9 Places to Celebrate Earth Day With Kids

Thank you to Fourth Street Berkeley for sponsoring today’s post.

Show the Earth some love and celebrate Earth Day with your East Bay kids. I love it as a great opportunity to teach children about the place we live, and why it’s important to take care of it. Even small actions can help make a difference and benefit the Earth. Don’t forget to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors! Earth Day takes place on Friday, April 22, 2022, but many celebrations happen over the weekend.

How to celebrate Earth Day? Here are several ideas for your family:

Bike to Fourth Street for a big Earth Party – Saturday, April 23, 11 am to 4 pm. With live music in the streets, children planting seeds, a succulent giveaway, professionals painting vines along kids’ arms, and a just-right puppet show, there are many reasons to swing by Fourth Street and join in the celebration. If you’re able to bike or walk there, that’s even better. Plan your visit >

Volunteer to help the Earth. There are loads of events for Earth Day; see our list below for kid-friendly events and volunteer opportunities. Many East Bay cities host community-wide clean-ups or self-guided opportunities, including Oakland, Hayward, Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont, and East Bay Regional Parks. Find one that fits your family’s schedule, interests, location, and mood. And go!

Take a hike in the great outdoors. Play outside with your children and take in the beauty of our East Bay landscape. Whether you’re up for a stroller-friendly walk, toddler-level hike, or something more significant, our area has so much nature to appreciate. Here are some hikes to try >>

Pro tip: Level up and combine your hike with the next activity!

Go outside and pick up some trash. Head to your local park, beach, or even neighborhood block. Bring a plastic bag and wear some gloves, then pick up whatever garbage you find, and properly dispose of it at home. This is a simple, yet an effective activity that’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Read a book or watch a movie that is pro-environment. The Lorax is a classic, and The Curious Garden is good too. Wild Kratts teaches all kinds of lessons about animals. Common Sense Media has more recommendations for environmentally-minded films. More Earth Day book picks for families >>

Create a green space. Plants some flowers, vegetables, or even a tree as a family. The greenery from plants purifies the air, supports animal habitats, and teaches kids that plants need to be nurtured. Plus getting dirty in the garden is always fun! More tips on East Bay gardening with kids here >>

Teach environmentally-friendly behaviors at home. Small actions add up when it comes to caring for the Earth. Start by acting in environmentally-friendly ways while at home and teach your children to do the same: make a compost pile, ride a bike or take public transportation, turn off lights in unused rooms, visit a zero-waste store, or conserve water while washing hands or brushing teeth.

Visit a Farmers Market. Taste the bounty at your nearby Farmers Market or go further afield for Bay Area fruit picking. The San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace sells Carmel Honey, founded by Jake Reisdorf (pictured below), a passionate advocate for saving honey bee populations.

Lots More East Bay Families’ Earth Day Events

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Time	Event
10:00 am - 4:00 pm	Earth Day Celebration at Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo, Oakland

Friday, April 22, 2022

Time	Event
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm	Earth Day at Jack London Square Jack London Square, Oakland
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Earth Day Block Print Workshop for Teens Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), Berkeley
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Earth Day Plant Swap 1218 Fourth St., Berkeley

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Time	Event
8:30 am - 11:30 am	Hayward 39th Annual Earth Day Citywide Clean Up Weekes Community Center Park, Hayward
9:00 am - 12:00 pm	Berkeley Waterfront Earth Day Cleanup Event Shorebird Park Nature Center, Berkeley
9:00 am - 1:00 pm	Earth Day Seed Planting for Kids San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco
10:00 am - 2:00 pm	Celebrate Earth Day with Urban Tilth Unity Park on the Richmond Greenway, Richmond
10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Downtown San Leandro Family Earth Day Festival Casa Peralta, San Leandro
10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Earth Day Festival at CCM Children’s Creativity Museum (CCM), San Francisco
10:00 am - 1:00 pm	Earth Day in the Garden Ruth Bancroft Gardens, Walnut Creek
10:00 am - 1:00 pm	Family Art Day Shadelands Art Center, Walnut Creek
11:00 am - 4:00 pm	Earth Day Celebration on 4th Fourth Street Shops, Berkeley
11:30 am - 2:30 pm	Family Cycling Rodeo: Fremont Fremont Downtown Event Center & Plaza, Fremont
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm	Earth Day Discovery Stations and Open House UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, Berkeley

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Time	Event
9:00 am - 1:00 pm	Earth Day at the Farmer's Market Downtown Martinez, Martinez

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Time	Event
11:00 am - 2:00 pm	15th Annual Lafayette Earth Day Festival Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Lafayette

What will you do to celebrate Earth Day? Tell us in the comments or over on the 510 Families Facebook page.

Thank you again to Fourth Street Berkeley for sponsoring today’s post. Throughout the year, Fourth Street hosts many family-friendly events and celebrations in addition to being a destination for terrific shops and restaurants. If you’re within a few miles, bike over to Fourth Street to celebrate Earth Day.