Celebrating Earth Day in Minneapolis
With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, it’s time to start looking for how you’ll celebrate the nation’s favorite environmental event and show an appreciation for our favorite planet. And what better place than the City of Lakes, the largest city in Minnesota and a city surrounded by nature and a lively cultural scene.
Read along this guide to see a few of the Earth Day-centric events coming up throughout April in the Twin Cities.
Cleanup Efforts
What’s Earth Day without some community cleaning?
Luckily, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board regularly partners with USGBC MN to host their annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run & Park Cleanup. For the morning of the 21st, people of all ages will support the creation of a pollinator pathway along the Mississippi River before heading to Theodore Wirth Regional Park to clean and help beautify the park. Even more fortunately, similar events are held all through the Minneapolis area, organized in partnership with local organizations.
Friends of the Mississippi River will also join in on the tradition and meet at two West River Parkway sites in the metro area, on East 36th Street and East 44th Street, along with educational presentations on river gorge geology and aquatic invasive species.
Another aquatic-based cleanup is being headed up by local Clean Water Action organizers in partnership with the city’s Park Board to clean up Bassett Creek, one of the area’s most beloved geographical elements.
But you also shouldn’t feel limited to just Earth Day and its subsequent events to clean keep the City of Lakes clean. With over 160 neighborhood parks funded by local taxes, it’s important that community members help keep their own green spaces clean. Try grabbing a bag and a pair of gloves and going to one of the numerous parks and organizing your own cleanup.
More Earth Day Fun
After you get your fill of cleaning, music and food, you might still be in the mood for more Earth Day activities that are more off the beaten path. For a literal example, you could head over to the Greenway, Minneapolis’ five-mile-long pedestrian and bike exclusive highway. In addition to just having a good time, you’ll be able to witness the test run of the driverless, electric-powered shuttle, EasyMile.
While there won’t be a concert on the date, you can still tour the Lakewood Memorial Chapel’s new concert venue and cemetery greenhouse on Earth Day. Being one of the few and largest cemetery greenhouses in operation, it’s recommended that you sign up early for one of these tours.
Before and After Earth Day
There are other local events falling on Earth Day weekend that you should be aware of and use to help round out your celebrations.
If you’re in town the day beforehand, you’ll also need to participate in the tribute charity crawl for the icon of Minneapolis, Prince. Complete with live entertainment and performances, the event’s slated to be one of the biggest charity crawls in the state. The University of Michigan will also have their own festival that same day celebrating spring’s warm weather, with live music, carnival rides and food.
Earth Day isn’t just about remembering to keep the Earth clean, it can also be a time of rejuvenation and self-reflection. If you feel like you could use some more balance in your life, RSVP to Cambria’s Art of Feng Shui course with local interior designer and Feng Shui consultant, Julie Ann Segal.
If Earth Day’s inspired you to become more environmentally conscious, you can also check out the Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Expo that’s being held the week after Earth Day. There will camping, hiking, and paddling vendors, guest speakers, a roundtable discussion about expedition canoeing, and a presentation by Amy and David Freeman, a couple who living in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for a year.
You can also participate in the 34th annual Art in Bloom festival of fresh floral arrangements and fine art being held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art by the Friends of the Institute. With well over 160 floral designs, the delicate art arrangements will inspire you to plant your own flowers and watch them bloom.
Minneapolis beyond Earth Day
Feeling inspired? Look into joining one of the local environmental or conservation organizations and help make a change in Minneapolis’s environment. And if you’re looking for more Earth Day-friendly activities to do in the Minneapolis metro area, look no further! With activities ranging from museums and boutique shops to axe throwing and golf, there are plenty of things to do in Minneapolis either solo or with your whole family if you just open your door, strap on some shoes, and head on outside.
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If you’re only visiting during the Earth Day celebrations and are considering calling Minneapolis home, contact us if you have any questions. We’d love to assist you in your new endeavor!
