Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Across Michigan 

For more than 50 years, Earth Day has been a great way to celebrate our planet and do good things for our neighborhood environments. Whether it’s coming together to clean up a stretch of riverfront in our town, planting a tree in our yard, or making small energy-efficient upgrades in our homes, there are so many sustainable ways to mark Earth Day with actions that have far-reaching benefits. 

What is Earth Day?

This day has its roots in the Midwest. The first Earth Day was held in 1970, a year after a Wisconsin senator was among those to see the effects of a West Coast oil spill the year before. He and others organized a teach-in with environmental themes across college campuses, according to the history shared by the earthday.org. The goal was to inspire change and better protections for the environment, and raise awareness about the problems the Earth was facing. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, and its momentum brought together people from a wide range of political and faith-based groups, as well as those in agriculture and non-profits. This groundswell turned into an annual day to recognize our shared responsibility to the planet.  

Earth Day activities

Earth Day has now become a global event, with the day recognized by more than a billion people across the world. There are large-scale events that get national headlines, but many communities also host their own Earth Day events to call people’s attention to the state of the planet and offer ways they can help make a difference.  

Here are some regional Earth Day events going on around Michigan this year. Check the individual links for details, days and times: 

Detroit 

Community Clean-up at the Brightmoor Artisans Collective  

Earth Day tree planting in Circle Forest at the Arboretum Detroit 

Midland 

Earth Day Action Expo at H.H. Dow High School 

Jackson 

2023 Earth Day Celebration in the Park at Sparks Foundation County Park 

Rochester 

RARA Earth Day 5K 

St. Clair County 

Earth Fair at Goodells County Park 

Kalamazoo 

Earth Day celebration at the Kalamazoo Nature Center 

Lansing 

Party for the Planet at Potter Park Zoo 

Bellaire 

Earth Day Bird Walk at the Grass River Natural Area 

Grand Rapids 

Drive Electric Earth Day event, Meijer parking lot on 28th St. SE. 

Ottawa County 

Earth Day Lakeshore Green March, meet at 58th District Court in Grand Haven 

Howell

Earth Day celebration at the Howell Nature Center 

Traverse City 

Earth Day Volunteer Planting Workbee, put on by the Grand Traverse Conservation District 

Individual actions

If you are not able to get to a community event, but still want to make a difference on Earth Day ,state environmental officials have some suggestions for how to make an impact:  

• Do a little spring cleaning 

• Gather up items you no longer need – but are still in good condition – and donate them instead of throwing them away. 

• Gather up all those single-use plastic grocery bags you have hanging around and bring them back to your store’s recycle bin. 

• Pick out a new small tree or two to plant in your yard. No space for trees? Get some native wildflower seeds and create a butterfly garden in an unused spot in your garden or yard.  

• Be good to yourself by eating more vegetables, beans and whole grains. 

• Ride your bike, paddle a canoe or get out in nature on your favorite trail. 

Related:

• Reducing Single-Use Plastic in Your Home Kitchen
• 4 Ways to Reduce Your Personal Trash Stream 
• 8 Reasons Why You Should Plant a Tree For Earth Day

Photo credit: Getty Images