This year, 2021, is the 51st annual celebration of Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd each year. Now that in-person events are returning to Atlanta communities, you may feel like observing Earth Day in some way — particularly if it gets you outdoors.
Here are some events and activities that catch the spirit of Earth Day.
Note that the dates range from Thursday, April 22nd through Sunday, April 25th — and they’re not necessarily in chronological order, because we add them as we find them.
Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Earth Day for Kids
Thursday, April 22nd
10 a.m. to noon
Families and kids can enjoy garden-inspired activities and watch special performances on the Great Lawn.
Get more info
Free fitness class and kids chalk art event
Thursday, April 22nd
10 a.m. to noon
Avenue at East Cobb
Work out at a free socially-distanced Barre3 class or bring the kids to for a “Chalk the Lot” event. There will be sidewalk chalk available for kids to decorate the area with an Earth Day theme.
Get more info on both events
FREE paper shredding events
Multiple dates / locations
These are popular events around Earth Day and tax time. Your sensitive documents are usually shredded on-site in front of you, so you can rest easy. Good etiquette is to remove paper clips and staples.
Bring your old medical bills, bank statements, personal letters, canceled checks, and anything else you want destroyed.
View our complete, ongoing list of FREE shredding events
Sunset Yoga at Dunwoody Nature Center
Thursday, April 22nd
7 to 8 p.m.
Reconnect with nature under a canopy of trees. The class is $10 and registration is required.
Get more info and register
Earth Day Tai Chi & Meditation in the Forest
Sunday, April 25
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Rd.
This event features a guided walk, Tai chi, and meditation in the beautiful setting of the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, located in Buckhead. Tickets are $25, and Eventbrite adds a fee of $1.50.
Get more info and buy tickets
Outdoor Mindfulness: Yoga & Tai Chi
Multiple dates from April 19th to May 13th
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Brain and Body Yoga Studio
308 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
This class is designed to help release tension and relax the body and mind. Tickets are $10. Bring your own yoga mat.
Get more info and buy tickets
Dates for Outdoor Mindfulness include:
*Monday, April 26th
*Thursday, April 29th
*Monday, May 3rd
*Thursday, May 6th
*Monday, May 10th
*Thursday, May 13th
Earth Day Plant Pop-up Sale
Thursday, April 22
1 to 4 p.m.
The Bricks Perimeter Center
302 Perimeter Center North
Atlanta, GA 30346
Browse a selection of tropical plants for your patio or balcony this summer, or purchase for houseplants.
Get more info
Lowe’s Springfest
All through April, Lowe’s is giving away garden kits. Registration for each giveaway starts one week before the event, and supplies are limited. You’ll pick up the garden kit curbside at Lowe’s. Registration for the final giveaway is on Earth Day, April 22nd.
Get more info
The giveaways include:
- April 8th: Garden-to-Go kit sponsored by Miracle-Gro with exclusive recipes from professional cook and food stylist Amanda Frederickson. Register on April 1st.
- April 15th: Lowe’s Mystery Garden Pinata with mystery seed packets. Register on April 8th.
- April 22th: 500,000 tree saplings given out in honor of Earth Day. Register on April 15th.
- April 29th: Lowe’s Butterfly Quest, which helps you create a butterfly garden. Register on April 22nd.
Inman Park Tour of Gardens
Friday, April 23rd thru Sunday, April 25th
(hours vary by day)
This self-guided walking tour will feature 10 gardens in the historic Inman Park neighborhood. On porches along the walking route, you’ll find live music and artists selling their creations — this brings back a suggestion of the festival as it used to be. You’ll find food trucks and more merchandise for purchase at the Trolley Barn.
Get more info
Atlanta Science Festival’s Discovery Walks
These self-guided walks were introduced during the annual science festival and were free to attend. Now, for just $5, you can buy all four maps and do the walks at your leisure on Earth Day or any day. We previewed one of the walks, had a blast, and wrote about it here. You can do the walks alone, as a family, or with a friend.
Get more info
The Discovery Walks were such a success that the Science Festival is making the maps available to the public.
Gwinnett County’s recycling & paper shredding event
Saturday, April 24th
9 a.m. to noon
Gwinnett County Fairgrounds (Lawrenceville)
Drop off items that are usually difficult to recycle — including electronics, latex or oil-based paint, and tires. Paper shredding will also be available.
Note that this event is open to Gwinnett residents only. Registration required.
Get more info and register
Cobb County’s medication disposal event
Saturday, April 24
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Two locations (see below)
Medications flushed down the toilet may contaminate our lakes, streams, and groundwater — causing harm to humans, wildlife, and vegetation. Cobb residents can safely dispose of leftover medicines by bringing them to one of these locations on April 24th only:
- Precinct One — 2380 Cobb Parkway NW in Kennesaw
- C. Freeman Poole Senior Center — 4025 South Hurt Road NW in Smyrna
Get more info on what is and isn’t accepted
Cobb is also hosting these spring cleaning events — mark your calendars now!
• Paper shredding: May 1
• Textiles recycling: May 22
Dunwoody’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Saturday, April 24th
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd.
Stop by the Dunwoody Police Department to drop off expired or unused prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication. This event is for oral medications only — items that will NOT be accepted include needles/syringes, thermometers, IV bags, hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, personal care products, and medical equipment.
FREE Walking Tour — Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail
Saturday, April 24th
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Explore the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum with a Trees Atlanta docent to learn about the trail with a strong focus on the horticultural collections.
The event is FREE but you must register online.
Get more info and register
Walk the Nature Trail at Murphey Candler Park
Earth Day or any day — this is one of our favorite walks through the forest and around the lake. The park is easily accessible in Brookhaven with plenty of free parking. Read our guide to this nature walk.
You might also want to explore the Peachtree Creek Greenway as a family Earth Day activity. This is a paved walking trail alongside the creek.
Murphey Candler Park
Family Program: Celebrating Earth Day at Bulloch Hall
Saturday, April 24th
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bulloch Hall
180 Bulloch Ave.
Roswell, GA 30075
Bulloch Hall will host hands-on activities and games that highlight nature, wildlife, and gardening. The program was designed to be fun and educational for both children and adults. Tickets are $7, and Eventbrite adds sales tax plus a $2 fee.
Get more info
Family Day to Reconnect with Nature
Saturday, April 24th
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1800 Jonesboro Rd.
Tickets are $25 and the event includes a wide variety of activities.
Get more info
Virtual gardening classes
The North Fulton Master Gardeners hosted a series of live virtual workshops in April. They end on April 18th, but you can view the presentations online. Get more info here
Cobb County is also sponsoring a virtual class for Earth Day. The theme is “Invasive Plants” and it takes place live on Wednesday, April 1st at 11 a.m. Register for the Zoom meeting here or watch on Facebook live through the UGA Cobb Extension page.
Shop local at a spring pop-up market
The environmental benefits of buying local goods are well known. Support the planet this Earth Day by shopping at one of the many spring pop-up markets.
Browse a day-by-day list of pop-markets
Earth Day volunteer opportunities
Work in a community garden, plant a tree, clean up a park, or find other ways to get your hands dirty in community service! Note that most volunteer projects require registration. If your neighborhood or municipality has a website or newsletter, you can often find Earth Day projects there as well.
- Volunteer with Trees Atlanta
- Find a volunteer project via Eventbrite
- Find a volunteer project via Hands on Atlanta
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