fact, it’s more than befitting for this notable “Tree City” to engage in such an offering. Taking place in the Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park, this year’s celebration will run between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and showcase a broad range of both city departments and local environmental partners alike. Onsite activities and featured highlights will include arts and crafts, face painting, snow cones, guided tree walks, and more. Educational materials detailing sustainability programs and other resource guides will be available to all who attend. You’ll also find out about various existing community environmental involvement opportunities. Visit for official City of Takoma Park website for all other information about this event and others.
These are just some of the Earth Day events that will be taking place throughout the weekend in our state. Additionally, several other Earth Day-oriented options are slated to occur after the official Earth Day calendar date as well. Some of these will be paired with upcoming Arbor Day events for the following week while others will take place in May.
Some of the aforementioned events scheduled for Saturday also have listed rain dates for Sunday. Furthermore, as always, every listing is subject to change, so plan accordingly and double-check in advance before heading out.