From wetlands to beaches to bays, Earth Day events aim to show love to the planet
Friday is Earth Day, and organizations and agencies throughout Orange County are celebrating the return of in-person gatherings with events that invite area residents to engage in the natural environment and learn more about how to protect it.
From wetlands to beaches to bays, a diverse slate of events starting Friday and running into the weekend welcomes people of all ages to participate in cleanups, demonstrations and fun activities designed to show some love to planet Earth.
Here are just a few happening near you.
Huntington Beach
As part of the Wyland Foundations inaugural “Streams of Hope” public art campaign — a countywide art and cleanup effort — the Pacific City shopping center will host an art and educational event Friday, from 3 to 4 p.m.
The campaign involves a series of “Stella” the baby gray whale wooden relief statues that have been painted by area artists to incorporate themes of environmental conservation and sustainability. On Friday, one Stella will be painted live and in-person by local artist Melissa Murphy and kept on site at Pacific City.
Children will be invited to create their own whale-themed art on a paint-by-number canvas as a keepsake to take home with them. A Wyland Foundation representative will also share tips for kids on how to protect local natural resources.
Pacific City is located at 21010 Pacific Coast Highway, in Huntington Beach. The event is free and open to the public. Registration for the kids art class is encouraged. Visit gopacificcity.com.
On Saturday, visitors are invited to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Earth Day Festival, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., where they can interact with live animals, learn about pollution and wetland ecology and try their hands at water quality testing.
In addition to a number of educational activities, participants can enjoy a jump tent and guided tours of the reserve. Public tours will be offered at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Animal feedings will take place at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. For more, and to RSVP for tours and feedings, visit bolsachica.org.
The Ecological Reserve is located at 3842 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach. For more, call Jeannette Bush at (714) 846-1114.
Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa City Hall is celebrating Earth Day on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with sustainability-themed events for participants of all ages. In addition to a tree-planting, city staff and numerous partner organizations will lead a range of demonstrations and activities.
Attendees can see an electric bus, city-owned EV vehicles and a hydrogen car and check out vendors from Orange Coast College’s Food Recovery Kitchen, Tesla, Mesa Water District and more. Composting demonstrations offer free bags to take home, while talks on gardening, transportation, water quality and solar power will lend tips on how to think and live more sustainably.
“Sustainability can mean anything — for some it’s planting trees, while for others there is a social aspect to it, or an economic aspect about how it can save you money,” said Salem Afeworki, the city’s energy and sustainability manager. “The whole point is to have something fun and educational that increases awareness.”
Guests can enjoy food trucks, a yoga zone, activities for children hosted by IKEA, art displays, documentaries and more. Free electric shuttle bus tours of the city’s Fairview Park and local IKEA retail store will be available in the morning and afternoon.
A free e-bike will be given away in a raffle, and participants can try a stationary bike that makes orange juice as they pedal. Costa Mesa City Hall is located at 77 Fair Drive. For more, visit costamesa.ca.gov or call (714) 754-5000.
Newport Beach
Join members of the Newport Bay Conservancy in “Earth Day at the Bay” on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve as they celebrate with a free family-friendly day of hands-on arts and crafts, educational activities and science discovery.
Visitors can enjoy live music, explore the group’s Adventure Partners’ booths and complete a scavenger hunt to win prizes and giveaways. Held at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, the event aims to inspire locals to think about how they can protect the planet and preserve it for future generations.
The Center is located at 2301 University Drive, in Newport Beach. Parking is free. Visit newportbay.org/earth-day or call (949) 923-2269.
Laguna Beach
Children and families are invited to plant a seed in honor of Earth Day at the Laguna Beach Library on Friday, from 3 to 4 p.m. Kids can decorate their own pots, plant seeds and enjoy other crafting opportunities at the library, located at 363 Glenneyre Street. For more, call (949) 497-1733.
Also on Friday, local environmental activist Beth Leeds, who organized the city’s first-ever Earth Day celebration in 1970, will hold a “Laguna Clean Ocean Challenge,” a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of preventing harmful runoff into the ocean. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Main Beach.
Participants are invited to enjoy a picturesque sunset together as Leeds shares tips on removing toxins from one’s home or business. A white truce flag will be flown as a symbol of support for a worldwide ceasefire and truce. All are welcome. For more, contact Leeds at bethleeds22@yahoo.com.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.
