Join North Jersey’s 2026 Earth Day Celebrations with Local Community Events
North Jersey communities are offering a busy calendar of 2026 Earth Day Celebrations and local community events. The season includes festivals, walks, plantings, cleanups and family activities across several towns.
Background
Earth Day began on April 22, 1970. It aimed to unite people across political and social lines to protect the environment.
April 18: Hawthorne and Millburn
Hawthorne hosts the 34th Annual Cel-Earth-Bration. The event runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hawthorne High School, 160 Parmelee Ave.
Millburn holds activities from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Bauer Community Center, 100 Main St. The program features games, showcases and presentations. Eight free game tickets are provided at entry. MHS clubs and the Environmental Commission will host. Questions may be directed to Eliana Barker at [email protected].
April 22: Nature Walk and Native Planting
In Lyndhurst, the Bergen County Audubon Society leads a two-hour walk at DeKorte Park. Meet at 10 a.m. outside the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza. Contact Don Torino at [email protected] or 201-230-4983.
Rockaway Township will plant 100 native plants at Camp Hudsonia. Volunteers should arrive by 9 a.m., weather permitting. For details, contact Shannon McCarty at 973-627-7200 ext. 2074 or [email protected].
April 25: Cleanups, Hikes and Family Programs
Montclair’s Northeast Earth Coalition organizes a Crane Park Clean-Up. The event runs 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Glenridge and Greenwood avenues.
Passaic County’s 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration takes place at Rifle Camp Park, 387 Rifle Camp Road in Woodland Park. The main event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A pre-event bird-watching hike departs at 8 a.m. from Garret Mountain Reservation.
Activities include a park cleanup with Little Falls Girl Scouts Troop 96529, a meditation walk, a noon tree planting ceremony, and a Nature Journaling Workshop. Artist James Sisti of Hike & Draw leads the journaling session at 12:30 p.m. Children’s programs cover animal tracks, skins and skulls, bird hurdles and pond life. Visit Filmogaz.com for event information. The rain date is April 26.
April 26: Earth Fest and Ridgewood Fair
Montclair’s third annual Earth Fest runs noon to 4 p.m. on South Park Street, between Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street. Expect sustainable businesses, EV cars and energy-efficient displays.
Ridgewood’s fair begins at noon at Van Neste Square. The focus is sustainable yards and native gardening. Planned programs cover electric landscaping tools, pollinator gardens, composting and rain gardens. The day includes the Daffy Dog Fun Costume Parade, educational displays, demonstrations, crafts, vendors, a petting zoo, music by Blue Plate Special, and entertainment by the Recycling Magician. A sustainable scavenger hunt and prizes are also planned.
May 3: The Celebration of the Earth in Wayne
The Celebration runs 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Passaic County Technical Institute, 45 Reinhardt Road. Free activities include environmental face painting, temporary tattoos, refreshments and inflatables.
Turtle Dance Music performs the “Earth Day Rocks” show at 1 p.m. Attendees can receive training on RecycleCoach, the county’s recycling app. The event is hosted by the Passaic County Office of Solid Waste & Recycling Programs. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
May 16: Glen Ridge Arts + Eco-Fair
The Glen Ridge Arts + Eco-Fair runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Ridgewood Avenue, between Bloomfield Avenue and Lincoln Street. The rain date is May 17.
Expect vendors, student artwork, live music, an EV car show, a clothing swap, native plants and composting demonstrations. The fair highlights creative and sustainable community efforts.
How to Participate
- Check dates and times before attending.
- Bring reusable water bottles and gloves for cleanups.
- Children should be supervised at family events.
- Visit Filmogaz.com for additional local details and updates.
