This year for Earth Day in NYC, the city is celebrating sustainability. Throughout the month you’ll find a number of events around the city that encourage New Yorkers to be more environmentally conscious and to live in harmony with our planet!
Fromgetting your hands dirty by participating in citywide clean-ups to enjoying free activations on car-free streets (and much more), here are some of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day in NYC this year.
1. Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day
The annual Car Free Earth Day in NYC event will be returning for its sixth year on Saturday, April 20. On these car-free streets you can enjoy exciting activations such as healthy eating demos, an urban design workshop, animal trivia, biofact presentations, and rides on Lime scooters, just to name a few! Learn more here.
Where: Full list of streets
When: Saturday, April 20, 10 am – 4 pm
2. Seaport Kids x Earth Day event
Stop by the Seaport on Earth Day and you’ll find an afternoon jam-packed of Earth-friendly activities and demonstrations that will teach kids about our planet while embracing their green thumbs! The area’s Seaport Kids event series will continue with an Earth Day focus…offering arts and crafts featuring recycled boxes and other reused materials, science and planting activities, and a magic show from 12 pm – 1:00 pm. Learn more here.
Where: Seaport Square & Wavertree (89 South Street, between Piers 16 & 17)
When: Saturday, April 20, 11 am – 2 pm
3. Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert
The Broadway Green Alliance and Times Square Alliance have announced a free Earth Day concert in Times Square featuring star-studded live performances from Broadway’s top talent and young performers from around the region, as well as interviews with environmental thought-leaders.
Some names set to appear include host Ben Cameron (Broadway Sessions), Tony Award Winner Ruthie Ann Miles (Sweeney Todd), Tony Award Nominee Anika Larsen (Almost Famous), Lissa deGuzman (Wicked), Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Courtney Reed (Moulin Rouge), Jelani Remy (Back to the Future), Nic Rouleau (The Book of Mormon), Alexandra Socha (Wicked), Nik Walker (Spamalot), and more to be announced!
Where: Times Square
When: Saturday, April 20, 11 am – 3 pm
4. Get a free tree to plant in your backyard
The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is working to make the city a bit greener, and this April and May they’re giving away free trees across NYC! Across all 5 boroughs, they’ll be giving tons of many native species to give away, all you have to do is register. Learn more here.
Where: Multiple locations
When: April 13 – May 12
5. Earth Day Initiative’s Earth Day 2024 Festival + Virtual Stage
Earth Day Initiative is bringing people together to call for climate action and environmental justice. Their Earth Day 2024 Festival on April 14 in Union Square will feature exhibits by dozens of environmental non-profits and climate campaigns, live performances, art installations, kids’ activities, and sustainable foods.
You can also find a booth for Save Soil, which works to shed light on the global issue of soil degradation and advocate to improve soil health. In Union Square from 12-6 p.m., the team will be sharing flyers, stickers, and other Save Soil material, plus there will be coordinated dancing and more!
Additionally, the Initiative is hosting an Earth Day Virtual Stage online on April 22, which is a broadcast that will feature a range of conversations on climate action and environmental justice with Bill Nye the Science Guy, actor Robert Downey Jr, actress Alysia Reiner, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, artist Olafur Eliasson, and climate activists and experts like Jerome Foster II, Alexandria Villasenor, Katharine Hayhoe, and Leah Stoke.
Where: Union Square
When: April 14 (in-person) & April 22 (virtual)
6. “Single Use Reflections” at The High Line
From now until April 17, you can check out an Earth Day-themed sculpture on The High Line by renowned artist & activist, Benjamin Von Wong. “Single Use Reflections” invites viewers to pause for a moment of reflection on how widespread systemic change and small individual lifestyle shifts regarding waste can evoke hope and positively impact our planet’s future.
Where: The High Line
When: April 3 – 17
7. Bee-A-Pollinator: Earth Day Service Day at Queens County Farm Museum
Queens Farm is honoring Earth Day in NYC by hosting a volunteer service day. Hosting its 54th annual Earth Day event, Queens Farm is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State, and this year you can assist with sifting compost, a spring clean-up, mulching, garden bed prep, and more. You can also enjoy talks with the farm’s beekeeper, a book swap, tractor-drawn hayrides ($5/person), free giveaways, and more! You can register here.
Where: Queens County Farm Museum (73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, NY)
When: Monday, April 22, 12 pm – 4:30 pm
8. $1 Earth Day Sale at Buffalo Exchange
Bargain hunters and thrifting lovers, this one’s for you! On Saturday, April 20, Buffalo Exchange will be hosting its annual Earth Day $1 Sale at all locations. While supplies last certain items will be only $1, and all proceeds from the sale will benefit Goats of Anarchy, a vegan farm sanctuary who rescues and rehabilitates animals who are sick, injured, abused or otherwise disabled. Be sure to get there early—it’s likely a line will start forming! (P.S. this sale is cash only!)
Where: Multiple Locations
When: Saturday, April 20
9. Earth Day on Governors Island
The Island’s second annual Earth Day celebration is offering a day of free programming, inviting New Yorkers to spend the day on Governors Island and enjoy free educational activities and workshops for all ages, guided tours through the Island’s open space, and live performances inspired by ecology and the environment. The full event schedule can be found on their website.
Where: Governors Island
When: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
10. Turn your food and yard waste into soil through drop-off or curbside composting
One third of New Yorkers trash is comprised of food scraps and yard waste, but rather than throwing it out just to have it end up in a landfill, why not compost it? Composting speeds up the decomposition process by providing the waste with decomposing organisms, such as fungi and worms, leaving behind a nutrient-rich soil-looking matter can work wonders in a garden. Make everyday Earth Day in NYC when you participate in composting. Learn more here.
11. Randall’s Island Park Alliance Earth Day Festival
Randall Island’s free Earth Day event will include all sorts of activities celebrating nature, spring, and community engagement amidst the stunning cherry blossoms. Partners include Soh Daiko (Traditional Japanese drumming and movement performance), Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY (showcase of traditional Japanese dance), story time with Boogie Down Books, spin art with Art in the Park, hula hooping with Hoop to Health, live music, cooking demonstrations, free donuts, and many more activities. Learn more here!
12. Human / Nature: Encountering Ourselves in the Natural World
Explore this Earth-focused exhibit at Fotografiska, which brings together more than a dozen photographers from around the world through nearly 60 works to investigate humanity’s impact on the climate of planet Earth. Alongside the exhibit, the museum will be having an accompanying ikebana workshop (April 21), which is the Japanese art of floral design. Learn more about the exhibit here.