In the last decade or so, Earth Day has become a more prominent holiday, garnering more attention and more celebration due to an increased focus on sustainability and various environmental concerns. You’d be hard-pressed to find a city in the United States that didn’t take part in Earth Day in some way.
Columbus is no different and has a devoted gathering of nonprofits and groups who put on Earth Day festivities, organize cleanups, and promote sustainability in the community. One of the best events happening this Earth Day is taking place in Genoa Park and is put on by Green Columbus, a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to bettering the environment in the community around central Ohio.
What’s Going On in the Park?
All day on April 27th, from 11am-8pm, Genoa Park will be the setting for the city’s biggest Earth Day celebration. The event is kid-friendly, with plenty of activities fit for both kids and adults.
Celebrating Earth Day has never been more fun—Genoa Park will be laden with food and drink vendors from some of the city’s best food trucks, and there will be plenty of activities to check out. From bike riding, dog agility competitions, guided fitness activities and tons more, there will be opportunities to participate in the festival all around. In the kid’s tent, face painting, balloon crafts, and science demonstrations from COSI will be available to watch and take part in. All vendors will take part in Green Columbus’ efforts to make Earth Day Columbus a zero-waste event. Their primary goal is to divert more than 95% of waste from landfills and educate festival-goers in a fun, authentic way.
Rounding it all out is consistent live music from a number of talented acts that will be performing around the park all day long. Given the time of year, it should be perfect outside for a larger outdoor event—so be sure to mark your calendars and drive on down to the Scioto for a fun-filled way to spend your Saturday and celebrate the planet we’re all floating through space on.
What Else is Green Columbus Doing for Earth Day?
Beyond the festivities, Green Columbus is hosting a multitude of events to celebrate earth and the Columbus community. They’ll be hosting cleanups all around the city on a volunteer basis from April 5th to the 28th, hoping to tackle littering head on and offer volunteers a way to get out and get involved with their local community through various efforts.
Folks can also participate in the City Nature Challenge, an “international bioblitz,” which focuses on getting people reconnected with the nature in their city by providing an opportunity to go outside, take photos of any plant, animal, or other creature, and document their findings online. Central Ohio is home to tons of biodiversity, even if it doesn’t feel like it living in the city. During the challenge, participants are encouraged to take photos of the wildlife in their area from April 26th-29th, upload those photos to iNaturalist, and then from April 30th-May 5th, everyone bands together to help identify what was found. All in all, it’s a great way to get involved and learn more about the world right outside your doors.
If you’re thinking about going, Earth Day Columbus’ website provides a ton of information, more opportunities to take part, and a volunteer sign-up form. There are plenty of chances to get involved in the city this Earth Day by volunteering to plant trees, cleaning up urban areas, and starting community gardens all in an effort to keep our planet green and clean.