Your Guide to Earth Day Events and Volunteering Around Philly
From volunteering to kids’ activities, there’s something for everyone in Philly looking to celebrate Earth Day.
PHS is hosting Earth Day volunteer opportunities with the goal to plant trees around the city. / Photograph courtesy of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate around town. From sustainability-focused organizations to volunteer with to interactive, kid-friendly parties to toast to the planet, we’ve rounded up ways you can help make Philly a little greener this week.
Confluence Film Festival at Academy of Natural Sciences
This annual, month-long environmentally focused film series is now in its third year — the 2026 theme is “Seeding the Future.” Both remaining nights include a pre-screening reception in the museum’s Dinosaur Hall, and films that deal not just with climate change, but the concept of climate resilience — a future-focused, purpose-driven approach to a more just and sustainable future. Presented in partnership with BlackStar Projects, cinéSPEAK, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival. Event tickets are $10 per night.
April 16th and 23rd, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Franklin Square Season Opening Day
Celebrate spring and Earth Day with kid-friendly programming including eco-friendly crafts, fun fitness with YOYO, birds of prey meet-and-greets with Raptor Jawns, and recycling games and relays with the Philadelphia Office of Recycling.
April 18th, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Franklin Square, 200 North 6th Street.
Earth Day Celebration at Awbury Arboretum
This all-ages day begins with the planting of 50 new trees at Awbury. (You can sign up to volunteer here.) After the tree planting, there’ll be hands-on activities and food trucks to enjoy.
April 19th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Awbury Arboretum, 1 Awbury Road.
Earth Day Celebration in East Market
Head to Jefferson Plaza for DIY bouquets and flower crowns, live music, seed and pet swag giveaways, live music, and a photobooth.
April 22nd, 3-6 p.m., Jefferson Plaza, 12th and Chestnut streets.
Naturepalooza at the Schuylkill Center
The Schuylkill Center’s annual, all-ages Earth Day celebration includes nature hikes, food trucks, and nature-themed art and activities. Free; online registration (and optional donation) encouraged.
April 25th, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road.
Kids@Play at Gold Star Park
Kids can listen to story time, go on a scavenger hunt, and decorate containers and plant seeds to take home.
April 25th, 10 a.m.-noon, Gold Star Park, 613 Wharton Street.
Birds of a Feather
Join TTF Watershed for their annual “Birds of a Feather” to Celebrate Trails and Earth Day. There will be hands-on nature activities, art with the Clay Studio, music, food, and an artists’ market. Plus, live mural painting and a scavenger hunt by the V.U.R.T Creative.
April 25th, noon-4 p.m., Tacony Creek Park, Whitaker Avenue and Loudon Street.
Penn State Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Day
If you’re looking to make your life greener, visit the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center to shop hundreds of varieties of plants, and stick around for the activities. The day is free and includes tours of the greenhouse and Master Gardener gardens (including a pollinator garden and the Food Forest in partnership with the Philadelphia Orchard Project), free interactive gardening demos, and kids’ crafts. You can also meet master gardeners and other organizations to learn tips for better gardening and sustainability practices.
April 26th, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., The Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 North Horticultural Drive.
Elmwood Park Zoo’s Party for the Planet
Zoo attendees can participate in demonstrations and education stations featuring animals, recycling, sustainable living, and more. Plus, a plant giveaway! Free with zoo admission.
May 2nd, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown.
NarbEarth Day
Narberth’s annual environmental fair in Narberth Park includes live music, fun and games for all ages, healthy food vendors, green products and services from local businesses, and a used book sale from the Narberth Library. Plus, reduce your waste footprint by buying or swapping used household items, kids’ clothes, toys, and perennial plants.
May 2nd, noon-4 p.m., Narberth Park, 80 Windsor Avenue, Narberth.
More Volunteer Opportunities
Photograph courtesy of PHS
PHS Tree Tenders Spring Planting
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, alongside PHS Tree Tender groups and neighborhood volunteers, will celebrate Earth Day by promoting healthier, greener communities with their semiannual tree planting throughout Greater Philadelphia, with neighborhood planting events the weekend of April 18th and 19th. Sign up online to volunteer — no experience is necessary — and pick a location and date. Tree plantings generally last three hours. Dress for the weather and bring hand sanitizer, gloves, close-toed shoes, a water bottle, and a shovel if you have one. Supplies for plantings will be available onsite.
April 18th-19th, multiple locations.
Friends of Wissahickon Earth Day of Service
Help keep Wissahickon Valley Park beautiful and clean for this morning of service. Sign up online, then meet up in Mermaid Park in Chestnut Hill to help clear litter, cut back invasive plants, and more to beautify the park. No experience is necessary; tools, gloves and instruction will be provided. Be sure to wear long pants and bring water.
April 22nd, 9 a.m.-noon, Wissahickon Valley Park (meet in Mermaid Park, 7645 Germantown Avenue).
Lemon Hill Earth Day Volunteer Workday
As you’ve probably heard, Lemon Hill will be the site of the FIFA Fan Festival as Philly hosts the World Cup this summer, so it’s got to look its very best. Help remove invasive plants, add flowering shrubs, and prepare this space to welcome the world. Fairmount Park Conservancy will provide tools, gloves, and guidance; no experience needed. Just sign up online and show up ready to work.
April 22nd, 1-4 p.m., Lemon Hill.
Love Your Park Week
If Earth Day weekend doesn’t work for you, or if you just want to continue your good work, you’re in luck. Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Love Your Park Week is coming up May 9th through 17th, with opportunities to volunteer at one of dozens of parks across Philadelphia. Registration is already open.
May 9th-17th, parks throughout Philadelphia.
