Earth Day is a time when people and communities find a way to celebrate planet Earth, work together to make it a cleaner and greener place, and build power for a more equitable and livable future. People across Illinois are celebrating Earth Day in a variety of creative ways, from virtual film screenings to climate strikes to artistic endeavors to plogging runs and more!
We’ve rounded up some of the fun and unique ways that people are celebrating Earth Day this April 22nd across Illinois. Some are virtual events that you can join no matter where you are and we also hope you’ll find ideas that will inspire you to organize something in your backyard or community this Earth Day or next!
*Event on Earth Day, April 22nd, unless otherwise noted.
Statewide
- Make sure you are outfitted for future Earth Days and support Prairie Rivers Network with your limited edition “Let Rivers Run Wild” t-shirt. On sale now through April 23rd.
- Zona Abierta – Environmental and Climate Justice: Youth Leaders in Action, 12-1pm. Virtual, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and UIC Latino Cultural Center, Registration required.
- ELPC Earth Day Celebration LIVESTREAM with state and federal leaders, 4pm, Virtual, Environmental Law and Policy Center Facebook page.
- Sierra Club Phone Bank for the Clean EnergyJobs Act
Southern IL
- Prayer and Action at the Fuller Dome, 12pm, Virtual and In-person, Edwardsville.
- Glen Carbon Library Earth Day Celebration, Sat April 24, 1pm, Registration required. Glen Carbon.
- Earth Day Glow Paint Night, 6pm, Tickets required. Carbondale.
Central IL
- Seeding Change Film Screening, 7pm, Virtual, Hosted by ISU, Registration required.
- Climate Strike: UIUC Campus, 1pm, Main Quad Champaign-Urbana. More Earth Week activities.
- Festival of Spring/Earth Day, Sat April 24, 9am, Rock Springs Nature Center, Decatur.
- Fleet Feet Weekend Plogging Run, Sunday, April 25, 11:30am, Decatur.
- Party for the Planet, Miller Park Zoo, All month long, Bloomington.
- Heyworth Community Clean up Day, April 18, 10am. Register for a free t-shirt! Heyworth.
- Peoria Parks Earth Day Events. All week long. Peoria.
- Earth Day Planting, Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Sat April 24, 9am-12pm. Registration required. Mattoon.
- Earth Day Garlic Mustard Pull Extravaganza, 1-3pm. Prairie Land Conservancy, Stony Hills Nature Preserve. Registration required. Niota.
Northern IL
- Plogging Run! Celebrate Earth Day with Fleet Feet, 5:30pm, Rockford.
- Joliet Public Library Earth Day Celebration, 7pm. Virtual. Registration required.
- Earth Day Event, Woodland Trails Park, Sat April 24, 1-4pm, Mount Prospect.
- Community Conversation, Neighbors for Environmental Justice, 6:30pm, Virtual, Neighbors for Environmental Justice. Registration required.
- Celebrate Earth Day with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Multiple events all week long.
- Waukegan Harbor Earth Day Clean Up, Sat April 24, 8am-12pm. Waukegan.
- The Sixth Fest, April 22 through May 2. Various dates, times, and locations in the Chicago area and virtually.
We of course know that “Earth Day is Every Day” and our efforts don’t begin or end on April 22nd. In fact, on the Monday after Earth Day, April 26, we’ll be lobbying and rallying for environmental justice during our Virtual Lobby Day. Learn more and register here. Sign up for PRN updates to learn about events all year round.
