CHICAGO — There are over 600 parks in the Park District system, from corner playgrounds to the 18-mile lakefront.
Some of these parks will be the location of Earth Day events. Celebrations for the holiday will include special film screenings, a foraging walk, a 5K, park cleanup days and sustainable craft sessions.
Earth Day is officially Wednesday, but the festivities begin this weekend and run through the following weekend in Chicago.
Here’s a roundup of 18 ways to celebrate Earth Day this year:
Kona, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever, plays with her owner Sara Tews at Horner Park’s dog-friendly area May 15, 2024. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez/Block Club Chicago
Horner Park Dog Park Cleanup
9 a.m.-noon Saturday
Horner Park Dog Park, 2772 W. Irving Park Road, Irving Park
Celebrate Earth Day on the Northwest Side with a dog park cleanup in Horner Park. You can sign up for different shifts to join neighbors in cleaning up the fenced-off dog park.
Find more information here.
Join neighbors to cleanup Rainbow Beach on April 18. Credit: Facebook
Rainbow Beach Cleanup
9 a.m.-noon Saturday
Rainbow Beach, 3111 E. 77th St., South Shore
Join Rainbow Beach Park Advisory Council for an Earth Day beach cleanup. Bags and gloves will be provided.
Browse volunteer options and find more information here.
Meet at North Pond for a foraging walk this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Eat The Parks Foraging Walk
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
North Pond, 2610 N. Cannon Drive, Lincoln Park
Full-time professional forager Dave Odd will lead a walk around the North Pond restaurant to explore at least 50 edible plants scattered around the park.
Find more information and buy tickets for $40 here.
Earth Day At Unity Park
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
Unity Park, 2636 N. Kimball Ave., Logan Square
Fans of the park can come by to plant a flower and take a flower, clean up litter, do arts-and-crafts activities and more. This event is free.
Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Loyola Park Cleanup & Mulching
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave., Rogers Park
Spruce up Loyola Park for the summer and connect with neighbors at the fieldhouse cleanup. Gloves and supplies will be provided, and volunteers can expect to spread mulch and pick up litter.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
A previous Kosciuszko Park cleanup. Credit: Facebook
10th Annual Koz Park Earth Day Celebration
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday
Kosciuszko Park, 2732 N. Avers Ave., Logan Square
The 10th annual Earth Day cleanup is back at Kosciuszko Park. Stop by to help neighbors clean around the park, put mulch on young trees and tend to the native plants in one of the neighborhood’s largest green spaces.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Earth Fest
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Garfield Park
Stop by Garfield Park Conservatory for a day-long Earth Day celebration with activities hosted by nature educators, a toddler zone and story hour with Beth and Kathleen Rooney. There will also be the premiere of the play and “grow benches” installations, a special sculpture exhibition by Cody Norman and a wellness market. All items for sale at the market, like incense and shea butter, are made by teenagers in the Urban Roots program.
This is a free event and is included with your reservation to the conservatory. Find more information and make your reservation here.
A previous Humboldt Park Earth Day 5K. Credit: Facebook
Humboldt Park 5K
9 a.m. Sunday
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1359 N. Humboldt Blvd., Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park is celebrating Earth Day with its annual 5K through the park. Run, walk and recycle alongside your neighbors. There will also be treats from local vendors to explore after the race.
Register for $35 and find more information here.
A New Public Imaginary For The Calumet River
Noon-3 p.m. Sunday
3040 E. 96th St., East Side
Join the Calumet River Access Team as they build a vision for the Calumet River’s future. Neighbors can stop by throughout the day to explore the history of the river and socialize in a space that has long been restricted from the public. This event is supported by the National Humanities Center and their Being Human Festival.
This is a free event. Find more information and RSVP here.
The Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting a week of Earth Day-themed activities. Credit: Facebook
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Earth Week
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through April 26
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park
The Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting a whole week of free Earth Day events for all ages. There will be Earth Day education activities, an adopt-an-animal table and experts to teach attendees about sustainability, horticulture and more. There will also be a Chicago Public Library Earth Day storytime, seal training and more.
These are free events. Find more information here.
Discover the Iris Trio’s new music exploring the human connection to nature. Credit: Provided
Iris Trio’s Music On Nature
6:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday
Guarneri Hall, 11 E. Adams St., Loop
The Iris Trio is headed to Chicago for Earth Day for their premiere of “Project Earth,” a musical journey through human’s connection to nature with chamber music and poetry. The clarinet-viola-piano trio will join in a reception after the performance.
Tickers are $50 for general admission and $10 for students. Find more information and buy tickets here.
People bathe at 31st Street Beach on July 5, 2024. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
31st Street Beach Cleanup
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday
3100 S. Lake Shore Drive, Bronzeville
Head to 31st Street Beach for an Earth Day cleanup. Enjoy the lake while helping to clean up the shared outdoor space. Trash bags and gloves will be provided.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Garbage Gals Earth Day
5:30 p.m. Wednesday
2211 N. California Ave., Logan Square
Meet up with the Garbage Gals in Logan Square on Earth Day to clean up the area. Afterwards, the group will head to Best Intentions, 3281 W. Armitage Ave., for food and drinks.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
The Dan Ryan Woods. Credit: Forest Preserves of Cook County
Trash Bash
9 a.m.-noon April 25
Dan Ryan Woods-Central Picnic Grove #3, W. 83rd St., Auburn Gresham
Got an item you don’t know how to recycle? Stop by the Dan Ryan Woods to drop off electronics, prescription drugs, books, musical instruments, bikes and more to be properly recycled by the event partners.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Garfield Park Cleanup
9:30-11:30 a.m. April 25
Gold Dome Field House, 100 N. Central Park Ave., Garfield Park
Since 2020, Cleanup Club has removed almost 50,000 pounds of trash in Chicago. This Earth Day, the group is headed to Garfield Park to remove litter with provided grabbers, bags and gloves. After the cleanup, people can attend the Green Living Summit to learn how to live more eco-friendly.
This is a free event with a $10 suggested donation. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Earth Day Celebration
11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 25
Buttercup Park, 4901 N. Sheridan Road, Uptown
Stop by Buttercup Park to dispose of any hard-to-recycle items you’ve been holding on to with Reduce Waste Chicago. There will also be kids activities, a DJ and plenty of community organizations to share how to stay involved in the neighborhood.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Earth Day Upcycled Painting
3-6 p.m. April 26
Hey, I Thought Of You, 2839 W. Montrose Ave., Irving Park
Get crafty for Earth Day with a free community crafting evening at Hey, I Thought Of You. Join to paint on upcycled canvases, wood boards and more to practice sustainable art.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
A previous screening at the One Earth Festival. Credit: Facebook
One Earth Film Festival
1:30-4 p.m. April 26
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Loop
The Chicago Cultural Center is screening “In Our Nature” as the One Earth Film Festival continues. The documentary explores environmental education and its benefits to society.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
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