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Earth Day is on April 22nd and the environment is celebrated in Vancouver that week and later in April with the Party for the Planet and other events.

Other Earth Day activities include special events in Stanley Park, Everett Crowley Park, North Vancouver, Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack and elsewhere. Some of the events involve gardening and other cleanup activities. Other events are educational. Some take the form of an environment-related protest.

Earth Day itself takes place on April 22nd, which in 2023 is a Saturday. Some Lower Mainland Earth Day events happen on the official day, but many take place on the weekend. In the case of Party for the Planet, it occurs a week later, on April 29th in 2023.

See below for details about Earth Day events happening in 2023 as well as in past years.

Earth Day Celebrations in Vancouver

In normal years, Party for the Planet is definitely the largest Earth Day event in the Lower Mainland. There are smaller events that usually happen as well.

Click on any of the links below for information about a specific event or topic, or continue reading to learn about all of the region’s various events celebrating planet earth.

(Note: Event dates, locations and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)

Party for the Planet Raccoon Mascot — Party for the Planet in Surrey

Environmental Events in New Westminster

The Fraser River Discovery Centre is an environment-related attraction at the waterfront in New Westminster. It hosts various events over the course of the year including its Super Saturdays and River Basin Days events. Although not actually branded as “Earth Day” events, the venue offers some great environmental activities in April.

Last year, on Saturday, April 23rd, Super Saturdays offered fun family-friendly activities at the facility. We mention this because most other Earth Day events happened on the same day in 2022, and the Fraser River Discovery Centre hosts these kinds of events numerous times throughout the year. For them, Earth Day and environmental stewardship aren’t important just one day of the year!

Also happening last April, and on a day when another Lower Mainland Earth Day event was happening, River Basin Days that month involved a guided walking tour at Brae Island Regional Park (so in Langley, not New Westminster).

Details about April 2023 events at the Fraser River Discovery Centre are to be confirmed. For a list of other special events and activities hosted by the attraction, see the Fraser River Discovery Centre’s Calendar of Events.

Party for the Planet

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the spring, Party for the Planet was cancelled in 2020. It happened as a virtual event in 2021, but returned as an in-person event in 2022. It’s back again in its usual format in 2023.

Party for the Planet takes place on Saturday, April 29th in 2023. So, the same as the last few years, it’s not actually going to be on Earth Day itself. The venue is Surrey’s City Hall Plaza at 13450-104th Avenue.

Concerts and performances take place at a number of different stages throughout the day. There are also environmental workshops, plants and arts vendors and plenty of food trucks.

In 2019 the event was smaller than in previous years and, rather than a big-name headlining performer, the entertainment was with just a variety of smaller local groups. 2022 was similar and we expect the same in 2023, although exact details are to be confirmed.

See our article about Party for the Planet to learn more about the event.

Earth Day in Stanley Park

The Stanley Park Ecology Society hosts a fairly “down-to-earth” event most years in the area of Stanley Park’s Nature House. The venue is located on the southeast shore of Lost Lagoon at the north end of Alberni Street (so close to the edge of the park and the city).

Earth Day activities at the Stanley Park Ecology Society usually happen on the Saturday either just before or just after April 22nd. After not occurring in 2020 or 2021, the event returned in 2022.

It’s back again on April 22nd in 2023. This year, the event runs from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Things to do at the Stanley Park event include guided walks through the park’s wetlands, as well as removing some invasive species.

The 2022 event was based out of Stanley Park Brewing Restaurant and Brewpub. After the day’s events there were free samples of the brewery’s new non-alcoholic beers. 2023 will likely be similar, although exact details are to be confirmed.

See the Stanley Park Ecology Society website for more information.

International Declaration for Action Protest

Another Earth Day event in Vancouver in 2022 was the International Declaration for Action! Last year everyone was invited to join a rally and march at Vancouver City Hall between 4:30 and 6:00 pm on Friday, April 22nd. The building is located at 453 West 12th Avenue.

The demonstration was put together by a number of environmental organizations who want to help change the way things are going. In celebration of Earth Day, this movement hopes to spark change and force a reduction of carbon emissions.

Details about this event in 2023 are to be confirmed. For more information about the rally and march from last year, click International Declaration for Action.

Earth Day at Everett Crowley Park

The Champlain Heights Community Centre hosts a special Earth Day event in South Vancouver most years. In 2022 activities took place on Saturday, April 23rd, from 11:00 am until 3:00 in the afternoon. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

The community centre’s address is 3350 Maquinna Drive. The event takes place outdoors at Everett Crowley Park. Weather permitting, between 200 and 300 people show up most years.

Activities in 2022 included the community planting of flowering native shrubs, interpretive walks, and a drumming circle. Free refreshments are also served most years. Don’t forget to take your gardening gloves!

For more information visit the Champlain Heights Community Centre website.

Earth Day Virtual Run

One way to celebrate Earth Day is by participating in the Earth Day Virtual Run. The run isn’t the same as other runs that take place throughout the year. This run is actually a great way of giving back. With each person who registered to run in 2022, one tree was planted somewhere in nature through the One Tree Planted charity.

Registration was open from January 1st until April 21st last year, and all participants ran on April 22nd. There are different distances available including 5 km, 10 km and a half marathon. Since the run is virtual, participants can run at any location. Registration costs about $30. To learn more, click Earth Day Virtual Run 2022. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

Earth Day in North Vancouver

In 2019 Earth Day was celebrated with workshops, games and an invasive plant removal work party in North Vancouver at Loutet Farm in Loutet Park at 1400 Rufus Avenue.

The 2022 edition was a bit smaller-scale but included educational information booths and some free activities to enjoy. The event took place last year on Saturday, April 23rd, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Mosquito Creek Park. Click Earth Day in North Vancouver for more details about 2022 activities. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

In normal years, the event is a smaller gathering of dedicated folk of all ages. Tools and snacks are provided. Workshops in 2019 included a drop-in session of sculptural mushroom cultivation with artist Willoughby Arevalo. There was also a workshop on planning a garden and seed starting presented by the Edible Garden Project.

Earth Day in Coquitlam

There was an Earth Day Clean-Up in Coquitlam in 2022. The United Way BC initiative took place on April 22nd from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. The event was at Mackin Park at 1046 Brunette Avenue. 2023 details about the event are to be confirmed.

Last year everyone was invited to help clean the beloved city park. The event began with an orientation by the Coquitlam Park Spark team. Then, everyone who attended started cleaning the park. All cleaning equipment was supplied by Hi Neighbour. Water and snacks were also available.

For more information about the event, click Earth Day Clean-Up at Mackin Park.

Earth Day in Langley

The City of Langley and the Langley Environmental Partners Society hosted a new Earth Day celebration in 2022. The event took place in Douglas Park which is located at 5403-5409 206th Street. It was on Saturday, April 23rd, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

There were a few different things to do at the event last year. Activities included interactive workshops about foraging and gardening that began at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm. There were also garden tours, product giveaways and picnic opportunities at the park.

To learn more about the event see the Langley City website.

LANGLEY COMMUNITY DAY

Another event happening in Langley soon is Langley Community Day. Expect to see lots of food trucks, live music and family-friendly activities there! It takes place in 2023 on Saturday, June 10th.

Earth Day in Maple Ridge

The 2023 edition of Earth Day in Maple Ridge takes place at Memorial Peace Park from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 22nd.

At the Maple Ridge celebrations there is a Freecycle event where people can bring their gently-used toys, books and clothing. At the same time and place they can find great “new-to-them” treasures to take home, all for free. Also at the event there is live entertainment, a selection of food trucks and a number of farmers’ market vendors.

For more information about the 2023 event check out the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society website.

Earth Day in Chilliwack

The Chilliwack Vedder River Cleanup Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the Chilliwack Vedder River clean. In 2023, the organization hosts an April River Cleanup event on Saturday, April 22nd.

The event takes place at Thompson Regional Park located at 48600 Chilliwack Lake Road. Everyone is asked to arrive between 8:30 and 9:30 am to register and pick up cleaning supplies. Then, everyone is free to clean the river until 1:30 pm at the latest. There are prizes available to win as well.

To learn more about the event, see the April River Cleanup Facebook page.

Vancouver Earth Day Parade

The annual Earth Day Parade & Festival is a small student-organized event that usually takes place along Commercial Drive on the Saturday just before April 22nd. It usually starts at around 1 pm.

For 2019, the celebration happened on April 20th. In 2020 it was scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 18th. Due to concerns about the coronavirus, however, the event that year was cancelled. There was no parade again in 2021. It doesn’t look like it happened in 2022 either. Hopefully it’ll be back again soon.

In years when it does happen, students from Windermere High School’s Youth for Climate Justice put on the event. The procession goes from the corner of Commercial Drive and Broadway to Grandview Park. After the parade, at the park, there are usually speakers and live entertainment.

Click Earth Day Parade for more information, including a video on the event.

Pilgrimage to Burns Bog

The Earth Day Pilgrimage to Burns Bog usually takes place at the Delta Nature Reserve at 10389 Nordel Court. Access to the area is at the edge of the Ice Planet parking lot.

In 2020 the event was scheduled to happen on Sunday April 19th from 1:30 until 4 pm. It was cancelled, however, due to COVID-19. The pilgrimage didn’t happen as a live in-person event in 2021 either. Hopefully the event is possible in 2023.

In years when it does take place, at the family-friendly event there is singing, drumming and dancing while participants walk together through the trails of the park.

In 2019 the event’s keynote speaker was Abhayjeet Singh Sachal who is an activist and co-founder of Break the Divide. Entertainment in 2020 was going to include music with Aline LaFlamme & the Daughters of the Drum as well as Susan Summers & the Sacred Web Singers.

The Delta Nature Reserve is located in northeast Delta off Nordel Court and Nordel Way just south of Annacis Island. In years when it does take place, the event starts at the northern end of the reserve not far from Delta’s Planet Ice facility’s parking lot.

Click Burns Bog Pilgrimage for more information.

Tips and Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most out of your Earth Day experience.

TIP #1: It’s Earth Day, so don’t drive your Hummer to the event. Ride your bike or take public transit if you can instead!

TIP #2: If you’re out in Surrey anyway for the Party for the Planet event, consider dropping by beautiful Bear Creek Park. The spring flowers are starting to come out, so it’s another perfect place to celebrate Earth Day. If you’ve never been, it’s worth visiting.

TIP #3: Do something nice for the environment – join an invasive weed pull in your neighbourhood, go for a bicycle ride, turn off your lights early in the evening and go green for the day.

TIP #4: Although Earth Day is on April 22nd, most events take place on either the weekend before or after. If not a lot is happening on the official day in your neighbourhood, do your own thing – get outdoors and explore a park or other place in nature!