Communities throughout San Diego County will celebrate Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25) with festivals, cleanups and other events to help take care of the planet, starting in local neighborhoods. Many events draw attention to the importance of environmentally friendly lifestyles. Most events are free. Here’s a sampling:
ALPINE
Creek to Bay: Volunteers are needed to the community cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon April 16 as part of the the 23rd annual I Love a Clean San Diego’s Earth Day Creek to Bay Cleanup. Meet at the Alpine Branch Library, 1752 Alpine Blvd. as an individual or as a group at https://cleansd.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/3753
BONSALL
Earth Day Cleanup: Volunteers are sought to the I Love a Clean San Diego’s Earth Day Creek to Bay Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 for the Old River Road Street Sweep cleanup starting at Bonsall Community Church, 31552 Old River Road. Visit https://cleansd.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/3674
CARLSBAD
Green Business Expo: Green business exhibits, e-waste recycling, electric vehicles, workshops, student robotics competition and samples from local restaurants and breweries from 4 to 7 p.m. April 16 hosted by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce at 5934 Priestly Drive. Visit https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/environmental-sustainability/reduce-reuse-recycle/earth-month
Earth Month Celebration: Demonstrations and workshops on how to live more sustainably from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12 at Pine Avenue Community Park, 3209 Harding St. The event will include local vendors and groups working to protect the environment. Visit https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/environmental-sustainability/reduce-reuse-recycle/earth-month
Neighborhood Cleanup: Carlsbad’s volunteer effort to clean up local beaches and waterways from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 as part of the I Love A Clean San Diego regional Creek to Bay Cleanup. for a hosted location or stay close to home and collect waste in your neighborhood. Visit https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/environmental-sustainability/reduce-reuse-recycle/earth-month
Donate, Don’t Waste: Donate gently used items, including clothing, small appliances and electronics, instead of sending them to the landfill from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26 at Alga Norte Community Park, Skate Park parking lot, 6565 Alicante Road. The event s local reuse programs through Goodwill, helping reduce waste and helping others in the community. Visit https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/environmental-sustainability/reduce-reuse-recycle/earth-month
CHULA VISTA
South Bay Earth Day: The festivities are from noon to 4 p.m. April 12 at Port of San Diego’s Bayfront Park, 980 Marina Way. The event includes live entertainment, DJ, food trucks, kids’ zone, workshops, exhibits, artists alley and dozens of green vendors with information/resources on being environmentally friendly. Highlights of the zero-waste event include a fix-it-clinic, tie-dye workshop and compost giveaway. Free bike valet and E-bike and mobile phone/device charging lounge. ission is free. Visit https://southbayearthday.com/
DEL MAR
Community Cleanup: The Del Mar Village Association hosts a Keep Del Mar Green cleanup event from 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 19 for Earth Month. The event also celebrates the installation of six new coastal water bottle fill stations in Del Mar. The free event starts and ends at the 17th Street Lifeguard Headquarters and will conclude with a pancake brunch hosted by the Del Mar lifeguards after the brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Better Buzz Del Mar will provide coffee and pastries for cleanup volunteers. There will be a DJ and music. Volunteers are asked to bring reusable bags or buckets, gloves and trash pickers, if possible. Sign up at www.visitdelmarvillage.com/communitycleanup
ESCONDIDO
Tree planting: To celebrate Arbor Day, the city of Escondido and volunteers will plant 138 trees along Mission Avenue at 9 a.m. April 26. To sign up, visit volunteer.escondido.org
Creek and Lake Cleanups: The city of Escondido will be a part of the I Love a Clean San Diego’s Creek to Bay Cleanup. Volunteers are needed to clean up at Reidy Creek and Dixon Lake from 9 a.m. to noon April 26. at CleanSD.org/CreekToBay
LAKE HODGES
Earth Day cleanup: A Lake Hodges community cleanup is from 9:30 to 11 a.m. April 27. Meet at Lake Hodges Visitor Center Parking Lot, 20102 Lake Drive. volunteers cleaning up litter and debris around the lake, hiking trails, and public areas and participate in discussions on sustainability and protecting the environment. Reusable gloves, trash bags, grabber tools, hand sanitizers, sunscreens and water will be provided. Visit https://secure.givelively.org/event/friends-of-lake-hodges/earth-day-with-friends-of-lake-hodges
LA MESA
Earth Day Fair: Eco-friendly vendors, kid’s zone, bounce house and activities to learn how to care for the planet are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at MacArthur Park, 4900 Memorial Drive. Bring your bicycles. The festival will feature bicycle activities and helmet giveaways along with a fix-it clinic. Free ission. Visit https://www.cityoflamesa.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=8411
LEMON GROVE
Arbor & Earth Day resource fair: A community resource fair to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day is from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at Treganza Park, 3200 Main St. There will be music, information booths with resources about health, fitness and protecting the environment, kid’s zone and fitness classes along with food for sale. ission is free. Visit www.lemongrove.ca.gov/parks-events/
OCEANSIDE
Earth Day Community event: A family-friendly neighborhood cleanup is from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at Alamosa Park as part of the annual Creek to Bay Cleanup. the Oceanside Green Team for the volunteer event that includes educational booths, music, kids activities and games. Visit https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/green-oceanside/earth-month
RAMONA
Earth Day Festival: The fourth annual Ramona Earth Day Festival is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26 at Regent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Road, hosted by Sustainable Ramona. Highlights include exhibitors and speakers, entertainment, including bands and Folklorico dancers, children’s activities and food trucks. Visit sustainableramona.com
SAN DIEGO
San Diego EarthFest: Festivities are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 at Balboa Park, President’s Way Lawn, Park Blvd. Highlights include 140 sustainable food, product and service vendors along with environmental groups providing information about planet-friendly lifestyles. There will be live music and DJs along with educational presentations and discussions on environmental topics. The international food court will have more than 40 food and beverage vendors. ission is free. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-diego-earthfest-tickets-964340126277
Multi-Cultural Earth Day: WorldBeat Cultural Center hosts its 33rd annual Multi-Cultural Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 20 at 2100 Park Blvd. in Balboa Park with the theme of “Together As One.” Highlights include live music, environmental education, and multicultural performances, guest speakers and wellness activities. There will be a seed swap, compost workshop, garden tours, plant sale and children’s arts and crafts. Free rsvp at https://www.worldbeatcenter.org/event/33rd-annual-multi-cultural-earth-day/
Earth Day Fair: Earth Day celebration starts at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18 fair at the San Diego County Operations Center, 5500 Overland Drive. The free event has interactive, information booths and demonstrations to show how the county is working to protect the environment. Visit https://www.sdparks.org/
Earth Day Swap: Folks can swap items (no big furniture and no selling) from 9:30 to noon April 26 at Oak Park Library, 2802 54th St. Clean your closets and bring what you want to share and then take what you like. Free ission. Visit https://myeventslist.com/events/f/free-event-earth-day-swap
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Creek to Bay Cleanup: from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at beaches, parks and other locations across San Diego County. The effort is expected to include over 5,000 volunteers at more than 100 sites from the backcountry to the coast as part of the county’s earth week cleanup. Volunteers can help remove litter from their communities. at https://www.cleansd.org/environmental-action/countywide-cleanups/creek-to-bay/
VISTA
Earth Day Festival: The annual event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at the 14-acre Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, 1270 Vale Terrace Drive. Highlights include numerous kids’ activities, live music, Folklorico dancers, GrowGetters plant sale, food for sale and vendors. The Amigos de Vista Lions will prepare a barbecue lunch. Vendors sell treats, art, jewelry and home decor. There will be information about how to be environmentally friendly. Free ission. Visit altavistabotanicalgardens.org
Earth Day Craft Fair: The Gloria McClellan Senior Center is hosting an Earth Day Craft Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. April 22 to promote sustainable shopping with local vendors. The fair is in the Center’s Azalea Room, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Free ission to shoppers. Visit GMACvista.com
To add an Earth Day event, email [email protected].
