Earth Day is around the corner, and there are lots of kid-friendly events for families to enjoy locally the weekend of April 20 & 21 and beyond! Learn about offshore wind energy, build with recyclable materials, enjoy car-free streets, swap clothing, plant with neighbors, and clean up Brooklyn’s outdoor spaces!
Youth Climate Strike with Climate Families NYC | Financial District
Friday, April 19 | Strike @ Foley Square at 2pm | Picnic @ Battery Park at 5pm
The most powerful thing we can do for the earth, for our kids and for each other is collective action to end fossil fuels and speed up a just transition to a renewable economy. That’s why, this Earth Month, Climate Families NYC is organizing a month chock full of in person and digital opportunities to take action, connect and have fun doing it. On Friday, April 19, young people can join for a Youth Climate Strike in Lower Manhattan, followed by a picnic in Battery. There are so many more ways to take action this month, and to keep things simple, there is one RSVP for the whole month. Sign up for all of the events you’re interested in and we’ll follow up with all the details you need to participate!
Earth Day Wind Energy Party for families at City Point | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-1pm | Best for ages 2-10
We are celebrating Earth Day with our first ever wind energy party on Earth Day, Saturday, April 20 from 11 am to 1 pm. Kids will be able to build wind turbines and other sculptures from recycled materials with Koko NYC, decorate (and eat) your own wind turbine cookies, have fun doing some Earth Day crafts and learn about offshore wind energy coming to Brooklyn. The free event will take place on the ground floor next to Rumi’s at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn. RSVP here.
The Earth Day Wind Energy Party is presented by Community Offshore Wind, a joint venture between RWE and National Grid Ventures to bring local, clean energy to the Northeastern U.S. Their Brooklyn project will power more than 500,000 US households, while generating more than $3 billion in economic benefits for New York communities and creating more than 800 new, good-paying jobs for workers across the state. Read more here!
Earth Day at The Seaport | Lower Manhattan
Saturday April 20 | 11am-2pm | RSVP here
Join The Seaport for Earth Day activities including sustainable castle construction, lego building, plants and science, and the beauty of recycled materials. Free magic show with an Earth Day twist at 12 pm. It’s all part of the upcoming Seaport Kids x Earth Day lineup of activities hosted by Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents. Read more here!
Earth Day Innovations with KoKo NYC at Atlantic Terminal Mall | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3pm
Come together to honor the planet and unleash your creativity in the name of sustainability. At the Inventor’s Lab, they’ll delve into the fascinating world of simple machines while embracing the ethos of recycling and repurposing. Come learn about the wonders of mechanics and discover how they can harness the power of everyday materials to create innovative solutions for a greener future. From bottle caps to cardboard boxes, every item holds the potential to be transformed into something extraordinary. Bring your imagination and get ready to roll up your sleeves and celebrate Earth Day by nurturing the planet and making a positive impact.
Earth Day Celebration | Governors Island
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-3pm
Governors Island’s third annual Earth Day celebration will celebrate the power of native plants through free educational activities and workshops for all ages, guided tours through the Island’s open space, a participatory mural inspired by the relationship between milkweed and Monarch butterflies, Governors Island Nature activities, volunteer stewardship projects, free bike lessons with Bike New York, and more.
Waste No More Clothing Swap at the Brooklyn Museum | Prospect Heights
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-2pm | Registration encouraged
Clean out your closet and refresh your wardrobe for summer with us and Bed-Stuy Clothes Swap in collaboration with To Many More! Through this inclusive and eco-conscious clothing swap celebrating Earth Day, we can make a positive impact on the planet while embracing community, style, and sustainability. Bring your new or gently used clothes, accessories, and shoes for all seasons and participate in our vibrant exchange. You can contribute and take home up to 10 items, but if you have more to share, rest assured they will be lovingly donated to those in need. While our collection predominantly features feminine-presenting apparel, we’re actively working to diversify our offerings. Your participation can help us achieve this goal!
Downtown Brooklyn Car-Free Earth Day in Albee Square | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3:30pm | Some activities require registration, see below
Enjoy Earth-friendly and car-free activities including music, fashion, cycling lessons, and more. Albee Square West will be closed to traffic all day, so bring your bike or roller skates, and enjoy activities and music at Albee Square Plaza. All day long, there will be sets by DJ Boogie, art-making with reused materials with Materials for the Arts, a book giveaway with Brooklyn Book Bodega, sewing and knitting with Black Girls Sew, composting with BK Rot. Trashaganza! by Bash the Trash will also perform fun interactive songs with timely environmental messaging about plastic pollution and climate change. There will also be a selfie station and an Earth Day Wheel of Fortune for the chance to win environmental swag! Don’t miss more special events in Albee Square:
- 11:00am-12:00pm: Dance your way to fitness with Brooklyn’s beloved Natarsha McQueen and her ever popular Zumba class. Register here!
- 1:00-3:00pm: Learn to ride a bike with Bike New York! Bike New York teaches kids 5 – 14 how to ride safely along Albee Square West (which is closed to traffic for the day), while parents and guardians cheer them on! Register here!
Car-Free Earth Day on Hoyt Street | Boerum Hill
Saturday, April 20 | 12-3pm
Join us on Hoyt Street between State St. and Atlantic Ave. as we join the rest of the city to celebrate Car-Free Earth Day. Come get a free plant courtesy of The Hort, and learn to decorate a scarf using natural dyes with Out of Seam. Plus, live music from Augustin Grasso Quartet, and an e-waste drop-off bin. This kicks off our 2024 Open Streets season, which will be full of fun programming that everyone can enjoy, free of charge!
Car-Free Earth Day on Berry Street | Williamsburg
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-3pm
Berry Open Streets has partnered with various environmental justice organizations and community groups for activities on Berry Street between South 3rd & 5th. Activities will include presentations by El Puente Presente and Oceana, making native seed plant balls, cork recycling with RETI Center (help make floating gardens on NYC waterways!), plus drawing, movement, clown comedians, and skateboarding with SKATEYOGI. Find out more on the North Brooklyn Open Streets Instagram account.
More Car-Free Earth Day locations, plus free rides on CitiBikes!
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-4pm
Check out more Car-Free Earth Day events hosted by NYC DOT. Programming is presented at various locations citywide to promote activism and education surrounding climate change, sustainability, and other relevant topics. The event is also the kick off to the 2024 Open Streets and Public Space Programming season! Click here to for a list of all Car-Free Earth Day locations in our neighborhoods.
Plus, Free Citi Bike Rides for Earth Day! Citi Bike will offer free unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike on Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day. All riders may take advantage of the offer by using the promo code CARFREE24 in the Citi Bike app.
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Earth Day Event | Brooklyn Navy Yard
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-12:30pm | Registration required
The Climate Warriors Puppet Show at Central Library | Grand Army Plaza
Mulchfest at Cadman Park | Brooklyn Heights
Sunday, April 21 | 10am-12pm
Celebrate Earth Day and spread mulch at this family-friendly event! Meet at Juneteenth Grove and help spread mulch in Cadman Park’s flowerbeds to ensure best protection and growth during the spring Gand summer months. Supplies and gardening gloves will be provided.
North Flatbush Avenue Earth Day | Pacific Street & Flatbush Avenue
Monday, April 22 | 3-6:30pm | RSVP here
Earth Day Festival | Fort Greene Park
Saturday April 27 | 11am-2pm
Get excited for Earth Day Festival 2024! With family-friendly activity stations and sustainable swaps, there’s something to do for everyone in the neighborhood. Activities will include workshops on clothes mending and seed bombs, a plant swap, community planting, storytime, music-making, and more!
Updated: April 19, 2024. Main Image: Brooklyn Bridge Parents family event ’23
