10 ways to celebrate Earth Day in Southern California
Earth Day is a global environmental movement where we’re all asked to think about and maybe even actually do something to better our world on Saturday, April 22.
Typically, inhabitants of Earth participate on this day by volunteering and taking part in events that help the planet and all of the creatures living on it. There are plenty of events happening on Earth Day as well as several green-themed happenings taking place in the days leading up to and post-Earth Day.
Here 10 ways to celebrate the holiday around Southern California.
Earth Day at Quail Hill Community Center
Quail Hill Community Center, 39 Shady Canyon Drive, Irvine. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 15. 949-724-6814 or cityofirvine.org. Free.
The city’s Quail Hill center will team up with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy to offer guided hikes in honor of Earth Day. And for those wanting to help the Earth at home there will be a compost demonstration at noon.
CicLAvia – Mid City Meets Pico Union
Mid City and Pico Union. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday, April 16, ciclavia.org. Free.
This event takes place in various parts of the city and encourages participants to get out of their cars and get on bikes or walk on foot, ride skateboards or any other type of people-powered means of transportation by closing down a stretch of street to cars. The Earth Day event takes place in the Mid City and Pico Union area with the Mid City route starting on La Brea Avenue and heading down Washington Boulevard to 7th Street then turning up to Venice Boulevard with the route extending to Hoover Avenue.
Getting “Wiggly” with Composting
Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Ave., Cypress. 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. 714-826-0350 or ocpl.org. Free.
Young kids can learn all about the Earth during a special story time and about composting with worms from a Discovery Cube Science Center educator. It all ends with kids making the “Ants on a Log” desert, which is celery decorated with chocolates and raisins to look like ants walking on a log.
CSUDH Earth Day Festival
Cal State Dominguez Hills, 1000 E Victoria Street, Carson. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. April 18. 310-243-2303 or eventbrite.com. Free.
The school celebrates Earth Day at the weekly Farmers Market located on the East and South Walkways with about two dozen environmentally-themed booths, bingo games as well as e-waste, battery and shoe recycling and an upcycled art exhibit. From 2:30-3 p.m., environmental and feminist artist Kim Abeles will be speaking on the library’s fifth floor.
Earth Day Cleanup
Crown Valley Park Amphitheater, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel. 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 22. 949-362-4300 or cityoflagunaniguel.org. Free
Since Earth Day is all about treating the Earth nicely, the city of Laguna Nigel is looking for volunteers to help clean the Niguel Botanical Preserve. Volunteers plant, weed, add mulch, and clean up areas of the gardens. Pre-registration is required.
Earth Day at the White Point Nature Preserve
White Point Nature Preserve, 1600 Paseo del Mar, San Pedro, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. April 22. Register at pvplc.volunteerhub.com. Free
Volunteers can help the wildlife at the preserve by removing invasive vegetation, planting native species, cleaning seeds, spreading mulch and other activities. The day will also include a guided garden walk, a native plant sale, scavenger hunt and a raffle.
Glendora Earth Day Festival
Glendora City Hall, 116 E. Foothill Blvd., Glendora, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 22. 626-914-8228 or cityofglendora.org. Free
The city is going all out for Earth Day with activities that include a community bike ride, a reptile show plus a scavenger hunt and face painting for kids. The city will also offer free shuttles that will take residents on an eco-tour of Glendora and to the Dalton Wilderness Area.
Riverside Insect Fair
Riverside Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 22. 951-826-5408 or riversideca.gov/insectfair. Free
The buzz on this event is that bugs will be teaching kids about the Earth with the help of Entomology students who will be showing off bugs like beetles, butterflies and all sorts of other insects to exhibit importance of nature. Also on hand will be the Wyland Mobile Learning Experience, a mobile truck that will teach kids all about the water cycle.
Teen Climate Fest: Earth Day Edition
Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 22. 562-590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org. Paid admission to Aquarium required. Admission is $36.95 per adult, $26.95 per child, $33.95 per senior and free for Aquarium members.
The Earth is in the hands of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Teen Climate Council as they put on a stylish event in Long Beach. The day will include an upcycled fashion show featuring recycled items, panels discussing environmentally-friendly fashion as well as booths manned by fashion companies and teen environmental researchers.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour
Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth Street, San Pedro, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, April 23, pvplc.org. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will present 14 films at the Warner Grand Theatre in honor of Earth Day. Topics will range from kayaking to Alaskan dog sledding to stories about saving wildlife and other conservation efforts.