To celebrate Earth Day 2025, the county, along with the City of Gainesville, the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, and other local organizations, have planned a series of events for citizens to enjoy.
This year’s celebration theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.”
Alachua County events
Community Reuse & Recycle Day
Join the Alachua County Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Department for a Community Reuse & Recycle Day. This event is a chance to clear out your home and give back to the community by donating items you no longer need.
The event will be held on Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m. until noon, at Santa Fe College’s northwest campus. Be sure to bring wearable clothing, nonperishable foods, and supplies for schools, offices, and art.
Additionally, you can safely dispose of household hazardous waste, including paint, chemicals, and old electronics. As a thank-you for your generous donations, participants will receive a discount voucher for the Santa Fe Zoo while supplies last.
Homeschool Earth Day Celebration at Cuscowilla
On April 22, the county will host the Homeschool Earth Day Celebration at Cuscoswilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 SE 134th Ave., Micanopy) from 10 a.m. until noon.
This free event includes hands-on activities and a sneak peek at Cuscowilla’s Fall Programs. Spots are limited and registration is strongly encouraged.
2025 City Natural Challenge Alachua County
Join Alachua County and hundreds of other cities worldwide on April 25-27 for a friendly competition to see who can make the most observations of plants and animals in their community.
Download the free iNaturalist app today and help Alachua County capture the most photos of wildlife in the area during the challenge dates. The county is also hosting activities at Barr Hammock (300 SE 175 Ave., Micanopy), from 9 to 11 a.m., on April 26 and Turkey Creek Preserve (6300 NW 93rd Ave., Gainesville), from 9 to 11 a.m., on April 27.
Earth Day Tree Planting Event
On April 26, beginning at 9 a.m. at Lincoln Middle School (1001 SE 12th St., Gainesville), volunteers can participate in an Earth Day tree-planting event. Volunteers will learn proper tree-planting techniques. Trees and tools will be provided.
Participants should wear sturdy, close-toed shoes and work clothes and bring plenty of water and sun protection. Registration for the event is encouraged.
Routes to Roots Carbon Offset Project
Residents can donate $75 to cover the purchase and planting of a tree for the Routes to Roots project. The campaign aims to improve the local environment through tree planting. This program enables travelers to offset the environmental impact of their journeys.
The campaign has raised nearly $600 so far.
Saving My Alachua Environmental Art Exhibition
The public is invited to view the Saving My Alachua Environmental Art Exhibition. The event will be held on April 24-25 from 5 to 7 p.m. and on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Laniakea Montessori School (636 NE 1st St., Gainesville).
More than 600 students in grades K-12 submitted artwork for the annual Saving My Alachua art contest. At this special event, sponsored by the Laniakea Montessori School, the public can view all the entries that weren’t selected for the calendar.
Parking will be available at the nearby Thomas Center. The winning entries are displayed at the Alachua County Administration Building through the end of the year.
Library district events
Make Your Own Terrariums
On Saturday, April 19, from 2 to 3 p.m., at the Micanopy Branch Library (706 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy), participants can create their own miniature ecosystem and learn to care for it.
ArtSpace: Nature-based Art Therapy Terrariums
This event will be held Thursday, April 24, from 4 to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, April 26, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Waldo Branch Library (15150 NE US HWY 301, Waldo). Earth Day is a reminder to reduce, repurpose, and reuse. Participants create low-maintenance plant terrariums with recycled plastic bottles (water, soda, etc.). Soil, rocks, moss, and plants are provided. Participants should bring their own bottles.
The workshop is for ages five and up.
City of Gainesville events
Earth Day Celebration & Tree Giveaway
The City of Gainesville will host its Earth Day celebration and tree giveaway on Tuesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (1028 NE 14th St., Gainesville).
In addition to the tree giveaway, awards will be presented to individuals, organizations, and businesses that have significantly contributed to local environmental efforts.
Earth Day Art Contest
Gainesville invites students to participate in an Earth Day poster contest. Students in grades 1-5 are encouraged to create a poster depicting what Earth Day means to them.
The deadline to submit entries online is April 20.
University of Florida events
Sustainability In Action Showcase
UF’s Office of Sustainability will host the “Sustainability-In-Action Showcase: UF Earth Month 2025” on April 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event kicks off UF’s Earth Month and it will be held in the UF Reitz Union breezeway/tabling area.
Spring Plant Sale
UF’s annual spring plant sale will be held on April 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the UF Cultural Plaza (Harn Museum of Art).
Earth Day of Service
To celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Earth Day, the David and Wanda Brown Center for Leadership & Service (BCLS) is organizing Earth Day of Service to come together and take action in remembering the importance of honoring our environment. This event is open to students, faculty, staff, and community members who wish to devote their time to serving for a positive impact. Participants will have the chance to select from four, on-campus service sites that are devoted to environmental causes, including the Harn Museum Gardens, Native Plant Nursery, Natural Area Teaching Lab and Wilmot Gardens (one morning shift only).
The event kick-off will be held on April 14 at 1 p.m. at Lake Alice (982 Museum Road, Gainesville). The Wilmot Gardens shift will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and all other shifts are from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants must register in advance.
Climate Science and Ethics in the Public Sphere
This event will be held April 14 at 4 p.m. at Smathers 100.
Earth Day with UF Health Shands
UF Health Shands will host its Earth Day Celebration on April 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium.
CSI Planet: The Mystery of the Missing Manatee
CSI Planet: The Mystery of the Missing Manatee will be held on April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Pugh Hall - Ocora.
2025 Spring Festival
This event will be held on April 18, from 4 to 7 p.m., at various locations on campus.
Other local events
11th Annual Tree Fest
Swamp Head Brewery is hosting its 11th annual Tree Fest on Saturday, April 26, from noon to 11 p.m.
Tree Fest is free and celebrates the environment by raising money to plant trees with the Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT). The event features food trucks, family-friendly activities until 5 p.m., live music, and Swamp Head beer. Four trees will be planted for every beer purchased during Tree Fest and 20 trees for every Tree Fest T-Shirt purchased. The trees are 1-year-old longleaf pines that will be planted by the ACT at the Little Orange Creek Preserve in Hawthorne.
The Great American Cleanup
Keep Alachua County Beautiful will host its 34th annual Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to noon at Albert Ray Massey (Westside) Park (3100 NW 8th Ave., Gainesville).
This community-wide effort includes a series of local cleanup events throughout the season, allowing volunteers to participate at their convenience.
Party for the Planet
Santa Fe College is holding its Party for the Planet event on April 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its teaching zoo (3000 NW 83 St., Building Z, Gainesville). The admission for the event is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 4-12, and free for children three and under.
Participants can explore the zoo and participate in games, crafts, training demonstrations, keeper talks, animal encounters, and more. Visitors can also learn to build like a beach mouse, save a sea turtle, make a backyard habitat, and spring into action to save species. There will be live music and food trucks.
For more information on these events, contact Erika Capin with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department at 352-264-6808.
