Earth Day Events and Activities in Maryland

Numerous Earth Day events and activities are planned in Maryland. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 22 April as International Mother Earth Day to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The year 2025 marks the 45th Earth Day.

Maryland Project Clean Stream
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay hosts Project Clean Stream, stream clean-up events across Maryland. Tens of thousands of volunteers gather trash from local streams, creeks, rivers, parks, and neighborhoods as part of the Alliance Project Clean Stream—the largest cleanup event in the Chesapeake Bay region! The season kicks off April 4. You can find an event close to you at Project Clean Stream.

City Nature Challenge with iNaturalist
If you use iNaturalist regularly, you’ve probably heard of the City Nature Challenge (CNC). Maybe you’ve even participated or noticed the surge of observations at the end of April. But what exactly is behind this global event?

The CNC is a four-day bioblitz held every April. Cities worldwide compete and collaborate to find species, make observations, and connect people with nature in urban areas. It started in 2016 as a friendly contest between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Since then, it has grown into an international event, with 690 cities and nearly 2,000 local organizers participating last year.

Mark your calendar for CNC 2025! Here are the key dates:

April 25-28: Make observations
April 29-May 4: Upload observations and help with identifications
May 5: Results announced

You have two ways to participate:

Take part in your city’s CNC event – Check this tentative list to see if your city is participating. Both the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas are participating. If it is, you’re all set! Get ready to start making observations on April 25. Want to help promote the CNC in your city or hold an event? Projects are currently being added to the CNC 2025 umbrella project – once you see your city’s project, reach out to the project owners and let them know you’d like to help!
Join the Global Project – If your city isn’t on the list, you can still take part in the CNC 2025 Global Project. This option is available for anyone, anywhere in the world. The Global Project will count toward the overall numbers of the City Nature Challenge!

Earth Day Celebration at Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
April 21, 10am – noon. Join the Friends of Quiet Waters Park to celebrate Earth Day. There will be a variety of activities, including lectures, trash clean-ups, invasive species pulls, compost demonstrations, and more! Vendors and food trucks will also be on site.

Earth Day Festival at the Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park, Cockeysville
April 27, 10am – 4pm. Take part in Earth Day-themed activities, visit local vendors and exhibitors, learn about sustainability practices, and meet animal residents of the Baltimore County Ag Center and Farm Park. Parking and admission are free.

BioBlitz at the University of MD Golf Course
May 4, 6:30-9:30 am. Using iNaturalist, this is a species-counting competition. The team will be competing against other golf course teams from across the world. Registration is required.

EV Showcase, Annapolis Mall
May 4, noon – 3pm. The show will feature exhibits, mini-talks and Q&A sessions, and displays of many types of EVs by people who are currently driving electric. These drivers are excited to share their driving experiences with members of the public one-on-one.

Check the Calendar for more Earth Day Events.