Earth Day 2024: Celebrate Planet Portland Ways

Celebrate Earth Day with metro events like beach cleanups, plant sales, wildlife tracking, and educational exhibits in Portland and beyond.

Earth Day, a movement that originated in 1970 as a result of student activism during the Vietnam War and growing concerns about pollution, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 with events attended by over a billion people worldwide. This year, Earth Day events are being held in various metro and surrounding areas to show love for the planet and the community.

SOLVE Earth Day events offer a range of activities such as beach cleanups, litter pickups, and habitat restoration projects. Multnomah Village will host art displays, music, shopping, and community activities, including a shred event and a village clean-up. The Portland Fruit Tree Project will have plant sales, a community forum, and live music to promote climate justice and community resilience.

The Learning Gardens Lab, in collaboration with Portland State University and Portland Parks & Recreation, will host a plant sale, workshops, children's activities, snacks, and a raffle. The Roseway Neighborhood Association will have environmental education displays, crafts, games, and a plant and seed swap. The International School of Portland will offer bioswale planting, native plant sales, and butterfly garden planting.

Volunteer opportunities include a habitat restoration event at Leach Botanical Garden, wetlands restoration open house in Clark County, and an invasive plant removal party in Thurston County. The Oregon Garden in Silverton will hold its annual Earth Day celebration with hands-on activities, educational exhibitors, and live entertainment. Plastics vs. Planet event in McMinnville will feature demonstrations, exhibits, and a keynote speaker discussing the impact of plastic on the environment.

If you have events you'd like to see highlighted on OregonLive.com or in The Oregonian, please email submissions to [email protected] at least three weeks before the start of your event. Let's come together to celebrate Earth Day and make a positive impact on our planet and communities.