More than one billion people participate in Earth day events in over 190 countries worldwide. This year’s theme, “Invest in Our Planet” encourages everyone to do their part and come together for our planet. Businesses, governments, and individuals are all responsible for taking action against climate crisis and working towards a green and prosperous future.
With many the Earth Day Events happening throughout the Cape, it is easy to find a way to join in and do your part. Most events welcome all volunteers but it is most helpful to preregister if you are able.
Choose One of the Many Earth Day Events on the Cape:
Bourne
Saturday, April 22nd ( 10 AM to 2 PM) – 22nd Annual Cape Cod Canal Clean Up
The AmeriCorps Cape Cod and US ACE are partnering again to work with the community to keep the Canal clean. Meet at Herring Run Recreational Area at 810 Scenic Highway in Bourne. Cleaning supplies and lunch provided.
The Cape Cod Canal is the widest sea-level canal in the world, measuring at 480 feet wide. Cutting through almost 7 miles of land, the Canal is what makes Cape Cod an island. It is maintained and operated by the U.S. ACE, offering a variety of recreational opportunities for both visitors and locals.
Saturday, April 22nd (1 PM to 5PM) Earth Day Little Bay Clean Up, Monks Park, Bourne
By land or by sea! Help us clean up the trails, islands, and salt marsh of the Little Bay Conservation Area in Bourne, MA.
Celebrate Mother Earth by helping with some spring cleanup. Bring a pick up stick or gloves, and a bucket. Biodegradable trash bags provided. Hosted by Cape Cod Kayak, rentals for the cleanup are available for a reduced rate of $20. Call ahead to reserve.
Falmouth
Saturday, April 22nd (10:30am) – Earth Day Celebration for Children
Children ages 4-10 are welcome to West Falmouth Library’s free Earth Day celebration on at the Library. Plant a mini-garden with flower or vegetable seeds to take home. Registration is required. Register at westfalmouthlibrary.org
Friday, April 21st (10-11:30am) Celebrate Earth Day with Music
Songwriter/song leader, Dawna Hammers, will fill Highfield Hall with music as she teaches the children how to listen to the earth and its music. “Let’s sing & drum & dance for the Earth!”.
They will learn fun songs and dances, then finish the event by planting their own herb to take home and as well as a communal shrub in the Highfield Gardens.
Mashpee
Sunday April 23rd (11:30AM – 1PM) – Restoring Mashpee Waters
The Mashpee Congregational Church is sponsoring this public Earth Sunday forum as part of a Green Congregation initiative. Open to all, the forum will be non-religious, and held at the church, located in the Popponesset Market Place in New Seabury.
The forum will address the pollution of Mashpee’s waters and how each person can contribute to restoring and protecting the town’s freshwater ponds, streams, rivers bays/estuaries and ocean
Hyannis
Saturday April 22nd (10am-1pm) Spring on Main
Main Street of Hyannis will spring alive again celebrating Earth Day with music, sidewalk art, farmers market and Earth Day events and crafts for kids. Even Gilbert the Party Pig will be there!
Yarmouth
Saturday April 22nd (9AM- 10:30AM) The Annual Community Clean Up
Registration for this event begins at 8am with volunteers meeting at the Yarmouth Town Hall. Pre-registration is encouraged to sign up for a designated area to clean, including your neighborhood or business, beaches, parks, conservation trails, roads, schools, and bike trails. Each volunteer will receive a safety vest, trash picker, gloves,trash bags and a gift at completion. Sunday is the rain date if necessary.
Harwich
Friday April 21st (3:30- 6pm) Harwich Climate Action Network Art Show
Come celebrate Earth Day with an Art Show and childrens’ activities. Speaker Andrew Gottlieb will address water quality, maintenance and septic systems. Admission is free for the general public.
Chatham
Saturday April 22nd to Sunday April 30th – A week of Environmental/Conservation Programs
In recognition of the global celebration of Earth Day, three local Chatham organizations – St. Christopher’s Earth-Honoring Faith Committee, Friends of Trees, and the Chatham Conservation Foundation have joined together to provide our community with eight environmental/ conservation programs to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day(April 28) throughout the week. More events throughout the week including a screening of the “The Story of Plastic” at the Orpheum and a Walking Tour of the Trees in the Old Village.
Saturday April 22nd (9AM) — Conservation Land Roadside Clean Up.
Please join the Boy Scouts, the Garden Club and others to clean up roadside trash throughout Chatham. Bags, gloves and trash grabbers will be provided. Meet at Mayo House, 540 Main Street for assignment.
Saturday April 22nd (10AM) — Earth Day Celebration at Oyster Pond.
A spiritual celebration of our Island Home with poetry, readings, and music. St. Christopher’s Earth-Honoring Faith Committee.
Sunday, April 23rd (1 PM) — Tree/daffodil walk at Sylvan Gardens
Join Friends of Sylvan Gardens for a guided stroll to observe native trees, shrubs, and thousands of daffodils in bloom. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Meet at the Sylvan Gardens entrance on Old Main Street.
Brewster
Saturday, April 15–Friday, April 21, 2023 (10AM – 3PM) Cape Cod Museum of Nat. History
The museum celebrates April school vacation all week long with Earth Day events and hands-on activities at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster presents, including exploration with nature printing, reptiles and whales.
Saturday April 22nd ( 10 Am – 11AM) Brewsters Ladies Library
Join the Brewster Ladies’ Library for a seed swap. Bring some seeds to share, and take some seeds. Leftovers will go to the BLL Seed Library. All are welcome.
Saturday April 22nd ( 2pm -4:15pm) Brewsters Ladies Library
Come see the Earth Day screening of Princess Mononoke! Created by the anime pioneer Hayao Miyazaki and set in medieval Japan, this film depicts the struggle between nature and man. Featuring the voice talents of Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Rated PG-13 for images of violence and gore.
Eastham
Saturday April 22nd (8 AM to 9 AM) Eastham Clean Up
The Eastham Chamber of Commerce, the Eastham Recreation and Beach Department, Open Space Committee, Eastham Conservation Foundation, and the Eastham Department of Public Works would like everyone in Eastham to observe Earth Day by taking just one hour, , on April 22 to clean up a little section of our pride and joy.
It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3 – put together your own team, select an area to clean from the list below and register your team. Pick up your bucket at 8am and make Eastham beautiful!
( Boat Meadow Beach, First Encounter Beach, Herring Brook Landing, Sandy Meadow Trails, Thumpertown Beach, Campground Beach, Cook’s Brook Beach, Sunken Meadow Beach, Wiley Park, Great Pond Beach)
Orleans
Saturday April 22nd (2pm – 4PM) creating a Hugel Terrace Workshop
Featuring Peter Jensen, Regenerative Agroecologist Terra Firma Permagardens, Held at 155 Monument Rd, Orleans, MA. In this workshop, you will learn how to create your own hillside runoff capture garden. There is a $25 fee for this workshop with proceeds going to the OPC.
Provincetown
Saturday April 22nd (9AM-2PM) -Conservation Clean-Up
Join the PCT as we help clean-up litter on town-owned and PCT-owned conservation properties to commemorate Earth Day 2023. Volunteers will meet at the Old Colony Nature Pathway Parking Lot. Volunteers need to preregister as space is limited. Those who register will be treated to a lunch at 12:30pm after a morning of hard work courtesy of Provincetown Brewing Company.
Saturday April 22nd ( 1PM – 3PM) – Earth Day Dune Shack Walk
Celebrate Earth Day with a walk in the sand dunes of the Cape Cod National Seashore to the historic C-Scape Dune Shack, led by the director of the Provincetown Community Compact. This walk will include a history of the shacks and meeting the current resident. The trail to C-Scape is an easy mile hike partly on hard ground and partly on sand. Advance registration required.
Friday April 21st and Saturday April 22nd (7 – 9 PM ) “Planet PTown” Films
The Provincetown Film Society and the Center for Coastal Studies will present an environmental film series featuring short and feature-length films about the ocean and climate change.
Friday night will kick off at 7 pm with a screening of “Deep Rising”, a 2023 documentary covering the relationship between the deep ocean and life on Earth.
Saturday will feature a variety of award-winning short films, including “Spinnaker”, the life-story of a humpback whale, followed by a discussion with filmmakers and CCS staff.
Sunday April 23rd (11AM – 1 PM) The Last of the Right Whales film screening
The weekend will conclude on Sunday with an 11 am screening of “Last of the Right Whales”, which showcases the stories of people researching and protecting the critically endangered species, including the CCS Right Whale Ecology Team and footage of the whales in Cape Cod Bay.
Where ever you are on the Cape you are sure to find an Earth Day event that you can join and be a part of the celebration. If you are joining a clean-up event, you will want to wear comfortable clothing and footwear, as well as bright colors for visibility. Bring gloves if you have them but most events provide the needed supplies. Be aware of social distancing where necessary.
If you are unable to join an Earth Day Event but still want to go your part as a good steward to the earth, there is plenty you can do in your own backyard. Consider container gardening or planting a Vineyard Lawn.
