Earth Day in Philadelphia takes place Tuesday, April 22, and there are multiple opportunities beyond that date to celebrate and help the City of Brotherly Love turn green—and we’ve got the scoop on them all.
Academy of Natural Sciences
April is Earth Month at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and locals can get educated on all things climate and sustainability with the venue’s ongoing Confluence Film Festival, which ends this week.
This Festival was formed from a collaboration with many local creative institutions and takes place each Thursday in April, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Each installment of the film festival costs $10 and includes a meet-up in Dinosaur Hall, a series of feature-length, short and documentary films, and opportunities to hear from filmmakers, community-based organizations and advocates to learn how you can support the next generation of climate resilience.
Closing night (April 24) will hold two screenings: A short film by director Llaima Sanfiorenzo titled ‘Todavia La Semilla (and still the seed)’, and a documentary film by directors Noam Osband and Sebastián Diaz, titled ‘A Thousand Pines’ (both presented by PHLAFF).
With Confluence, each film is meant to illuminate how communities have been imagining and enacting alternatives to the climate crisis and stewarding ecosystems for future generations.
“Confluence Film Festival was launched in 2024 during Earth Month in collaboration with dynamic local film organizations that are deeply embedded in communities,” says festival organizer and Senior Director of Creative Development at the Academy, Ryan Strand Greenberg.
“We hope audiences leave Confluence feeling informed and empowered by filmmakers, community-based organizations and advocates who share tools and approaches to supporting the next generation of climate resilience.”
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, ansp.org
Schuylkill Center
On Saturday, April 26, locals can head to the Schuylkill Center — which features 365 acres of fields, forests, ponds, and streams in Northwest Philadelphia — to participate in the 60th anniversary of Naturepalooza. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the occasion will feature a Center-wide scavenger hunt, nature-based crafts and activities, guided hikes from community members, local food trucks, a noon dance preview of June’s world premiere of ‘TERRA: Bodies & Territories’, a musical performance from ‘Ants on a Log’, story times, art presentations and more.
After the preview on Saturday, ‘TERRA’ will return to the space on June 13. As a release notes, the performance is a work of experimental dance theater by Philadelphia-based choreographer Silvana Cardell, set in a forest with a multi-generational ensemble of women and femme dancers ranging in age from 7 to 70. The immersive, multi-sensory performance is performed within the forest of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, “activating the land as a living laboratory and stage.”
8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, schuylkillcenter.org
Kiddo
Those looking to celebrate Earth Day in Philadelphia in a unique way can head to Kiddo on Wednesday, April 23. That evening, the restaurant will host a four-course dinner, with proceeds going directly to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Neighborhood Gardens Trust. The meal will boast vegetable-forward fare by Chef Wyat Piazza with dishes like spinach and ricotta ravioli, and smoked Long Island Cheese Squash with maple glaze. Dessert will feature a carrot cake from New June Bakery. The experience costs $75 per person, and reservations can be made via Resy.
1138 Pine Street, kiddorestaurant.com
Trunc
Locals can celebrate Earth Day in Philadelphia on a later date at Trunc in Northern Liberties. On Friday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., the shop — which sells affordable, handcrafted items with a strong emphasis on LGBTQ+ artists — will host a Sustainable Fashion Product Launch to spotlight a new sustainability collection. The event will feature items created by emerging designers from Jefferson University, and the artists themselves will be on-site throughout the event to answer any questions. 10% of proceeds from the sales will be donated to GALAEI’s Youth and Young Adult Center as well.
929 N 2nd Street, trunc.net
Love Your Park Week
Taking place May 10 to 18, Philadelphians can join in on more than 100 local park volunteer group cleanups throughout the city for Love Your Park Week. As a release notes, volunteer events will focus on a range of activities depending on park needs, including planting flowers, tending trees, and removing any litter. Tools and gloves will be provided with support from Keep PA Beautiful, and park lovers of all ages are welcome.
