6 Events To Take Care Of The Planet In Northern CA

The upcoming weeks offer several events and observances in Northern California to celebrate — and take care of — the great outdoors.

Earth Day, a global observance for environmental protection, is on Wednesday, April 22. Arbor Day on Friday, April 24, is a great opportunity to plant trees. Look around: Spring cleanup is in full swing, and trails and parks are full of people.

We’ve rounded up events in the Bay Area to celebrate the environment.

Earth Day Marin

When: Sun, Apr 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Where: Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA, 94941

Details: Celebrate Earth Day and help create a better, more sustainable world at the free, 5th annual Earth Day Marin event on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM PT at the Mill Valley Community Center. Expected to be the largest Earth Day celebration in Marin County, the event is open to all ages and will feature over 50 exhibits and activities from green businesses and environmental groups focused on sustainable living, clean energy, climate justice, and community resilience. Attendees can enjoy a featured EV Show, a Youth Zone with student booths, various children's activities, performances by Aztec Dancers and Andre Thierry, and calls to action from local speakers, with online registration requested to secure a free ice cream from Straus Family Creamery.

Fremont's Annual Earth Day Fair

When: Saturday, April 18, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: Downtown Event Center & Plaza 3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont

Details: Fremont is hosting its free, family-friendly Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Downtown Event Center & Plaza (3500 Capitol Ave.), offering a day of learning, connection, and community focused on sustainability. Attendees can explore indoor and outdoor exhibits, connect with local organizations, and discover practical steps for waste reduction, clean water, and energy conservation, while also enjoying music, games, and creative art activities for all ages. Highlights include educational exhibits on recycling, composting, clean water, healthy food systems, and energy efficiency, as well as residential services like medication, syringe, and needle drop-off, eyeglass recycling, and mercury thermometer exchange.

Earth Day Celebration at Sycamore Grove

When: Sunday Apr 19, 2026 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 1051 Wetmore Rd., Livermore, CA

Details: Celebrate Earth Day and Preserve Our Planet at Sycamore Grove Park! Because there is no Planet B, let's join together to care for the one we have. We invite you to Sycamore Grove Park for a day of activities dedicated to improving our local environment, which will feature drop-in crafts and activities for all ages, guided hikes through the park, and volunteer projects to directly enhance local ecosystems.

Downtown Pleasant Hill Announces Earth Day Color And Pot Event

When: Sun, Apr 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Where: Downtown Pleasant Hill, 60 Crescent Dr, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523

Details: Downtown Pleasant Hill is set to host a free, family-friendly Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 19, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at 105 Crescent Drive, near Jack’s Restaurant & Bar. This event is a perfect way to welcome the spring season and will feature engaging activities for all ages, including flowerpot coloring and potting, along with face painting while supplies last. Downtown Pleasant Hill itself is an outdoor shopping destination offering a unique selection of specialty retailers, personal services, and dining options. For more information about the Earth Day event, visitors are encouraged to check the Downtown Pleasant Hill website.

Earth Day Virtual Talk, Paul Walde: Treescape Revolution

When: Wed, Apr 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Details: Paul Walde is an interdisciplinary artist and Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Victoria, Canada, whose work over the past three decades has consistently addressed environmental issues through various media, most notably sound and video installations derived from performance pieces staged in nature. His upcoming talk will focus on his recent efforts concerning the threatened primary forests of Vancouver Island, including his 2025 full-length opera Forestorium, which was performed in an old-growth forest, and Treescape Revolution No.1, a true-to-scale photographic work that captures the immense scale of an old-growth cedar. The event, which will delve into Walde's work that aims to highlight the complexity and importance of these ancient organisms as "ecosystems within an ecosystem," is free, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Niles Wildflower, Art and Garden Show

When: Sun, Apr 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Where: 37573 Niles Blvd, Fremont, CA, 94536

Details: The annual Niles Wildflower, Art & Garden Show returns to Fremont's Historic Niles District on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, transforming Niles Boulevard into a vibrant, free community event celebrating spring, local art, and garden inspiration. In addition to the free street festival, the day features the Optional Garden Tour, a ticketed experience that allows attendees an exclusive look inside the creative and dedicated private gardens of local Niles residents, with advance tickets available for $15 online at www.niles.org or at select local stores.

Are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!