Today is Earth Day. How the holiday started and how to celebrate in the Triangle
Happy Earth Day! This year’s theme is “Invest in our Planet.”
You’re probably seeing earth emojis all over your Instagram feed, maybe wondering how this global holiday got started.
The News & Observer compiled resources to learn about Earth Day’s history and events to attend in the Triangle to celebrate.
When was the first Earth Day?
Earth Day began as an environmental movement in 1970. This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the widely celebrated holiday, according to EarthDay.org.
Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin, wanted to hold teach-ins about air and water pollution at college campuses and invite members of the media. He recruited Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey and young activist Denis Hayes to organize the teach-ins, EarthDay.org said.
The idea came after watching the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif., in January 1969. He was inspired to teach about environmentalism through the student anti-war protests and the attention they garnered, per EarthDay.org.
They chose the date April 22, which was a weekday between spring break and final exams, to get the most students involved.
For more information, visit earthday.org/history.
How did Earth Day become a global movement?
Following the teach-ins, Hayes built an 85-member team to promote these events across the country. The name was formally changed to Earth Day, which sparked national media attention. A broad range of organizations and faith groups helped get the movement off the ground, EarthDay.org said.
In 1990, environmental leaders asked Hayes to help organize a global Earth Day event. Across 141 countries, 200 million people got involved. The 1990 event boosted worldwide recycling efforts and encouraged the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, per EarthDay.org.
How is Earth Day celebrated today?
“Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes,” EarthDay.org said.
“Now, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more and more apparent every day.”
If you’re looking to celebrate Earth Day in NC this weekend, here are some things you can do:
- Visit a farmer’s market to support local agriculture: newsobserver.com/living
- Go for a hike on one of North Carolina’s many nature trails: newsobserver.com/news
- Pick strawberries at a locally owned farm: newsobserver.com/news
- Get a compost bin: newsobserver.com/news
- Start your own backyard garden!: newsobserver.com/living
NC State Extension has an activity for families to get outside and care for the earth. Here’s how you can make a bird-feeder with lots of items you probably already have in your house: union.ces.ncsu.edu (note: if you keep backyard chickens, you might want to skip bird feeders this year during the avian flu outbreak).
You can also spend your Earth Day in the kitchen! To practice reducing food waste, celebrate the holiday by turning your food scraps into vegetable stock: brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu.
For more ideas, you can check out the Earth Day 2022 Action Toolkit: earthday.org/earth-day-2022-action-toolkit.
Earth Day events in Raleigh, Durham, Cary
Here are some Earth Day events in the Triangle:
▪ Earth Day Celebration at Dix Park: This event at the Flowers Field will include a movie, information booths, food trucks and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new all-electric bus. Where: Dix Park Flowers Field, 2105 Umstead Drive in Raleigh. When: 6 p.m. on Friday, April 22 Info: raleighnc.gov/events/earth-day-2022.
▪ NC Museum of Art Earth Film Screening: Tickets to watch the documentary “We Are Here” are $5 for museum members and $7 for non-members. Where: East Building, SECU Auditorium, 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh When: 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: ncartmuseum.org/events
▪ NC Museum of Art Earth Day Outdoor Film Screening: Tickets to watch the documentary “Hidden Rivers” are $5 for museum members and $7 for non-members. Where: Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater in the Museum Park, 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh When: 7-10 p.m. on Friday, April 22 Info: ncartmuseum.org/events
▪ NC Museum of Art Family Day: Visit for free access to the exhibit “Fault Lines: Art and the Environment,” and create hands-on Earth Day projects. Where: 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh When: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: ncartmuseum.org/events
▪ Triangle Land Conservancy’s Operation Earth Day: Practice your detective skills and learn more about the North American Beaver, which calls Brumley Nature Preserve home. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Where: Brumley Preserve, 3323 Old State Highway 10 in Chapel Hill When: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: triangleland.org
▪ Renewable Energy Day at Kidzu: Enjoy hands-on acticities to learn about renewable energy. This is a North Carolina Science Festival event. Donations are welcome. Where: Kidzu Children’s Museum, 201 S. Estes Drive in Chapel Hill When: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: kidzuchildrensmuseum.org/events
▪ Earth Day Festival at Honeysuckle: Triangle Families Explore is putting on a kid-focused Earth Day festival, complete with live animal interactions, an animal tracking activity, storytime, crafts and more. Where: Honeysuckle Tea House, 8871 Pickards Meadow Road in Chapel Hill When: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: facebook.com/events
▪ Wake Forest Spring Art Market: There will be a tree seedling giveaway, live music, artisan market vendors and the WF Farmer’s Market. Where: WF Renaissance Centre, 405 Brooks Street in Wake Forest When: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: wakeforestguild.org/events
▪ NC Museum of Art Teens Art Council: This day of activities focuses on environmental art and youth activism. There will be a film screening, clothing swap, gallery exhibition and more. The event is free, but registration is required. Where: East Building, 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh When: 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 Info: ncartmuseum.org/events
▪ Durham’s Earth Day Festival: Enjoy an Earth Day Market, check out Durham’s Sustainable Transportation Expo, go to the Family Fun Zone and learn more about waste at the Zero Waste Stations. Where: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street in Durham When: 12-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 24 Info: dprplaymore.org
▪ Morrisville’s Earth Day Celebration & Green Day: This event will coincide with the Western Wake Farmer’s Market and Healthy Food Hub. Enjoy learning about pollinators, storm water and bus route options. There will also be a paper shredding truck for a Green Day recycling event. Where: 240 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville (near entrance to Fire Station #1) When: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 Info: townofmorrisville.org
▪ Earth Day Film Series: Enjoy inspiring movies about Mother Nature throughout the month of April at the Cary Theater. Buy tickets online or at the box office. Where: The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham Street in Cary When: Throughout April Info: thecarytheater.com/events
This story was originally published April 22, 2022 at 9:48 AM.
