Top Earth Day Celebrations in Austin
From cleanups to garden events, these local events offer meaningful ways to honor Mother Earth this month
Earth Day falls on April 22, but Austin’s celebrations stretch across much of the month with volunteer cleanups, museum programming and hands-on outdoor activities. Whether the goal is giving back to local green spaces, spending time in nature or learning more about sustainability, these events offer several ways to mark the occasion.
Earth Day Austin
- Where: Huston-Tillotson University
- When: Saturday, April 11, noon to 6 p.m.
Held at Huston-Tillotson University, this community celebration brings together live music, hands-on activities, art, food, games and panel discussions for an afternoon centered on connection and environmental awareness. This year’s theme, “A Moment for Us,” focuses on reconnecting with one another, the planet and the wider community.
Morning Glories: Earth Day
- Where: Meredith Heritage Tree Deck
- When: Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Waterloo Greenway’s family-focused event is geared toward children and caregivers with activities that blend education and play. The program includes hands-on experiences tied to conservation and nature appreciation, along with crafts, games and a reading of “Earth Day, Every Day” by Lisa Bullard.
Keep Austin Beautiful Day
- Where: Parks around Austin
- When: Saturday, April 18
One of the city’s largest Earth Month volunteer efforts, Keep Austin Beautiful Day brings together thousands of residents to help remove litter and restore parks, waterways and other shared green spaces. Projects are planned across all 10 City Council districts, offering a chance to join a cleanup close to home while contributing to a citywide effort.
For the Love of Parks Festival
- Where: Richard Moya Park
- When: Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hosted by Travis County Parks Foundation at Richard Moya Park, this free festival celebrates the county’s park system with a full day of live music, outdoor play and interactive programming. Attendees can expect food trucks, sports and games, creative activities, learning stations and family-friendly entertainment, along with opportunities to learn more about the foundation’s nature-based programming and stewardship work.
Earth Day Print Making
- Where: Carpenter Hotel
- When: Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Carpenter Hotel will celebrate Earth Day with a hands-on linocut workshop led by artist Paloma Mayorga of Milpa Press, inviting guests to create custom stamps inspired by the natural world. Presented with DORF as part of the hotel’s Spring Artist Workshop series, the class will cover the basics of linocut printmaking, including designing, carving and printing.
The Earth Day lineup at the Carpenter will also include a spring herb-and-floral cocktail class, discounts for guests who bring their own mug to Carpenter Coffee Bar, and a plant swap with drink specials.
Earth Day at Zilker Botanical Garden
- Where: Zilker Botanical Garden
- When: Wednesday, April 22
Zilker Botanical Garden will mark Earth Day with an afternoon of hands-on activities, including seed ball making and a microgreens project. From 5 to 7 p.m., the celebration continues with a community plant swap and special plant giveaways.
Rowing Dock’s Earth Day Cleanup
- Where: Rowing Dock, Epic SUP and Auditorium Shores
- When: Friday, April 24
This annual cleanup along Lady Bird Lake gives volunteers a chance to help remove trash and support a healthier waterway. Participants can sign up for either the 8:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. time slot at Rowing Dock, Epic SUP or Auditorium Shores, then choose whether to clean the shoreline or head out on the water. The event is free for community volunteers, while corporate team fees benefit The Trail Conservancy.
Earth Day Celebration at Texas Science & Natural History Museum
- Where: Texas Science & Natural History Museum
- When: Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The museum’s Earth Day event leans into science and discovery with interactive activities exploring tectonic plates, rock types and the geological forces that have shaped the planet. Visitors can also take part in a sustainability-focused fashion activity using plastic waste, and the day concludes with a free UT Physics Circus demonstration on the back patio. Activities are included with museum admission.