Earth Day Celebrations Around Miami-Dade

Need ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day 2011? Here is a list of fun and educational events around Miami-Dade County?

Ladybug Release by Village of Palmetto Bay

When and Where: April 15 · 7:00pm - 10:30pm

What: "On Friday, April 15, the Village hosts Movie Night at Coral Reef Park – showing the movie “Wall-E.” Prior to the film, elected officials and moviegoers will release a few thousand ladybugs in the Ken Robinson Meditation Garden." The Village of Palmetto Bay celebrates Earth Day by releasing one ladybug for every resident (more than 25,000 bugs in all) several times during the month of April. For more information and the rest of the scheduled releases, visit Village of Palmetto Bay's Facebook page. 

“Celebrate Earth Day” at the Miami-Dade Libraries


When and Where: Various dates, time and locations throughout the month. Visit the Miami Dade Public Library website for more details. 


What: Celebrate Earth Day and promote environmental awareness for pre-schoolers with stories, crafts, song and activities


Baynanza 2011 Biscayne Bay Cleanup


When and Where: Saturday & Sunday, April 16 & 17; 9:00 a.m. - Noon; Multiple clean-up sites including Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park located on Key Biscayne.


What: Baynanza celebrates and helps protect one of our most precious natural resources, Biscayne Bay, and its surroundings. There are 31 cleanup sites around Miami-Dade County. Registration is required, so call 305-372-6784 or visit Miami-Dade's Baynanza website for more information.


Party for the Planet at Zoo Miami


When and Where: April 16 & 17; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 St. Miami. 305-255-5551. http://www.zoomiami.org/


What: “Zoo Miami’s Earth Day celebration, Party for the Planet, has“Green” activities and entertainment for the entire family as well as animal enrichment with recycled items and/or natural materials like newspapers, cardboard tubes, bamboo, old tires, fire hoses & more. The Tropical Flowering Tree Society will host the world’s largest plant show & sale. Guests can come in free of charge if they turn in a cellphone as part of our ECO-CELL phone recycling program. Not only will each person donating a cellphone enter the zoo for free on these two days, but they will also help save gorillas! Cell phones include coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of the Congo in central Africa, home to the world’s endangered lowland gorillas. Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo’s out-of-control coltan mining business has, in recent years, led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade. By turning in your cell phone, we can hopefully reduce the need for additional coltan … and help protect the gorillas.”


EarthFest 2011 at Crandon Park


When and Where: April 17; noon – 6:00 p.m.; Biscayne Nature Center, Crandon Park Vistors and Nature Center at the North Entrance, 4000 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne. The event is free, parking at Crandon Park is $6 per car. For more information, call 305-361-6767 ex 112.What: “This festival is a celebration of Earth, the Greater Everglades Bioregion, and the possibility of choosing a sustainable future for all in South Florida! The event will feature the very best vegetarian and vegan foods, live performances, workshops, "green" vendors offering earth-friendly products, an electronics recycling center, environmental educational organizations, and much more. The Miami-Dade Parks EcoAdventures™ staff of naturalists will provide Eco Tram tours of the Bear Cut preserve and guided nature walks through the coastal hardwood hammocks of Crandon Park.”

There will also be workshops from noon to 5:00 p.m. on various topics including: Composting and Rain Barrels, Raised bed organic gardening, Raw foods preparation, Green Retrofitting for your home; Qigong and Yoga, and more. “Musical and artistic performances will be ongoing. Attendees are encouraged to bring drums or other percussion instruments to participate in a community drum circle.”

Earth Day at Fairchild Gardens


When and Where: April 22; 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; 10901 Old Cutler Rd Coral Gables. 305-667-1651. http://www.fairchildgarden.org/


What: “Celebrate Earth Day at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden! Enjoy Free Admission to the garden. Indulge the little ones in educational Kids’ Activities. Eat gourmet food from local food trucks gastroPod and MexZican Gourmet. Learn about local non-profit environmental organizations. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Books and Books present a special Earth Day book signing featuring author Joel M. Curxon presenting his book Light Fading: Reflections on the Imperiled Everglades at 3:00 p.m. in Garden House."


Earth Day Celebration at the Miami Children’s Museum


When and Where: April 22; 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m; 980 Macarthur Causeway, Miami, Florida 33132; http://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/


What: “Come and help the Miami Children's Museum celebrate Earth Day and learn what it means to be "green". Whether it's playing our conservation game or creating your own recycled art piece, learning about the environment will be fun and exciting.”


How Does Your Garden Grow?


When and Where: April 22; 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Miami Children’s Museum, 980 Macarthur Causeway, Miami, Florida 33132; http://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/


What: One-Day Camp for Teacher’s Work Day (Public Schools) “Come spend the day at Miami Children's Museum, where you can play, learn, imagine and create. Camp is open for children ages 4-11. Register TODAY by calling 305.373.KIDS (5437), ext. 112.”


Miami Goin’ Green! Earth Day Festival


When and Where: April 23; 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd


What: “Over 100 exhibits including the Human Bike Blender-the most ecofriendly smoothie ever, Secure Shredding, Ekotik fashion show, live entertainment, free bike valet, and a solar powered Wii. Get educated with seminars and workshops at the Eco-Stage. Children can enjoy interactive experiments at the Miami Science Museum’s Mad Lab. Free.”