Cycling in Coal Harbour. Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Hubert Kang
Vancouver is consistently rated one of the greenest cities in the world, so it should be no surprise that our city loves to celebrate Earth Day each April. From museum exhibits to shoreline clean-ups to street festivals and more, here’s what to do on Earth Day 2024.
What is Earth Day?
Each year people around the world celebrate Earth Day on April 22. Started in 1970, Earth Day is both a celebration of the natural world and a call to action for global citizens to safeguard our planet. In 2024, the Earth Day theme is Planet vs. Plastics and participants are encouraged to advocate for the elimination of single-use plastics, plastic pollution, and fast fashion.
Party for the Planet – April 27, 2024
Photo: Party for the Planet
Held each year in Surrey, Party for the Planet is BC’s largest Earth Day celebration. The 2024 event takes place on April 27 at Surrey Civic Plaza. You can expect live music, dance performances, Indigenous cultural sharing, kids activities, environmental education, food trucks and lots more. The festival also includes a sustainable marketplace featuring environmentally friendly products made by local artisans and small businesses.
Earth Day EcoStewards Art Workshop in Stanley Park – April 20, 2024
Head to the Nature House at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park for a fun art workshop hosted by the Stanley Park Ecology Society on April 20. During the first half of the event, you’ll get hands-on as you help remove invasive English Ivy from the forests of Stanley Park. Later, local eco-artist Joshua Ralph will teach you have to use the harvested ivy to make soap and ink-based mono prints from the ivy leaves. Advance registration is required.
Land, Sea, Sky: Celebrate Earth Day at Vanier Park – April 20, 2024
Photo via Vancouver Maritime Museum
Vanier Park is home to three great museums (the Museum of Vancouver, the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre) and they are all hosting kid-friendly events on April 20 to celebrate Earth Day as part of the Land, Sea, Sky festival. The day’s festivities include storytimes, crafts, films, and a beach clean-up in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation. Admission to the Museum of Vancouver and the Vancouver Maritime Museum will also be by donation.
Earth Fest at Everett Crowley Park – April 27, 2024
Everett Crowley Park is one of the largest parks in Vancouver, and it’s also a success story. This former landfill site was reopened as a park in 1987. Since then native and invasive species have been recolonizing the rehabilitated dump. Each year the Champlain Heights Community Centre hosts Earth Fest at the park. On April 27, you can learn about this growing urban forest and help plant native shrubs and wildflowers to help it thrive.
Pollinator Party at the Fraser River Discovery Centre – April 20, 2024
Fraser River Discover Centre. Photo: Tourism New Westminster
Head to the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster for the family-friendly Pollinator Party on April 20 to celebrate Earth Day. Learn about how local species including bees, bats, butterflies and hummingbirds pollinate flowers in the Fraser River Basin. You can also decorate a mini pollinator pond to take home.
Shop at a Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday and Sunday
Photo: Shelley Pauls/Unsplash
Vancouver has several farmer’s markets across the city each weekend. You can support small businesses by shopping for locally-grown produce and handmade artisanal goods. The Riley Park Farmer’s Market and Trout Lake Farmer’s Market are on every Saturday from early April until late October. The Hastings Park Farmer’s Market is open on Sundays between early November and late April. The Kitsilano Farmer’s Market opens for the season on May 5 and runs every Sunday until late October. And the West End, Downtown, False Creek, and Mount Pleasant Markets all open for the season between mid-May and early June.
Go Forest Bathing – Anytime
Walking in Stanley Park. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout
The Japanese practice of forest bathing is scientifically proven to help relieve stress and improve health. It involves mindfully spending time in nature and engaging your senses to tune in to Mother Earth. Vancouver has an abundance of natural areas perfect for trying forest bathing. Head to the forested interior of Stanley Park or the sinuous paths of Pacific Spirit Regional Park, then find a place to sit down, relax, and just be.
Ride a Bike – Anytime
Photo: David Niddrie/Mobi Bikes
Vancouver has an extensive bike path network, making getting around by bike easy. Celebrate Earth Day by exploring on two wheels. Rent a bike from local shops, or book a guided bike tour. Or use the environmentally-friendly Mobi bike share program. It provides bikes at hundreds of docking stations around the city to make it simple to take a short trip by bike instead of by car. Our guide to Vancouver’s car-free bike paths has ten scenic bike route suggestions.