It’s officially Spring and we’re excited for the upcoming events surrounding sustainability that come with it. This year is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and there seems to be no better place to celebrate then at Earth Day NYC which, will take over Union Square on April 23rd. Billed as the “most high-traffic Earth Day event in the country”, the event promises to be both informative, inspiring, fun and free!
What to expect at Earth Day New York City
Dozens of booths and vendors all committed to one core mission: saving the planet! Meet organizations doing community projects in your neighborhood and connect with seemingly unlimited individuals who are working every day on sustainable projects.
Live performances, costumes, and so many samples. Even if you didn’t care about the Earth this event would be a blast – with everything from people dressed like vegetables to face painting to tasty freebies and music.
A 5K Green tour of NYC: This event actually takes place the following Friday all over the city. Follow along as you explore green spaces from a river education lab to rooftops and raise money for future Earth Days! Registration ($30-$50).
The Earth Day NYC Call To Action
The Earth Day Initiative (who produce Earth Day NYC) also heads a campaign called “Do Just 1 Thing” which encourages all New Yorkers to make one change to their lives to help move NYC toward a more sustainable future. The one thing? Switch to renewable energy, specifically to solar. This year, the organization continues their community solar project where you help lease part of a rooftop solar farm. It’s pretty cool, super sustainable and saves you money.
Get there
Ride your bike, take the subway (L, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, W) or walk if you’re lucky enough to live close by.
Photos by the Earth Day Initiative
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn -based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram