7 Earth Day Activities for Families around Boston

4/18/17 - By Audrey Trieschman

Each year on or around April 22—just as the city comes alive with green grass, budding trees, and spring flowers—Boston fittingly commemorates Earth Day with feel-good activities and celebrations all over town. Kids (along with grown-ups) get a special chance to learn about protecting the environment and how the entire family can become more green. From community service projects to festivals to a zoo celebration, these are also just great chances for families to get outside and have some fun.

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National Park Week - Statewide
4/21-4/29/2018
Free admission
National Park Week offers the chance to explore the nation’s nearly 400 national parks for free in the days leading up to and including Earth Day weekend. With 14 parks to visit in Massachusetts alone, it’s a unique opportunity for families to discover the spectacular scenery and wildlife that we enjoy in our region.

Earth Day Celebration Children's Museum of New Hampshire, Dover, NH
Saturday, 4/22/2018
Free with admission
This event features a wide variety of activities focused on helping children learn to care for our planet.

Party for the Planet - Franklin Park Zoo, Dorchester
Saturday, 4/22/2018
Free with admission
Celebrate Earth Day at Franklin Park Zoo, where visitors can participate in scavenger hunts, see some special exhibitions, and discover more about how climate change can effect the habitats of animals that call the zoo home.

Earth Day Festival - EcoTarium, Worcester 
Friday, 4/20/2018
Free with admission        
Of all kid-friendly museums in the area, you know the EcoTarium will have special plans for Earth Day. There will be not only interactive activities inside and out for the kids, but also local green vendors and organic food purveyors on site. Don't miss a walk in their beautiful trail system on the property.

DCR’s Park Serve Day - Statewide
Saturday, 4/28/2018
Free
During this statewide day of volunteer service, people come together to get parks and beaches across Massachusetts ready for summer by cleaning coastlines, clearing trails, planting flowers, painting picnic tables, and more. Visit the website to find a participating park close to you.

Musketaquid Earth Day Celebration - Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts, Concord
Saturday, 4/22/2018
$5/Person; $10/Family
It's a day of music, dance, wildlife puppetry and sculpture, local food, and kids activities, all in celebration of Earth Day. There's a River Ceremony at 9:30 am, a parade at 11 am, and a festival at 11:45 am.

Wake Up the Earth Parade and Festival Jamaica Plain/Roxbury
Saturday, 5/5/2018
Free
The streets of Roxbury are filled with color, music, and fun as residents, schools, community centers, and others wear colorful costumes, display banners and artwork, and perform dancing, drumming and stilt walking as they set off from Dudley Square and Egleston Square, travel to Jackson Square where they merge with the Jamaica Plain leg. Together, all three will march in unity to Stony Brook for the "Wake Up the Earth Festival."

Originally published 4/2013; updated 4/2014, 4/2015, 4/2016, 4/2017, 3/2018

Photo courtesy of Pixabay