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If you’re looking for ways to show your appreciation for planet Earth and have some fun along the way, there are no shortage of festivals, tree plantings, beach cleanups and more planned throughout the month of April on the Peninsula. Find a guide to local Earth Month happenings below; events are free unless otherwise noted.
San Mateo Community College District Earth Day events: SMCCCD will host Earth Day celebrations alongside Peninsula Clean Energy. There will be interactive exhibits, clothing swaps, environmental employer booths and sustainable goodies. Events are at Cañada College (April 16), College of San Mateo (April 22) and Skyline College (April 23 and 25).
Throughout April at all district campuses. sites.google.com/my.smccd.edu/smcccdsustainability/get-involved/earth-fest.
San Mateo County Libraries Earth Month events, ongoing: San Mateo County Libraries mark Earth Month with activities at various branches. These include an interactive fishing game to explore the concepts of sustainability and the tragedy of the commons (April 9, East Palo Alto); a chance to learn about clean energy versus fossil fuels (April 16, Pacifica); a juggling, music, magic and storytelling performance to inspire environmental awareness (April 23, Portola Valley); ceramic tile-making using plants or flowers from around your home or neighborhood (multiple dates and locations) and more.
Throughout April at various county library locations. smcl.bibliocommons.com.
Compost workshops, ongoing: Learn how easy it is to make your own compost at one of Santa Clara County’s compost workshops during Earth Month in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and virtually in Spanish. Workshop participants will receive a free compost bin or worm bin (one per household). Compost bins are available while supplies last. Workshops are ongoing through November at sites around the county.
Various dates throughout 2025. Register at cesantaclara.ucanr.edu/Home_Composting_Education/Composting_Workshops.
Palo Alto Library Earth Day festivities, ongoing: The Palo Alto Library will host a variety of Earth Day-themed events, including story times (with one that will be held in Spanish) throughout April.
For this month’s STEM project, library patrons will be making seed bombs, which can be used to plant California wildflowers. This program is for children ages 6-11 at Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, on April 6 from 3-4 p.m.
Various dates. paloalto.bibliocommons.com/v2/events.
Stanford University, ongoing: Stanford University is hosting events throughout April in celebration of Earth Day, including the Aspen Council’s Spring Sustainability Festival (April 18) where there will be catered hors d’oeuvres and beverages, create-your-own flower bouquets and crowns, reusable merch and live student performances.
There’s also the Earth Month Fair (April 24) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Hub at Stanford Research Park, 3215 Porter Drive, Palo Alto.
Throughout April at various Stanford University campus locations. sustainable.stanford.edu/earth-month-2025.
Denim Drive, Los Altos: Through April 30, DesignX and the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce are hosting a denim drive to help consumers to keep their denim out of landfills. People can drop off used denim of any color, from any brand and in any condition, as long as it’s dry and clean. Children in the 2025 DesignX summer camp will transform the denim into new fashion.
Through April 30. Drop off donations at the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, 321 University Ave., Los Altos. tinyurl.com/losaltosdenimdrive.
Cupertino Earth and Arbor Day Festival: Cupertino’s annual Earth and Arbor Day Festival consistently draws thousands of attendees and includes hands-on activities, live entertainment and local food trucks.
April 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Library Field, 10400 Torre Ave., Cupertino. cupertino.gov/Parks-Recreation/Events/Earth-and-Arbor-Day-Festival.
Sunnyvale Earth Day Festival: Sunnyvale’s Earth Day Festival features sustainable arts and crafts, guided urban canopy tours, master composters and gardeners teaching how to start a home compost and native plant garden, resources to make the swap from gas to electric in your home and zero-emissions cars on display.
April 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Civic Center, 456 W. Olive Ave. sunnyvaleclimateaction.org/earth-day-festival-2025.
Crittenden garden improvement, Mountain View: The Oshman Family JCC’s Center for Social Impact is partnering with Living Classroom to beautify the Crittenden Middle School native habitat garden by moving mulch, weeding and putting up signage. In the event of rain, volunteers will participate in an art project to help beautify Living Classroom’s garden sites.
April 6, 10 a.m. to noon at the Crittenden Middle School native garden (meet at the front of the school), 1701 Rock St., Mountain View. Tickets are $8 per family. paloaltojcc.org/events/fostering-friendships-by-cultivating-gardens-together.
Santa Clara Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration: This community-wide event will feature a performance, a pedestrian rodeo, a tree-climbing demonstration, exhibitor booths promoting environmental education and more.
April 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central Park Pavilion, 909 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara. tinyurl.com/santaclaraearthday2025.
Foster City Earth Day Faire: Foster City’s Earth Day Faire will include a plant pot-making station, an induction cooking demonstration and mini clinics from Atlas Mobile Bike Repair. “Two Only Kids” will perform. There will be treats for sale from Jolly’s Teas Cream and Marshmallow Lab. Inside the library, children can create art from waste and hard-to-recycle items.
April 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Foster City Library, 1000 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. fostercity.org/community/page/earth-day-faire-0.
‘Under the Sea with ME,’ Redwood City: Celebrate Earth Day with a morning of shark-themed fun learning about the wonders of the San Francisco Bay and meet Marine Science Institute’s animal ambassador, the leopard shark. There will be hands-on activities that connect attendees to the marine world and its creatures.
April 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Marine Science Institute, 500 Discovery Parkway, Redwood City. Tickets are $45 and include admission for one child accompanied by one adult. sfbaymsi.org/earthday.
Earth Day celebration and open house, South San Francisco: South San Francisco Scavenger will host an Earth Day celebration with the chance to “touch a truck,” waste-sorting activities, facility tours, a towel and blanket donation drop-off for the SPCA and a household battery drop-off. Wear flat, closed-toe shoes.
April 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Blue Line Transfer Station, 500 E. Jamie Court, South San Francisco. Registration is required. ssfscavenger.com/earthday.
Roots of Wellness, Half Moon Bay: Banyan Tree Women’s Collective and The HEAL Project will gather for a day of wellness and community in honor of Earth Day at The HEAL Project’s educational farm. There will be mindfulness workshops, guided farm activities for children, a seasonal cooking demo and instruction on how to weed, transplant, mulch and compost. After the event, participants can explore nearby beaches and hiking trails.
April 13, 12:30-3:30 p.m. at The HEAL Project Farm, 300 Bridgeport Drive, Half Moon Bay. Open to ages 5 and up. banyanwomen.org/events/roots-of-wellness-4-13.
Rally for Our Future: Make Polluters Pay!, Palo Alto: A rally in support of Earth Day and the effort to hold major polluters accountable, specifically in support of state legislation that would establish a Climate Superfund requiring large polluters to pay for their damages, reducing the taxpayer burden and funding state-level climate resiliency and clean energy endeavors. The rally will include speakers, live music and local art.
April 18, 5-6:30 p.m. at King Plaza, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. tinyurl.com/polluterspayrally.
Mountain View Earth and Arbor Day Celebration: Mountain View’s Earth and Arbor Day Celebration will have live music and animal programs, an outdoor classroom and workshops, a kids’ area, plant-based food, tree walks, a ceremonial tree planting by Mayor Ellen Kamei and giveaways. The city will also announce the winners of its nature photography contest at 11 a.m.
April 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center and Rengstorff Park, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View. tinyurl.com/mvearthdaycelebration.
Coyote Point cleanup, San Mateo: Coyote Point features a variety of recreational activities: picnicking, sailing, CuriOdyssey science museum and more. The park also serves as a home to the threatened Ridgway’s rail and other shorebirds. To help protect these birds and their habitat, there will be a volunteer cleanup along the Bay and Shoreline trails.
April 19, 9 a.m. to noon at Coyote Point Recreation Area, 1701 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. tinyurl.com/coyotepointearthday.
Eco Elegance fashion show, Redwood City: Cañada College Fashion Design & Merchandising Department’s student-led fashion show will showcase innovative designs that blend style with environmental consciousness. The showcase features a collaboration with local artists from Gallery House. The event includes booths offering insights into sustainability, fast fashion and mindful design practices.
April 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cañada College, Building 3, Main Theater, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City. canadacollege.edu/fashion.
Saratoga’s Arbor Day celebration and ceremonial tree planting: Saratoga’s Arbor Day event will feature a ceremonial tree planting. The Blacksmith Shop and Historical Museum will be open for visitors to explore Saratoga’s history.
April 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Saratoga Historical Park, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Saratoga. tinyurl.com/SaratogaArborDay2025.
Earth Week: Our Power, Our Planet hike, La Honda: Docent naturalists will lead a moderately paced hike at a seldom-visited part of La Honda Creek Preserve. Following the Cielo and Coho Vista Loop trails, hikers will see picturesque views, walk by a restored barn and visit an old-growth redwood. Attendees will learn about carbon sequestration, hear about Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s wildfire resiliency programs and discuss humans’ role in reducing the effects of climate change.
Reservations are required. Registration opens April 11 at noon and closes April 24 at 2 p.m.
April 25, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at La Honda Creek Preserve, 700 Allen Road,
La Honda. Register at openspace.org/events/guided-activities/earth-week-our-power-our-planet.
Earth Day Bayfront cleanup, San Mateo: The city of San Mateo is hosting its annual Bayfront cleanup day, titled “Team Up To Clean Up” this year, at Ryder Park. Parking may be challenging, but will also be allowed on J Hart Clinton Drive along the fence line of Seal Point Park.
April 26, 9 a.m. to noon at Ryder Park, 1801 J Hart Clinton Drive, San Mateo. tinyurl.com/BayFrontCleanup2025.
Earth Day cleanup at Tunitas Creek Beach, Half Moon Bay: San Mateo County Parks Volunteer Stewardship is organizing a beach cleanup at the soon-to-open Tunitas Creek Beach on the Coastside. Gloves, grabbers and buckets will be provided.
April 26, 9 a.m. to noon at Tunitas Creek Beach, 20775 Cabrillo Highway South, Half Moon Bay. eventbrite.com/e/earth-day-volunteer-clean-up-at-don-horsley-park-at-tunitas-creek-beach-tickets-1309028713119.
Millbrae Earth and Arbor Day celebrations: The city of Millbrae will host two eco-centric events in late April, starting with a cleanup and tree planting on the Spur Trail at Taylor Middle School.
The following day, there will be an Earth Day expo and expert talks on planting for bees, birds and butterflies, as well as talks on spring garden and vegetable planting at Millbrae Orchard Supply Hardware. There will also be barbecue served.
Arbor Day celebration: April 26, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at Taylor Middle School parking lot, Spur Trail, 850 Taylor Blvd., Millbrae. tinyurl.com/MillbraeArborDay2025. .
Earth Day celebration: April 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Outdoor Supply Hardware, 900 El Camino Real, Millbrae. tinyurl.com/OSHMillbraeEarthDay2025.
Love Our Earth Festival, Menlo Park: Menlo Park’s Love Our Earth Festival will include learning through art, story times, sustainable living demonstrations and a plant-based market.
The city will also celebrate Arbor Day by planting two trees near the community center and holding a fruit tree raffle.
April 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park. menlopark.gov/Citywide-calendar/Sustainability-events/20250426-Love-Our-Earth.
Earth Day of Action and PelicanFest, various locations: The Pacific Beach Coalition will host multiple cleanup and habitat restoration events along the coast and around the Bay Area, including in Daly City, Foster City and Montara.
The organization’s PelicanFest takes place in Pacifica. The event includes speakers who are pioneers in marine biology and environmental protection, pelican poetry, games and more.
April 26; cleanups are from 9-11 a.m. throughout the Bay Area and PelicanFest will take place starting at 10:30 a.m. at Linda Mar State Beach, 5000 CA-1, Pacifica near the east side of Highway 1 in the Community Center parking lot off Crespi Drive. tinyurl.com/pelicanfestevent.
No Foolin’ Foot Race, San Carlos: You can explore San Carlos’ trail system as a runner in the third annual No Foolin’ Foot Race. The race offers a 5K for $40 and a 10K for $50 through Big Canyon and Eaton parks. There will also be a 1-mile course for children ages 5-10 for $20. All proceeds benefit the maintenance and improvement of San Carlos trails.
April 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Race starts at Crestview Park, 1000 Crestview Drive, San Carlos. Register at prfsancarlos.org/no-foolin-foot-race-2025.
‘Protect Our Species’ Earth Day celebration, Atherton: Atherton’s Earth Day festival will include a pop-up bug museum from Beetlelady, a kids’ zone, food trucks, live animals and more.
April 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holbrook-Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton. ci.atherton.ca.us.
Palo Alto Earth Day Festival: There will be zero-waste trivia games, plant giveaways and guided garden tours, plus hang out with Sequoia the Bald Eagle and Animal Control’s gopher snake at Palo Alto’s Earth Day Festival.
With limited parking (and in the spirit of Earth Day), the city asks attendees to consider walking, biking or taking public transit to the event. There will be bike parking and repair stations.
April 27, 1-4 p.m. at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. cityofpaloalto.org/Events-Directory/City-Manager/Earth-Day-Festival-2025.
