ORLANDO, Fla. — Monday, April 22, marks the 54th annual Earth Day. Across Central Florida, dozens of events, cleanups and celebrations are being held. 

What You Need To Know

  • Earth Day is Monday, April 22

  • Across Central Florida, dozens of events are being held to celebrate the holiday

  • Find events in your county below

The holiday was started in 1970 by Sen. Gaylord Nelson in an effort to bring attention to environmental protection. Today, millions of people across the country celebrate the holiday. Here in Central Florida, dozens of cleanups, celebrations and events are being held this weekend and Monday. Find an event in your county below:

Brevard:

  • In Sebastian, the city is hosting an Earth and Arbor Day celebration which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The event is free and will feature live music, educational speaker sessions and local business vendors.
  • In Melbourne, the Brevard Zoo is holding a “Party for the Planet” event from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be workshops from local conservation groups and Earth Day activities throughout the zoo. The cost of the event is included with general admission.
  • In Titusville, the county is holding an Earth Day celebration at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The free event will feature animals, guided hikes and live music. 

Flagler:

  • In Palm Coast, Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is hosting its annual Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be live entertainment, food and local vendors. Park entrance is $5 for vehicles up to eight people, $4 for vehicles with a single occupant and $2 for pedestrian entry.
  • In Flagler Beach, Flagler County Parks and Recreation is holding a gopher tortoise volunteer event from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve. Volunteers will learn about native vegetation to help gopher tortoises that live at the Preserve and will help remove invasive Brazilian pepper plants from the area. 

Lake:

  • At Lake Hiawatha Preserve, the city of Clermont is hosting a lake cleanup and Earth Day festival from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20. There will be environmental education activities, a DJ and a kids zone. 
  • In Clermont, AdventHealth and Sommer Sports Events are hosting an Earth Day Run starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Lake Minneola. There will be a 2-mile, 5-mile and 7-mile run. Registration is required and available here.
  • In Tavares, Reworld is hosting a Document Destruction Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 near Okahumpka. The event is part of Earth Week and will allow Lake County residents a free and safe way to dispose of documents that may contain personal information. Three boxes of documents are allowed per car.

Marion:

  • In Ocala, Laly Acres Nursery will be hosting an Earth Day Plant Sale and Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be plants, crafts and food vendors. 
  • In Ocala, the city is holding Earthfest at Tuscawilla Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be tree giveaways, rock wall climbing, a youth fishing derby, yoga, tree climbing, a clothing swap and more. The event is free to attend.

Orange:

  • In Christmas, Central Florida RECON is hosting a cleanup of the St. Johns River from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Seminole Ranch Conservation Area. Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended and there will be a supply of trash buckets and grabbers to share. 
  • In downtown Orlando, the Vegetarians of Central Florida are holding Central Florida Earth Day at Lake Eola Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The event will feature more than 100 local vendors, live music, environmental education activities and vegan food. Admission is free.
  • At the University of Central Florida, the UCF Arboretum is hosting an “Earth Day Swap Shop” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 22. The event will feature a free thrifting opportunity and sustainable clothing swap.
  • In Maitland, the Maitland Farmer’s Market will host an Earth Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. The event is free and there will be plant and tree giveaways, inflatable slides, live music and food vendors. 
  • In Winter Park, the city is holding the “Ward & Wellbeing Earth Day Block Party” from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at Ward Park. There will be a wild animal meet and greet, giveaways and free activities like face-painting.  

Osceola:

  • In Kissimmee, the city is hosting a volunteer cleanup event at Kissimmee Lakefront Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20. Volunteers will work on environmental projects and can choose to clean up the creek via canoe or the park by foot. Gloves and close-toed shoes are recommended, and a light lunch will be provided. 
  • In St. Cloud, the Osceola County Library System is holding an Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Veteran’s Memorial Library. The free event will have food trucks, crafts and local vendors. 

Seminole:

  • In Sanford, the Central Florida Zoo is holding a “Party for the Planet” event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be interactive activities, crafts and games. The cost of the event is included with general zoo admission.
  • In Altamonte Springs, the city library is hosting an “Earth Day Fun” event for kids from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22. The event is free and will feature crafts like finger-painting and DIY seed balls. The event is for children aged 5 -12.
  • In Casselberry, the city will be hosting its 14th Annual Earth Fest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. The free event will feature free tree and plant giveaways, butterfly releases, workshops and 75 local vendors. 

Sumter:

  • In Webster, Chase Sanctuary is hosting its second annual Earth Day event from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. There will be the grand opening of Chase Butterfly Garden (Phase 2), butterfly releases, live music and food trucks. Tickets are $35.
  • In Bushnell, Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is having a “Breakfast with a Park Ranger” event from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20. The event features an Earth Day craft, nature walk and a Dutch Oven breakfast. You can register by calling the park at 352-793-4781.

Volusia:

  • In Ormond Beach, the city of Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center is holding an Earth Day and tree giveaway event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The drive-thru tree giveaway starts at 9 a.m. The event is free and includes guided nature walks, games and crafts.
  • In DeLand, the Gillespie Museum at Stetson University is holding “Science Saturday: Earth Day at the Gillespie” from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20. The event is free and includes a nature walk, book giveaway and a look at a new exhibit.
  • In Ponce Inlet, the city is holding “Ponce Preserves the Planet” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. There will be food, craft and art vendors.
  • In Deltona, the Lyonia Environmental Center is hosting “Make Everyday Earth Day” on Saturday, April 20, and “Earth Day Sunday Science” on Sunday, April 21. Both events run from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The events are free and are meant for kids aged 6 and up. They include learning activities, science experiments and take-home crafts.
  • In Daytona Beach, Beach Squad is hosting a beach cleanup from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 21 at Sun Splash Park. Buckets and pickers are provided.

Reagan Ryan is a 2023 — 2024 Report for America Corps Member, covering the environment and climate across Central Florida for Spectrum News 13. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.