This year, we’re celebrating the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, which was launched with help of former Wisconsin governor and U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson.
The “Conservation Governor” fought to preserve Wisconsin’s recreational land and natural resources. Nelson wished for Americans to observe Earth Day in “any way they want,” a notion that remains true to this day. Here are a few ways Milwaukeeans are celebrating:
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
1. Amani Neighborhood Clean Up
APRIL 19 FROM 9 A.M.-NOON | DOMINICAN CENTER
Milwaukee’s Amani (meaning “peace” in Swahili) neighborhood is hosting its fourth annual Earth Day clean up! Join Amani United, the Dominican Center, Welcome Home Milwaukee Property Management as well as neighbors and other volunteers at the Dominican Center at 9 a.m. for route information, tools and supplies. Spend the afternoon cleaning trash and recyclables to refresh and revitalize the neighborhood. Register ahead of time online.
2. MKE Health & Wellness Earth Day Clean Up
APRIL 19 FROM 10 A.M.-2 P.M. | BOONE & CROCKETT
Over 30 locally women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ owned health & wellness businesses are joining together for this unique city-wide clean up. Check out this map of participating businesses, and stop by their stores at 10 am to help clean up the surrounding area. Then, join crews from across the city at Boone & Crockett for an afterparty starting at noon. Each participating business will contribute their choice of service, swag or gift packages, etc to raffle off.
3. Cactus Club Seed Swap + Park Clean-up
APRIL 20 FROM 11 A.M.-2 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
Spring has sprung! Cactus Club is celebrating with their annual park clean up and seed swap. Meet up in the live room before noon to join volunteers as they pick up trash and recyclables in nearby Cupertino Park. Or, stop by the bar throughout the afternoon for the Seed Swap! Hosted by Hazelwood Farm, visitors can pick up some seeds for their home gardens and drop some off to fill the community seed library. All ages are welcome, and participants aren’t required to bring seeds to join in the swap.
4. Earth Day Yin + Clothing Swap
APRIL 21 & 22 | THE MOVING GALAXY
The Moving Galaxy, and East Side yoga and mindful movement center, is hosting an earth day clothing swap! Bring your gently-used clothes during operating hours on the 21st and 22nd, and snag a yin class for a $10 drop-in price. The yin class is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and the clothing swap will run afterward, from 8-8:30 p.m.
5. Earth Day Hike
APRIL 22 AT 10 A.M. | HOLY HILL
Organized by the Ice Age Trail Alliance – Washington/Ozaukee County Chapter, this Earth Day hike takes participants through one of southeastern Wisconsin’s most beautiful vistas: Holy Hill. Hikers will meet at the Holy Hill lower parking lot and use the blue connector trail to join the main Ice Age Trail. Total hike distance will be 3.2 miles.
6. Guided Forest Therapy Walk
APRIL 22 FROM 10 A.M.-NOON | GRANT PARK
Intentionally Outdoors is hosting a two-hour guided Forest Therapy Walk in celebration of mother nature. Designed for adults 18+, these gentle walks are inspired by the Japanese practice of forest bathing, or immersing yourself in natural surroundings, engaging all your senses. According to the organizers, a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide “will guide you through a series of sensory based invitations that encourage mindful interactions with nature.” Register online.
7. Alice’s Garden Urban Farm Earth Day
APRIL 22 FROM 10 A.M.-3 P.M. | ALICE’S GARDEN
Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, run by 2025 Unity Award Winner Venice Williams, is hosting a dynamic earth day event open to the whole family. The Day starts with an earth blessing ritual by Williams before the garden and labyrinth clean up begins. At noon, there will be an Earth poem reading circle (bring a chair if you’d like) before the 1 p.m. labyrinth walk and a cistern-area clean up. The event rounds out at 2 p.m., when the fieldhands and foodways area clean up begins. Additional information will be distributed on how to live a greener life, before wrapping with an earth pledge.
8. Person & Planet Magazine Release Party and Live Art & Community Market
APRIL 22 AT 5 P.M. | MARN ART + CULTURE HUB
Join MARN Art + Culture Hub for the release of Person & Planet Magazine by Purevant Living, a publication that shares “all things good” with a sustainability and wellness focus. The zero-waste release party will also have live art, a sustainable art exhibit and fashion show, and local vendors. A ticket will reserve a copy of the new issue, and your choice of four Earth Day-themed beverages with free Earth Day cookies while they last.
9. Earth Day Edi-Bowl Planting Workshop
APRIL 22 AT 6 P.M. | MILAEGER’S GARDEN CENTER, RACINE
Do you want to get into gardening but don’t know where to start? This Earth Day Edi-Bowl Planting Workshop is a great place to start! Instructors from Milaeger’s Garden Center will teach participants how to plant and care for a variety of plants. Each participant will plant a 12” bowl full of mixed greens and edible flowers, and take it home to be enjoyed over and over again. Tickets are $24.99 and can be purchased online.
10. Earth Day Plant Sip Night
APRIL 22 FROM 6-8 P.M. | CAVELIER WINE BAR
Join Soiled.MKE and Cavelier Wine Bar for an evening of planting and sipping to celebrate Earth Day! Grab a 4-inch pot of choice, plant of choice (all supplies will be provided) and get planting while sipping a glass of wine or other refreshments from the bar. Tickets are available online, and can be purchased for just the planting, or for a planting and a beverage.
11. Earth Day Craft Day
APRIL 23 FROM 5-6 P.M. | BROWN DEER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Get crafty this Earth Day with a craft project hosted by the Brown Deer Public Library. Children of all ages can enjoy two crafts (children under 10 may need parental assistance) including making a flower head wreath or a wreath made of repurposed book pages. All materials will be provided.
12. Introduction to Soil Health
APRIL 26 FROM 9-10 A.M. | URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER – MENOMONEE VALLEY
Get ahead of spring gardening with this introduction to soil health class hosted by Milwaukee Urban Agriculture Network, Urban Ecology Center and UW-Madison Extension FoodWIse. The workshop will teach participants a variety of strategies to improve soil health practices for urban gardens.
13. Party for the Planet River Clean Up
APRIL 26 FROM 9 A.M.-NOON | MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO
This family-friendly clean up covers the area along the Hank Aaron State Trail around the Milwaukee County Zoo. As part of the 30th Annual Milwaukee River Cleanup, the largest in the city, Zoo organizers provide bags, gloves, supplies and complementary t-shirts— so volunteers can show up and clear the trail! Volunteers can register online.
14. Earth Day Clean Up at Hawthorn Glen
APRIL 26 FROM 9 A.M.-NOON | HAWTHORN GLEN OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER
Hawthorn Glen is one of the city’s most revered urban nature spaces, with 25 acres of woodland, native wild animals and plants and prairie land for every person to enjoy. Residents can volunteer to clean up this beloved space, just in time for more visitors to enjoy the springtime blooms.
15. 30th Annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup
APRIL 26 FROM 9 A.M.-NOON | THROUGHOUT THE CITY
Volunteers will be cleaning up trash and debris from over 80 spots from Milwaukee’s several beautiful rivers. Registration is required, and participants will get gloves, trash bags to help clear river basins as well as a complementary t-shirt. Register to clean your neighborhood river here.
16. Earth Day Tree Giveaway
APRIL 26 FROM 10 A.M.-NOON | LISBON COMMUNITY PARK, HARTLAND
Celebrate Earth Day by planting a tree you can tend to year after year. Lisbon’s Park Department is giving away free tree saplings including red oak, bur oak, swamp white oak and pecan varieties. This free give away runs for two hours, but if you miss the pickup time, you can stop by the Lisbon Town Hall the following week to pick up any extra saplings.
17. Merrill Park Neighborhood Annual Earth Day Clean Up
APRIL 26 FROM 10 A.M.-1 P.M. | CLYBOURN COVE PLAYGROUND
The Near West Side’s Merrill Park neighborhood is hosting its annual Earth Day Clean Up. Participants can meet at Clybourn Cove Playground at 10 a.m. and work to clean the neighborhood until noon. After the cleanup, Merrill Park Neighbors will host a social hour back at the park. Snacks and water will be provided to attendees.
18. Rock the Green
APRIL 26 FROM NOON-3 P.M. | HARLEY-DAVISON MUSEUM
Milwaukee’s annual eco-fest, Rock The Green, is back for the 14th year of earth friendly celebrations. The zero-impact festival will be powered by a combination of B20 biodiesel generators, solar power and bicycle power. In addition to live performances by The Zach Pietrini Band, 1st Lady Ceiba and Kavon Cortez Jones, the festival will have a raw food demo by Chef Caroline Carter of PBS’ Cooking Raw and a Baby Goat Yoga session hosted by MKE Yoga Social.
