Earth Day/Arbor Day 2024: Celebrate Mother Earth, get free trees and just say no to plastics

Earth Month kicked off in spectacular fashion with a partial eclipse here in South Florida. But that shouldn’t overshadow the slew of environmental-themed events leading up to Earth Day on Monday, April 22, and Arbor Day on Friday, April 26.

Earthday.org has chosen “Planet vs. Plastics” as this year’s theme, with the goal of highlighting damage caused by plastics and microplastics.

South Florida PBS investigates plastic and its effects on human health in a documentary by filmmaker Rory Fielding titled “We’re All Plastic People Now.” Coproduced by South Florida PBS, with an introduction by actor Ted Danson, the film is scheduled to air on WXEL at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18, and WPBT at 10 p.m. Saturday, April 20. It’s available for streaming anytime at pbs.org.

Broward County Public Schools will go plastic-free for breakfast and lunch on Earth Day as a way to raise awareness and minimize its use. The Food and Nutrition Services Department plans to serve finger foods and use paper trays and containers, while high school students will receive bamboo forks.

Efforts to clean beaches, parks and roadways have been at the heart of Earth Day since it was first observed in 1970.

More than 15 Winn-Dixie employees from stores across South Florida recently picked up litter at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, which covers more than 440 acres on the southern tip of Key Biscayne.

Port Everglades is working with two conservation groups on Earth Day to drill oyster shells, string and hang them from dock crests as a way to clean Fort Lauderdale’s waterways, reinforce reefs and create new oyster colonies.

Below, find ways to show your appreciation for Mother Earth — and learn about conservation and sustainability initiatives — in a city near you this year.

TREE GIVEAWAYS

• Oakland Park: Residents and business owners can drive through and pick up three free trees or shrubs starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20, until supplies last, at the Collins Community Center, 3900 NE Third Ave. Bring proof of Oakland Park residency or business ownership. There will be educational booths with information about planting in the right place, watering and aftercare. Visit oaklandparkfl.gov/654/Tree-Giveaway.
• Delray Beach: Residents can walk up and receive up to three free trees (one fruit tree maximum) per household starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at The Delray Beach Historical Society, 3 NE First St. Available trees in 3-gallon containers will be green buttonwood, paradise tree, star apple, mango and sugar apple. Proof of residency is required. Visit communitygreening.org.
• Dania Beach: Receive a free crape myrtle (flowering) or oak (shade) tree during a drive-up event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, on Fronton Boulevard near Frost Park, 300 NE Second St. There is a limit of one tree per vehicle, while supplies last. Visit daniabeachfl.gov.
• Deerfield Beach: Residents who want to plant a new tree on their property can attend a giveaway on Saturday, April 27, at the Bernard Adams Municipal Complex, 401 SW Fourth St. Those who sign up in advance can pick up their tree from 8 to 9 a.m., while nonregistered homeowners can receive a tree on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m. to noon. Proof of residency is required. Fruit, flowering, evergreen and palm trees will be available. Visit deerfield-beach.com/calendar.
• Margate: Drive up, pop your trunk and receive a free tree starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 27, until supplies last, at the northwest corner of State Road 7 and Margate Boulevard. Vehicles may enter on Seton Drive to receive one tree per address. Proof of residency is required. Walk-ups are not allowed. Visit margatefl.com.

CLEANUPS

• Boca Raton: Clean up the beach at Spanish River Park, 3001 N. State Road A1A, with Gumbo Limbo Nature Center from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April  20. Free T-shirts will be provided by Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful while supplies last. Children younger than 18 must participate with an adult. Advance registration is required by calling 561-544-8605. Visit myboca.us.
• Deerfield Beach: Gather at the chickee hut across from the fire station, 71 Ocean Way, to help clean the beach from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 20. Gloves, buckets and water will be provided (as well as community service hours). The first 30 volunteers will receive parking passes. Participants also can meet some of the city’s eco-partners during the Green Expo. Visit deerfield-beach.com/1833/Earth-Month.
• Delray Beach: The Sandoway Discovery Center, 142 S. Ocean Blvd., will be the meeting spot for the city’s cleanup efforts from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Register by calling the center at 561-274-7263 or emailing Danielle Beardsley at BeardsleyD@Mydelraybeach.com. Visit sandoway.org.
• Fort Lauderdale: Help clean the shorelines of the nature preserve along the banks of the New River in the Shady Banks neighborhood from 8:15 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Meet at Bill Keith Preserve Park, 1720 SW 17th St. You may bring your own kayak or paddleboard. Overflow parking is available at Hortt Park, 1700 SW 14th Court. Visit fortlauderdale.gov, or email aplasticfreeworld@gmail.com.
• Lantana: As part of the city’s Earth Day Month, the Great American Cleanup will help keep Lantana Beach beautiful from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at Municipal Beach Park, 100 N. Ocean Blvd. Gloves and bags will be provided. Visit lantana.org/calendar, or email nshawah@lantana.org.
• Royal Palm Beach: Grab bags and gloves provided by the village to volunteer for the Great American Cleanup. Registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Recreation Center, 100 Sweet Bay Lane. Refreshments and lunch will be served after the cleanup. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov.
• Wellington: Take part in the Great American Cleanup at various sites in the village from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Volunteers can check in at 9 a.m. at Olympia Park, 9830 Stribling Way. Register by calling the Community Services Department at 561-791-4796. Visit wellingtonfl.gov.
• Ocean Ridge: The nonprofit Coastal Stewards on Sunday, April 21, will have a beach cleanup (9 to 11:30 a.m.) and information session (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) in which attendees can learn about the benefits of beach cleanups on the coastal ecosystem at the Coastal Stewards Headquarters, 5112 N. Ocean Blvd. Participants will also receive an Earth Day giveaway. Registration is not required. Visit eventbrite.com.
• Greenacres: Come out to Greenacres Freedom Park, 2400 Pinehurst Drive, from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27, to volunteer for the Great American Cleanup. Cleaning materials, refreshments and lunch will be provided. Volunteers get a T-shirt (while supplies last) and community service credit. Children younger than 12 may participate with a parent or guardian. Wear appropriate work clothing and shoes. Visit greenacresfl.gov.

FESTIVALS

• Hollywood: Celebrate Earth Day with live music and environmental awareness at the Mother Ocean Music Festival 2024 from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Hollywood Beach bandshell, 200 Johnson St. There will be eco-friendly exhibits, interactive activities with conservation partners and demonstrations. Hosted by DJ Mike Kruz from Easy 93.1-FM, with special guest Martica from Hits 97.3-FM. Free admission. Visit hollywoodfl.org.
• Plantation: The third annual Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Volunteer Park, 12050 W. Sunrise Blvd., is designed to educate attendees about environmental work being done in the area. Also on the schedule: music, live shows, a kids’ activities area, vendors, inflatables, a rock-climbing wall and the weekly Farmers Market. There will also be a giveaway of 300 trees. Free admission. Visit plantation.org.
• Wellington: The Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration will take over the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, for a day of learning and activities. The event kicks off with the planting of a red maple tree in honor of Arbor Day. Find Earth-friendly products and demonstrations, pick up free native seedlings, enter the raffle for a free red maple tree in a 7-gallon container, and more. Free admission. Visit wellingtonfl.gov/674/Earth-Day-Arbor-Day.
• Weston: Get ready to strike a pose for Insta-worthy photo ops during Earth Day, The Weston Way from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Library Park, 4255 Bonaventure Blvd. Bring the family for educational booths, hands-on activities, arts and crafts, a topiary garden, a 3-D chalk artist, and a DJ with music and giveaways. The city has earned a Community Wildlife Habitat designation from the National Wildlife Federation for its effort to become healthier, sustainable and more wildlife-friendly; residents can learn how to register their gardens or yards during the event. Free. Visit westonfl.org.

• Boca Raton: Celebrate Earth Day with a variety of activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Daggerwing Nature Center in Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 11435 Park Access Road. There will be live animal encounters, crafts, environmental presentations, a butterfly plant sale, ladybug release, and meet-and-greets with Oakly, the PBC Parks & Recreation mascot. Some activities require cash or check donation to Friends of Daggerwing Nature Center. Visit discover.pbcgov.org/parks.
• Coral Springs: EarthFest will have nature exhibits, a plant giveaway, animal encounters and children’s activities from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27, at Sawgrass Nature Center, 3000 Sportsplex Drive. Residents can learn about city sustainability programs including composting, hazardous waste disposal and single-use plastic reduction. Also learn about the newly expanded Coral Springs Community Garden. Plant giveaways are for Coral Springs residents only. Availability is limited and ID is required. Visit CoralSprings.gov/Earthfest.

OTHER EVENTS

• Pompano Beach: “The Spirit of This Place” exhibition features works by conservation photographer Phoenix through May 25 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. The Fort Lauderdale resident’s images “reflect her devotion to protecting the natural environment, sense of oneness with the light and soul of the land and its inhabitants and a reverence for wild places,” according to the center. Free. Visit pompanobeachfl.gov.
• Boynton Beach: Read It, Grow It, Create It — An Earth Day Celebration will take place at the Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E. Ocean Ave., from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Kids age 5 to 12 can make recycled materials art (prizes will be given), plant seeds, enjoy snacks and read an environmentally themed book. Free. Visit bbflpl.libcal.com.
• Delray Beach: The Cornell Art Museum, in collaboration with the Delray Beach Office of Sustainability and Resilience, will offer a day of lectures and presentations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in honor of Earth Month. Among the topics: Florida habitat Restoration, Florida Corals, Plastics and Sea Turtles, Home Energy Ratings, Building Performance and Climate Action Planning. The event will be at the museum in Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave. Admission is free. Visit delrayoldschoolsquare.com.
• Juno Beach: The 12th annual Catwalk Student Fashion Show will bring wearable art pieces made from upcycled materials to the runway at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 U.S. Highway 1. This year’s theme is inspired by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and its marine conservation efforts. More than 24 middle and high school students took on the challenge to transform items from the Resource Depot, a nonprofit creative reuse center, into fashion designs with a message. The creations will be on display in the GalleRE exhibition at Resource Depot, 2508 Florida Ave., West Palm Beach, from May 3 to June 8. An opening reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 3. Free. Visit resourcedepot.org/all-upcoming-events.
• Wellington: Are you in the market for some new plants? The Wellington Garden Club will have a variety for sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. Annuals, bromeliads, butterfly plants, orchids, natives and perennials (sun and shade) will be offered from nurseries, vendors and Wellington Garden Club members. Other activities include a children’s craft table, advice from master gardeners and a plant raffle. Free admission. Visit wellingtonfl.gov.
• Parkland: The final Farmers’ Market of the season will feature an Environmental Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the Equestrian Center, 8350 Ranch Road. Shoppers will find fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, bread, pastries and other baked goods. Free admission. Visit cityofparkland.org.
• Boca Raton: Help plant 40 new trees with Community Greening and the city at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, along the walking trail of the Spanish River Athletic Complex, 1000 Spanish River Blvd. Gloves, water and snacks will be provided. Arborists and tree technicians will be on-site for guidance. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Wear closed-toed shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Register in advance at eventbrite.com.