Earth Day began over 50 years ago in 1970 when a Wisconsin Senator saw the effects of a destructive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara. Inspired by student-led anti-war movements, Earth Day was born. Now, 54 years later, Earth Day is often credited with starting the modern environmental movement.
Earth Day 2024 is on April 22nd, as always, and there are plenty of great ways to celebrate the planet we live on all month. Check out some of our recommendations below.
Official San Francisco Earth Day Celebration
The official Earth Day celebration in San Francisco will take place on Sunday April 21st, so people can enjoy the festivities over the weekend before the actual day itself on April 22. The lively event is celebrating its 54 years with live music, art, speakers, an eco-fashion show, and tips on how to live your day-to-day with the environment in mind. The event will take place at the New Farm Community Center at 10 Cargo Way from 11 am until 7 pm.
Get a free screen print of your favorite SF park
SF Parks Alliance is bringing back its Heart Your Parks campaign this month with free screen prints of your favorite SF parks. The campaign helps raise money for the work the Parks Alliance does in SF, including many amazing projects to improve public parks and great events such as Sundown Cinema, Golden Gate Bandshell, and Entwined.
Check out the Earth Month Block Party
This block party not only celebrates Earth Day but also acts as the 14th anniversary for EcoCenter. The party will take place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Heron’s Head Park on April 27. You can expect games, volunteer opportunities, activities, and more.
Explore some beautiful outdoor spaces in the Bay Area
Earth Day is a wonderful time to get out and appreciate nature, and luckily, San Francisco and the Bay Area have plenty of stunning places.
Golden Gate Park Trails
We all know and love Golden Gate Park, but chances are that even if you’ve lived here for years, you probably haven’t explored all of the park yet. Check out the Golden Gate Park Loop if you want to go on a great nature walk without living the city.
Hawk Hill
Hawk Hill provides one of the most stunning panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay that we’ve ever seen. It’s a 923-foot peak in the Marin Headlands where you can watch hawks circling above as well as the Mission Blue Butterfly
Point Reyes National Seashore
Drakes Beach at Point Reyes is about an hour and a half outside of the city. It’s a popular spot for Elephant seal spotting in February in March, but the beach and surrounding views are worth the visit any time of year.
Twin Peaks
These 2 adjacent peaks in the city stand 922 feet tall, making them second only to Mt. Davidson. The park itself is 64 acres, and you can see breathtaking panoramic views of the Bay by hiking the 0.7-mile trail network to the top. You can also observe plenty of animal and plant diversity during your journey.
Mt. Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais is a gorgeous hiking destination just an hour outside of the city. Cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge, and you’ll find dozens of beautiful spots in Marin, but Mt. Tamalpais really takes the cake for its panoramic views, grassy meadows, and magical forests.
By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn