Earth Day and Arbor Day events
Every Earth Day, our community is inspired to act together to protect the natural resources that make Hennepin County a special place to call home.
Our Earth Day 2026 video showcases those natural resources and the actions the county and residents take to protect them.
Events map
Both Earth Day and Arbor Day are celebrated in April, and there are many events planned locally to get involved and celebrate our community and environment.
Litter cleanups
Getting outside and cleaning up in your community is an easy way to contribute. You could join a cleanup event, organize your own cleanup, or sign up to Adopt-a-Drain.
Join a cleanup
Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk/River cleanup
- Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon, Boom Island Park
- Saturday, April 18 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, multiple locations
Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Earth Day cleanup
- Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon, Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood
Robbinsdale Earth Day community cleanup
- Wednesday, April 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., South Halifax Park
- Wednesday, April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m., Andrews Park
Animal Rights Coalition Earth Day cleanup
- Wednesday, April 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Harrison Park
Victory & Shingle Creek Neighborhood cleanup
- Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m., Victory & Shingle Creek Neighborhood
Nokomis East Earth Day cleanup
- Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nokomis East
Golden Valley Earth Day community cleanup
- Saturday, April 25 from noon to 4 p.m., 1315 Valders Avenue N in Golden Valley
- Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 3 p.m., Valley Park
Organize a cleanup
Report an Earth Day cleanup
April 15 — May 15, 2026
Hennepin County has been challenged by our downstream neighbor, Goodhue County, to participate in the Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge.
- Snap a photo of the participants and share your data with us!
- Post about your cleanup on social media with #WinnerIsTheRiver
Resource fairs
Earth Day and other spring events offer opportunities to learn about local sustainability resources.
Soil health and funding open house
- Thursday, April 16 from 4 to 6 p.m., Independence City Hall - Community Room 1920
- RSVP to attend the open house
- Saturday, April 18, Eden Prairie Center
Striving for Resilience: Earth Day Fair
- Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ridgedale Library
- Sunday, April 19 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Brian Coyle Community Center
Richfield Earth Day Celebration
- Saturday, April 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., Richfield Community Center
May Day 2026 at Powderhorn Park
- Sunday, May 3, all day, Powderhorn Park
Tree plantings and celebrations
We are over halfway to our climate action goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030 along with cities, park districts, partners, and residents. Arbor Day is Friday, April 24, and celebrations and tree plantings are happening in cities throughout the county.
Edina Arbor Day celebration and tree planting
- Friday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Creek Valley School Park
Minneapolis Arbor Day Festival
- Friday, April 24 from 4 to 8 p.m., Bethune Park
Robbinsdale Arbor Day and park cleanup
- Saturday, April 25 starting at 9:30 a.m., Location TBD
Eden Prairie Arbor Day celebration
- Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Staring Lake Park
Maple Grove Arbor Day celebration
- Saturday, April 25 from noon to 3 p.m., Maple Grove Community Center
- Tuesday, May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m., The Rec Center Gallery Room
- Wednesday, May 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Twin Oaks Park
St. Louis Park Arbor Day Celebration
- Thursday, May 14 from 5 to 8 p.m., Carpenter Park
Nature activities
Many nature centers and libraries are holding events to learn about plants and animals, explore nature, build birdhouses, or create wildlife habitat.
Nature Discovery Day: Earth in a Jar
- Sunday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Free Family Fun Day: Earth Day Seed Bombs
- Sunday, April 19 from 1 to 3 p.m., Richardson Nature Center
Eastman Nature Center Wellness Wednesday
- Wednesday, April 22 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Eastman Nature Center
- Wednesday, April 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center
Free entrance to all Minnesota State parks
- Saturday, April 25 all day, multiple locations
- Saturday, April 25 from 1 to 3 p.m., Eastman Nature Center
- Sunday, April 26 from noon to 4 p.m., Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
Lowry Nature Center bird migration hike
- Saturday, May 2 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Lowry Hill Nature Center
- Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
- Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Augsburg Park
- Wednesdays through May 27 from 1 to 2 p.m., Nokomis Library
- Thursdays through May 28 from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Nokomis Library
I am the Tree, the Tree is Me exhibit
- Opening reception Saturday, April 11 and on display through May 29, Minneapolis Central Library
Swap and repair
The county, cities, and organizations are holding swap events for clothing, kids stuff, outdoor gear, games, craft supplies, garden tools, and more, and we continue to offer our popular Fix-It Clinics.
Saint Louis Park art and craft supply swap
- Thursday, April 16 from 5 to 7 p.m., St. Louis Park Municipal Service Center
- Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Edina Senior Center
Tare Market Earth Day book swap
- Saturday, April 18 from noon to 2 p.m., Tare Market Northeast
- Sunday, April 19 from 1 to 3 p.m., Silverwood Park
Saint Louis Park puzzle and board game swap
- Thursday, April 23 from 5 to 7 p.m., Municipal Service Center
- Saturday, April 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., Richfield Community Center
Minnetonka Earth Day clothing swap
- Sunday, April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m., Minnetonka Community Center
Saint Louis Park clothing swap
- Thursday, April 30 from 5 to 7 p.m., Recreation Outdoor Center
- Saturday, May 2 from noon to 2:30 p.m., Rockford Road Library
- Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 4 p.m., Kenwood Community Center
- Sunday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Park
Hennepin County Fix‑it clinics
- Saturday, May 9 from noon to 4 p.m., Ridgedale Library
Protect the Mississippi River
Partners across the Twin Cities are raising awareness about the progress that has been made to restore the Mississippi River through the Sacred Water, Shared Future campaign.
In 1926, the Mississippi River was declared effectively dead in the Twin Cities. A century of collective action brought it back to life, and this movement is celebrating that progress and inspiring the next 100 years of stewardship.
A variety of river-focused events, activities, and programs, are happening throughout the year, including the River Days of Action from June 1 to 15.