Earth Day is a globally recognized day reminding everyone to pause and appreciate this big beautiful rock we live on and to advocate for its preservation. Whether you curl up with a family-friendly Earth Day movie, or you want to take part in a Seattle-area Earth Day celebration, there are so many ways families can honor the planet we all call home. After all, we only have one!
Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.: South Sound Sustainability Expo, Tacoma
Designed for the whole family, South Sound Sustainability Expo is the region’s largest community celebration of all things sustainable. Kids can take part in a craft supply swap or go on a scavenger hunt to earn a prize. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.–noon: Auburn Earth Day Clean Sweep
Sign up for a spot at Auburn’s cleanup event to help keep its parks shipshape! Start the morning off with a free welcome breakfast (7:30–8:30 a.m.) at the Auburn Community & Events Center. Projects kick off at 9 a.m. Preregister.
Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.–noon: Keep Issaquah Beautiful Day
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to lend a hand and help keep Issaquah looking its best at this city-wide beautification event, which is followed by a pizza party and live music. Preregister.
Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.–noon: Tacoma Parks Appreciation Day
Show appreciation for our beautiful Earth by putting in some work at one of four popular parks in Tacoma. Sign up in advance for a spot to spruce up your local greenspaces.
Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.: Mukilteo Earth Day
Do your part to help clean up the community! Not only will you get a free T-shirt, but afterwards you can join other volunteers at Lighthouse Park for a community barbecue. Families are welcome!
Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.: Earth Day at the Arboretum, Seattle
Gear up for a morning doing some weeding, mulching and invasive plant removal at fantastic Washington Park Arboretum (preregister; ages 15 and older to volunteer). Afterwards, look forward to free tram rides around the loop trail; opportunities to learn about pollinators; and a chance to buy some grub at a food truck for lunch (open to all).
Saturday, April 20, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.: Earth Day at 21 Acres, Woodinville
Roll up your sleeves and help out with some volunteer projects at this agroecological farm (ages 13 years and older, please), take a green building tour, join an in-person farm walk tour or do all three activities at 21 Acres. Preregister.
Saturday, April 20, 9:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m.: Earth Day Run, Kids’ Dash and Tree Giveaway, Seattle
Run (or walk) at the Earth Day Run held at Magnuson Park and help the environment! Each finisher will receive a native sapling tree, and an additional tree will be planted for each person who completes the race. Preregister; $30–$40; $5 kids’ dash.
Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Leap for Green Family Sustainability Fair, Mercer Island
Bring the family to this annual sustainability fair and have fun while learning about best environmental practices. There will be activities and entertainment for all ages. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Duwamish Alive Earth Day Volunteer Events, various locations
All ages are welcome to help improve areas of the Green-Duwamish Watershed, which supports five salmon species and other wildlife, at various volunteer parties. Tools and snacks will be provided. Preregister for individual sites.
Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Water Heroes and Earth Day activities, Olympia
Are you ready to help our planet? Create your own water superhero identity and learn how to save water and protect the planet through games and crafts at the WET Science Center. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Earth Day Celebration at Cougar Mountain Zoo, Issaquah
Visit your favorite critters at Cougar Mountain Zoo and check out the fun Earth Day activities going on at this annual event. Timed tickets can be booked in advance; $13–$16 per person; ages 1 and younger are free.
Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Renton Sustainability Fair
Get ready to have fun while you learn about sustainability options in the City of Renton at this free fair held at the Renton Community Center. There will be live music, games, food trucks and hands-on science stations with the Environmental Science Center.
Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Sammamish Earth Day Celebration
Head to Beaver Lake Park for family fun and games, including a petting zoo, a bug and reptile interactive station, crafts and performances. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: EarthFest at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Bellevue Botanical Garden makes a beautiful backdrop for this inaugural EarthFest boasting all-ages sustainable fun. Play interactive games, take a garden tour, create art and more. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.: Celebrate Earth Day at the Museum of Flight, Seattle
The Museum of Flight has Earth Day activities going on all day. Make insect wands and learn about insect flight; join a livestream discussion about recycling space trash into gas; and help plant wildflower seeds around the museum campus. These seeds, or “Wishes for the Earth,” were embedded in paper that were part of a sculpture featured in the Museum’s Art+Flight exhibit. The seeds are available while supplies last, and the Earth Day activities are included with admission ($18–$26; children younger than 4 are free).
Saturday, April 20, noon–3 p.m.: Snohomish Earth Day Community Celebration
Snohomish has a slew of activities planned at the Carnegie including tribal stories, community art, environmental restoration, recycling info and more. Kids fun kicks off at 2 p.m. with games, crafts, an instrument zoo, sack races and chalk murals. Free.
Saturday, April 20, noon–4 p.m.: Earth Day Celebration, Puyallup
Explore the great outdoors, perform nature experiments, and score free trees and pollinator seeds at Meridian Habitat Park during a family-friendly day filled with fun and learning. Free.
Saturday, April 20, noon–4 p.m.: Earth Day Celebration: Baby Salmon Send Off, Issaquah
Fish fans can pen a letter to the baby salmon wishing them “good luck” at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery before they are released on their journey to the ocean in May. Then, check out salmon-themed arts and crafts, tour the native plant garden and feed rainbow trout. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 2–4:30 p.m.: Ladybug Festival: An Earth Day Celebration, Seattle
Witness the release of ladybugs in the Garfield Community Center Garden while you learn about the importance of these and other pollinators to our environment through fun hands-on activities. Free.
Saturday, April 20, 2–4: p.m.: Celebrate Earth Day at Pacific Place, Seattle
Sing, dance and laugh along with Ella-Bella Bee and the Pollinators as you learn about bees and hummingbirds and their role in the food chain. Then get crafty with recycled materials and have your face painted at this fun, kid-friendly and free Earth Day celebration.
Sunday, April 21, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.: Earth Day Celebration, Des Moines
Check out live marine animals, crafts for kids, volunteer work and guided nature hikes at Saltwater State Park during the free family-friendly Earth Day event. RSVP for the volunteer creek restoration.
Sunday, April 21, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Trek Earth Day Ride, Sea-Tac
Get outside and get pedaling! All are invited to join a casual, all-ages 10-mile group bike ride along the trails of Pat Ryan Memorial Field to celebrate Earth Day. You might even win a raffle prize. Free.
Monday, April 22, all day: Washington State Parks Free Day
Enjoy the beauty and bounty of our natural spaces at one or more of Washington’s 140 state parks. A Discover Pass is not required to park a vehicle at any state park on Earth Day, April 22.
Monday, April 22, 4–6 p.m.: Celebrate Earth Day at Kirkland Urban
Bring the fam to learn about environmental issues and sustainable practices through hands-on activities, speakers and educational booths. Kids will have fun making crafts and getting their faces painted. Free.
Friday, April 26, 1–5 p.m.: Chalk Walk at Si View Park, North Bend
Gather a group and muster up some creative juices to create Earth Day art with chalk along the paved trail at Si View Park. Take a photo and enter it for exciting prizes. Free, but preregistration is required.
Saturday, April 27, 7:30–11 a.m.: Burien Clean Sweep
Help beautify Burien! Sign up for a stretch of road or a section of blocks and put your litter-busting skills to work. Your shift ends with a free to-go lunch.
Saturday, April 27, 10–11:30 a.m.: Guided Tree Walk, Tukwila
Head outdoors and get moving to learn about our native trees and how they support wildlife. All ages are welcome to join a free naturalist-led walk-through Duwamish Hill Preserve where you can expect to see willow, cottonwood, big leaf maple trees and more. Preregister.
Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.: Earth Day Expo, Bainbridge Island
Think green! Head to Battle Point Park for this Earth Day Expo and join a community effort to make positive changes for our environment. Take part in naturalist-led walks and other family-friendly activities. You can also grab a bite and enjoy live music. Free.
Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Earth and Arbor Day Festival, Duvall
Earth and Arbor Days unite at Depot Park during a festival celebrating our environment with information and activities around sustainability. Take part in a scavenger hunt, build a terrarium, take home trees, shrubs and saplings and more. Free.
Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Kenmore Earth Day Event
Take time to appreciate the great outdoors by bringing the fam to Rhododendron Park, where there will be all-ages activities, including a scavenger hunt, volunteer work party and a guided nature walk. Free.
Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Energy Block Party, Everett
Kids will have a blast checking out an electric vehicle car show and experiencing “Truckstravaganza,” where they can see utility trucks up close and even take a photo in a bucket truck. The fun is all part of Snohomish Public Utilities’ Earth Day celebration. Free.
Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: The Good Festival, Tukwila
Westfield Southcenter celebrates the sustainability efforts of its shopping center and retailers by hosting a festival for the community to learn about these green initiatives and encourage shoppers to go green. Kids can participate in craft and planting activities (preregister, please) and everyone can groove to ’80s cover band, Nite Wave.
Saturday, April 27, noon–2 p.m.: Earth Day Science Exploration, Renton
Drop in to learn about local plants, wildlife and ecosystems with the Environmental Science Center at the Renton Highlands Library and get hands-on with crafts and science projects. Free.
More ways to celebrate Earth Day, every day: |
Editor’s note: This story originally published in 2021 and was most recently updated in April 2024 to include new Earth Day events and activities for Seattle-area families.
