Earth Day turns 55 in 2025, celebrating the planet we call home and reminds us of how we can help Mother Nature.
This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.” This will appeal to people to unite around renewable energy and triple clean electricity by 2030, and will sustain our lives in this pale blue dot. For those who want to find a way to pitch yourself, areartday.org offers many tips, including:
Stop using single-use plastics, especially disposable plastics such as bottles, bags, and straws. Consider switching to a reusable bag. Donate old clothes and household items instead of throwing them away. If you need anything, consider purchasing used items. Replace inefficient incandescent bulbs with efficient LEDs. Compost kitchen scrap for use in your garden. Recycle batteries from small fixtures and electronic devices. Use a rechargeable battery instead. Please contact your representative. Eat less meat.
Around Central Florida, we celebrate as a community with festivals, cleanups and events to celebrate the planet we call home.

Earth Day Cleanup is intended to improve the St. John’s River and free up contaminated waste. This Saturday, I will be taking part in Central Florida Reconnaissance in East Orlando to launch a kayak and use grabbers to collect trash from the waterways and picking up trash on the land. Join the effort on 28500 E. Colonial Drive on Christmas at 9:30am April 19th. More information: Facebook.com
Clermont offers good morning earth day activities with lake cleanup and outdoor festivals. The celebration includes interactive activities, DJs, environmental education, vendors and free hot dogs. It will start early with a cleanup from 7:30am to 10:30am, followed by the festival, which will take place on April 19th at 450 12th St. in Clermont. More details: lakecountyfl.gov
Orange County is fully offering Earth Month activities by the end of the month, including Eco Scavenger Hunts, Guided Hiking, Adoption Events, and workshops. These will take place in parks and venues throughout the county from April 20th to 28th. Details: ocfl.net
Hands-on Orlando hosts free Earth Day celebrations with fun, food and plants. Visitors can take part in a scavenger hunt, tour the 15-acre environmental learning laboratory, enjoy lunch, and take advantage of plant gifts. The event also includes meals and prizes from the festival from 10am to 1pm on April 19th at S. Ivey Lane in Orlando. More information: handsonorlando.com
Earth Day Family Day at the Arts and History Museum in Maitland brings visitors free admission and kids’ crafts, scavenger hunts and face painting. Guests can try out the prints in an eco-style tote bag in honor of Earth Day. The festival will be held on April 19th from 10am to 10pm at 231 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland. Details: artandhistory.org

Sponsored by vegetarians in Central Florida, Central Florida Earth Day returns to Lake Eola for 20 years and features eco-friendly exhibitors, presentations, child activities, animal adoption, music and plenty of food. The event is family-friendly, dog-friendly, vegan, alcohol-free, smokeless. The free festival will take place on April 19th from 10am to 6pm at 512 E. Washington Street in Orlando. Details: cfearthday.org
Plant Nerd Fest celebrates Earth Day and small business at Thornton Park. The vendor offers environmentally sensitive and earth-inspired products, art, crafts, plants, organic products, vintage clothing, decorations and more. The event will be on Washington Street in the Thornton Park area from noon to 6pm on April 19th. More information: EventBrite.com
Ideas for us throw Earth Day parties and fundraisers with guest DJs, plant sales, special cocktails, modern networking. The event will be on 1241 on E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, from 7pm to 11pm on April 22nd. More information: EventBrite.com
Lyonia Environmental Center will host visitors to create seed balls or upcycle crafts when they drop on Eustace Ave. in Deltona from 1 to 3:30pm on April 22nd. More information: volusia.org or eventbrite.com

Jordan Krumbine
Vegetarians in Central Florida host the largest and longest-running Earth Day Festival in Central Florida. The event will return on April 19, 2025. (Orlando Sentinel file)
Keeping Orlando’s beautiful hosts, the beautiful districts and venues of several cities, including Lake Eora Park from 8:30am to 10:30am on April 22, Ivan Ho village from 5:30am to 7:30am on April 22, and urban districts from 9am on April 27. More information and online registration link: orlando.govv
Orlando’s Earth Day Business Day introduces lunchtime sustainability fairs to share ways to protect resources, control plastic pollution and save money with Green Living Hacks. The event will include music, games, prizes and activities from 11am to 1pm on April 25th at 400 S. Orange Ave. in Orlando. Details: orlando.gov
Wekiva Island will host a slate of sustainability-focused event on April 25th. Events include River Cleanup, Animal Meetings from the Central Florida Zoo, Clothing Exchanges, and Ecotrivia Night. Explore the April 25th event at 1014 Miami Miss Springs Drive in Longwood. More information: wekivaisland.com
Casselberry’s EarthFest represents Seminole County’s largest Earth Day event, with Lake Concord Park having close to 75 vendors and thousands of visitors. A complimentary festival, including educational workshops, food courts, kids’ zones and recycled art exhibits, can be found on April 26th at 95 Triplet Lake Drive in Casselberry. Details: casselberry.org
Winter Park’s Ward & Wellbeing Earth Day Block Party will begin on April 26th at 7:30am with The Trees 5K run. Following the race, browse the Earth Day Expo, find family-friendly activities, do yoga, participate in sound bowl meditation, and create art. 5K registration is $47 before race day. Explore the event across the streets of Miser Avenue and Ward Park in Winter Park from 7:30am to 11am on April 26th, 2005. More information: cityofwinterpark.org
Earth Day work in 2025 brings together the community for a cleanup and glorification event that begins at Majestic Life Church on Kirkman Road. Join Pastor Riva Watkins and Church members to clean Kirkman Road between Raleigh Street and Old Winter Garden Road. I will be attending an event at 821 S. Kirkman Road in Orlando from 8:00 am on April 26th. More information: Majesticlifechurch.com
Central Florida Zoo celebrates Earth Day with a “Party for the Planet” featuring activities, crafts and games for the whole family. The event is included in a general zoo admission at 3755 W. Seminole Blvd on April 26th from 9am to 4pm. In Sanford. Details: CentralFloridazoo.org
Auckland Nature Reserve presents Earth Day celebrations with family activities, animal interactions, crafts, hot dogs, popsicles and guided hikes. The free admission event will be from 10am to 2pm on April 26th, with a guided hike that began at 8:30am at 747 Machete Trail in Auckland. More details: oaklandnaturepreserve.wildapricot.org
Find @pconnpie on Instagram or send an email at pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.