Alexandria Earth Month 2025: Steps to a Greener Alexandria
Let’s Celebrate our Earth! Join the City of Alexandria in celebrating Earth Day 2025 throughout the month of April with this year's theme, Steps to a Greener Alexandria!
Join us as we commemorate the 55th anniversary of Earth Day with a month full of environmentally focused events, activities, and online initiatives that center on the Eco-City Vision in which Alexandria’s residents, businesses, and City government participate in a vibrant community that is always mindful of the needs and lifestyle of the generations to come. We all need to do our part and what better way than through fun, educational, and engaging opportunities.
In April 2025, let's celebrate and recognize Earth Day as we take “Steps to a Greener Alexandria.” Each week of Earth Month focuses on our Eco-City principles and initiatives as we celebrate a month focused on Transportation, Water Resources, Energy & Climate Mitigation, Air & Land, and Solid Waste.
2025 Earth Month Calendar of Events
Download the full 2025 Earth Month calendar.
The City looks forward to seeing you at an event or having you follow us on social media: @AlexandriaVATES (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
Date | Event | Location |
| April 2 6:30pm | Ready, Set, Grow! Plan your outdoor adventures with the Master Gardeners! Discover how to enjoy the outdoors sustainably, stay bug-free, and become an eco-savvy gardener. Register at the Library website. | Duncan Branch Library 2501 Commonwealth Ave. |
| April 3 7am – 11am | Capital Bikeshare Promo Pop-up. The GO Alex Mobile Store will be hosting a Pop-up for those interested in joining the thousands of people in our region that are already Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) members. Staff will be on hand to help walk you through the signup process and receive your official Capital Bikeshare Fob. Participants can look forward to giveaways and a few lucky riders may walk away with an annual CaBi membership. | Braddock Road Metro Station 700 N West St. |
| April 4 9am – 11am | First Friday Bird Count. Join an environmental educator on the first Friday of each month for a morning bird count. Participants will observe a variety of species in Dora Kelley Nature Park as the seasons change and contribute data to conservation efforts. Binoculars will be available to loan. All experience levels welcome. This is a free event. Reserve your spot here. | Dora Kelley Nature Park 5750 Sanger Ave. |
| April 5 3pm – 4pm | Health of Homes Run. How can we tell if a stream is healthy for people, pets, and wildlife? In this free program, participants will learn about the effects of stormwater runoff and the City's strategies for reducing pollution in Holmes Run. Reserve your spot here. | Buddie Ford Nature 5750 Sanger Ave |
| April 5 7am – 11am | ALX Dog Walk's 4th annual 2-mile dog walk, celebration, and Sustainability Festival. Leash up your pup (or come without a pup!) for the 4th annual ALX Dog Walk event and Sustainability Festival. Walkers check-in, grab a Goodie Bag, a free cup of coffee, baked treats, and enjoy the many tables and fun park activities. The 2-mile dog walk begins promptly at 8:15 am and followed by a Park celebration! Register at the ALX Dog Walk website. | Oronoco Bay Park 100 Madison St. |
| April 6 10am – 12:30pm | BPAC Group Ride. Group bike ride, with stops at various points in the city to highlight recent or planned improvements for people who walk, bike, ride the bus, or take the train. Register at the event website. | Van Dorn Street Metro Station 5690 Eisenhower Avenue |
| April 6 10am – 1pm | Learn to Ride (WABA Class). GO Alex will be hosting a 3 hour Learn to Ride class for adults who have never ridden a bike before or have not been on a bike in some time. You’ll learn the basics of balancing, gliding and pedaling, with the goal of riding by the end of class! This class will be taught by certified League Cycling Instructors from our partner organization the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. | Jones Point Park Jones Point Dr. |
| April 6 3 pm | Documentary Screenings: "Colors of Change" and "A Thousand Pines. Stop into Patagonia Old Town to watch two documentaries that explore remote spaces and their relationships to humans. Register at the Library website. | Patagonia 815 1/2 King St. |
| April 7 – 11, 9am – 5pm | Water Resources Week Scavenger Hunt at AlexRenew. AlexRenew, Virginia American Water, and the City of Alexandria invite the public to learn more about water resources in Alexandria by participating in a self-paced scavenger hunt in the lobby at AlexRenew, 1800 Limerick St, Alexandria, VA 22314. Participants completing the scavenger hunt are eligible for a swag bag (supplies limited to first come, first served). | AlexRenew 1800 Limerick St. |
| April 8 7 pm | Earth Month Proclamation during City Council Meeting. Reading of the Earth Month & Arbor Day proclamation during City Council’s Legislative Meeting. | City Hall 301 King St. |
| April 8 2pm | The Stories, Science, and History of Trees with Smithsonian Horticulturalist Matthew Fleming. Join us for a tour through the secret world of trees as revealed in the beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world—The Tree Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Trees. Register at the Library website. | Virtual |
| April 10 7pm | Advancing Stormwater Management: What You Can Do to Protect Water Quality and Mitigate Flooding. Join staff from Alexandria City's Stormwater Management Division to learn what you can do to protect and improve water quality and mitigate flooding. Registration is required and available on the library website. | Virtual |
| April 11 10:30am – 12pm | Nature Discoveries. Cost is $15. Explore the natural world with your child! Join our environmental educators and other families for stories, games, crafts, and exploring the outdoors. Siblings outside the age range may attend free of charge. Sign up here. | Buddie Ford Nature 5750 Sanger Ave |
| April 12 10am – 12pm | Water Quality 101. Cost is $5. Understand where we get our water from, how to best protect our water sources, and the past, present, and future of water regulation. Learn how to use a water quality test kit at home and in natural setting. Sign up here. | Buddie Ford Nature 5750 Sanger Ave |
| April 12 9am – 11am | Stream Cleanup. In celebration of Earth Day and participation with the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Potomac River Cleanup, the City’s Stormwater Management Division will be hosting a cleanup at Four Mile Run Park. | Four Mile Run Park 370 Commonwealth Ave. |
| April 12 10am | Trash Trekkers: Burke Branch Walking and Litter Pickup Club. Start your Saturday doing good for your community. Join the Burke Branch walking and litter pickup club. Register at the Library website. | Burke Branch Library 4701 Seminary Rd STE 104 |
| April 12 11am | Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan. When your family is affected by a disaster, do you have a communication plan? Come create a Family Emergency Communication plan and learn valuable skills for preparing for disaster. Register at the Library website. | Burke Branch Library 4701 Seminary Rd STE 104 |
| April 14-30 | Plastic Pollution & Art – Art Exhibit Featuring the Works of the Boys and Girls Club. The art class for 8-10 year-olds has been learning about the plastic pollution crisis and creating works of art as an expression of the crisis. These beautiful and expressive pieces include a 20-foot snake made of plastic bottles named J.J. the Cutie, mosaics, and much more. | Barrett Branch Library 717 Queen St. |
| April 14 6:30pm – 7:30pm | Eco-City Trivia + Home Scavenger Hunt! Join us for some trivia, a home scavenger hunt, and to learn about free resources from your libraries and the City that can help you save energy and enjoy nature. Register to receive program reminders and save a seat! Register at the Library website. | Virtual |
| April 16 6pm – 8pm | Earth Month Paint & Sip with Eco-City Business, Port City. What better way to celebrate being green than by creating art inspired by nature? Come celebrate Earth Month with Port City, a Gold-tier Eco-City Business, and learn more about what makes Port City sustainable—and what you can do to be sustainable, too. Link to purchase tickets will be provided when available. | Port City Brewing Company 3950 Wheeler Ave. |
| April 16 6:00pm | DIY Kitchen Herb Garden. Join us for a fun "choose your own adventure" seed selection and planting of your own kitchen herbs! Register at the Library website. | Duncan Branch Library 2501 Commonwealth Ave. |
| April 17 7pm – 8pm | Ask an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Installer Anything webinar with Blue Whale EV. Thinking about installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger at your home, multi-family dwelling, or business? Have questions about getting started, locating chargers, applying for permits, or managing chargers once they're installed? Join the City and industry experts at Blue Whale EV get your questions answered at the Ask an EV Charger Installer Anything webinar. Register using the Zoom link. | Virtual |
| April 19 12pm – 2pm | Water Quality 101. Cost is $5. Understand where we get our water from, how to best protect our water sources, and the past, present, and future of water regulation. Learn how to use a water quality test kit at home and in natural setting. Sign up here. | Buddie Ford Nature 5750 Sanger Ave |
| April 19 10:30am – 11:30am | Nature Play. Cost is $5. You're invited to join our educator-led nature play-dates! Children will explore nature through hands-on activities both in and outdoors (weather permitting). Activities will vary each month and may include both structured and unstructured play. Drop-ins welcome. Sign up here. | Buddie Ford Nature 5750 Sanger Ave |
| April 21 6:45pm | Alaska Adventure! Learn all about Alaska and put your environmental conservation skills to the test as local teacher Kirsten Salonga shares pictures and stories from her recent research trip to Alaska. Ages 6-18. Register at the Library website. | Beatley Central Library 5005 Duke St |
| April 22 4:30pm | Eco:mmunion - Conversations to Sustain People and Planet. Looking for a space to talk about climate change and the things affected that we love? Join us for a monthly discussion focused on a relevant topic. Register to receive the materials suggestions. | Barrett Branch Library 717 Queen St. |
| April 25 3:30pm | Rain Gutter Regatta. Design and build your own sailboat from recyclables, then compete against others to see which boat is fastest. The challenge? Boats are propelled by blowing on the sails. Ages 6-12. Register at the Library website. | Beatley Central Library 5005 Duke St |
| April 26 8:30am – 9:20am | We are Eco-City Alexandria. Join Mayor Gaskins, City Council and ACPS students to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day in April! City Council is invited to join the tree planting and attend the Art Showcase Vola Lawson Lobby in City Hall, to recognizing our young resident’s art projects displayed. This event is focused on meeting our Eco-City initiatives and showing how every resident can make a difference. | City Hall 301 King St. |
| April 26 12pm – 4pm | Air & Land Pop-up. Celebrate Earth Month at William Ramsey! Join us by the tennis courts at William Ramsay for an engaging, interactive event! Explore hands-on activities and learn how our use of air and land impacts wildlife and our own well-being. | 5650 Sanger Ave |
| April 26 11am | Incorporating Native Plants for Biodiversity. Janet Entwistle will give a seminar on practical ways to enhance our local ecosystem through planting native plants and following supportive maintenance routines. Register at the Library website. | Beatley Central Library 5005 Duke St |
| April 26 2pm – 4pm | Water Quality 101. Cost is $5. Understand where we get our water from, how to best protect our water sources, and the past, present, and future of water regulation. Learn how to use a water quality test kit at home and in natural setting. Sign up here. | Buddie Ford Nature 5750 Sanger Ave |
| April 27 12pm – 4pm | Del Ray GardenFest and Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. The Del Ray Citizens Association is celebrating Earth Month by hosting GardenFest and the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award presentation! | Colasanto Park Baseball field Commonwealth Ave and Mt Vernon Ave |
| April 27 2pm – 5pm | Four Mile Run Kayak Cleanup. Help keep our waterway beautiful by participating in a land and water-based cleanup hosted by the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation. (Ages 12+) Register at the Library website. | Four Mile Run 3700 Commonwealth Ae |
| April 29 5:30pm – 7:00pm | Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop. In partnership with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and Alexandria Library, the City of Alexandria is hosting a Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop at Beatley Central Library. Rain barrels cost $55 each. Registration is required through the NVSWCD Website. | Beatley Central Library 5005 Duke St. |
| April 30 1 pm | Food Waste/Composting Workshop. Learn about the causes and impacts of food waste, from economic costs to environmental consequences. This workshop will delve into the sources of wasted food, the impact on Alexandria, and practical solutions. Participants will learn strategies for source reduction, proper food storage, and utilizing leftovers, as well as information on community initiatives like curbside composting and food donation. Register at the Library website. | Beatley Central Library 5005 Duke St |
| April 30 1 pm | Recycling in Alexandria. This presentation includes an overview of solid waste services, acceptable recyclable materials, and the glass recovery program. It also covers how to avoid contaminating the recycling stream and provides resources for residents to recycle right. Register at the Library website. | Virtual |
| May 4 – 10 | International Compost Awareness Week. Join us in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week! Learn how you can make a difference by composting. Reduce waste, improve soil health, and support the City's recycling efforts. Start composting your food scraps today! Read more on City's food waste website. | |
| May 10 10 am - 2 pm | Eco-City Festival. The Eco-City Festival is a FREE, family-friendly event where you can take part in fun games and activities to learn more about environmentally friendly practices and interesting programs happening in our community. Test drive the latest electric vehicle (EV) models, e-bikes, and scooters, and talk to real EV owners at our EV Showcase! Or make bike-powered art, take a spin in the moon bounce, scale a rock climbing wall, and talk to City staff about our impactful programs. Learn more at the City's Eco-City Festival website. | Ben Brenman Park 4800 Ben Brenman Park Dr. |
| May 15 | Bike to Work Day. The countdown to Bike to Work Day has officially begun, and registration is open at www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/register! Join your coworkers, friends and fellow Alexandrians on Thursday, May 15 as we leave traffic behind and embrace a sustainable, fun commute on two wheels. Register and attend this free event for raffles, music and a limited-edition Bike to Work Day t-shirt. | |
| May 19 9am – 12pm | Animals in the Park. Join the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center at Beverley Park to learn about nature and meet live animals! Enjoy hands-on activities and learn how Alexandria is helping animals. | Beverley Park 620 N Overlook Dr |
Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award
Congratulations to the 2024 Ellen Pickering Award winners, Scott Knudsen and Jennifer Peas! The two are known for co-managing their biannual native plant sale and grassroots efforts to educate their community about sustainable landscaping. The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award recognizes Alexandria community members who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and preserving local natural resources. Visit the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award page for information about the eligibility criteria, nomination requirements, and selection process.
Earth Day Student Artwork
For Earth Day 2024, the City of Alexandria is partnering with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) to showcase sustainability-themed student artwork. During the month of April, a selection of the works will be posted to this page and a full, in-person gallery of the artwork will be displayed in the Vola Lawson Lobby at City Hall.