50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a worldwide movement to educate and inspire everyone to protect our planet. To-date, more than 1 billion people across 190 countries have participated in an Earth Day event.

Earth Day celebrations might look a bit different this year, as we’re staying home and adhering to social distancing guidelines, but don’t let that stop you from safely enjoying the great outdoors and taking care of our planet. There is so much to do at home and around Buffalo, on Earth Day and every day!

REMEMBER: Maintain social distancing when outside, wear a mask or face covering when you cannot adhere to social distancing, and stay home if you are feeling sick!

50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day in Buffalo

1. Go for a walk at Hoyt Lake
2. Bike along the Niagara River in Tonawanda
3. Visit Niagara Falls State Park
4. Check out the dozens of public art murals along Hertel Avenue
5. Go for a hike at Chestnut Ridge Park
6. Pick up litter in your neighborhood (make sure you wear gloves to protect yourself)
7. Say hello to the animals getting fresh air at the Buffalo Zoo
8. Deliver food to those in need through FeedMore WNY
9. Plant a tree or flowers in your garden
10. Host an outdoor social distancing dance party (the Elmwood Village has made headlines for this!)
11. Bike at the Outer Harbor
12. Window shop at the boutiques along Elmwood Avenue (then support local businesses by shopping online!)
13. Go for a hike at Letchworth State Park
14. Run the loop at Delaware Park
15. Check out one of Explore Buffalo’s “Walking Routes”
16. Sign up for a Reddy Bikeshare pass (they’re only $1 for an annual membership if you purchase in April!)
17. Go for a run in Cazenovia Park
18. Volunteer to help those in need at the Buffalo City Mission
19. Bike along the Ellicott Creek Trailway
20. Sit on your front porch and capture sunrise/sunset photos (have you seen the amazing sunsets we’ve been having lately?!)
21. Join in the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s “Wednesday Runs”
22. Make a DIY craft with the kids using recycled household items (Explore & More Children’s Museum has lots of ideas)
23. Visit Knox Farm State Park
24. Donate to a local organization supporting environmental efforts, like Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Buffalo And Erie County Botanical Gardens, etc.
25. Participate in the Buffalo Museum of Science’s Virtual Science Fair
26. Order curbside takeout from farm-to-table restaurants like Elm Street Bakery and CRaVing
27. Visit Martin Luther King Jr. Park and listen to their self-guided audio tour
28. Make reusable cloth face masks to donate to local essential workers
29. Do your own version of a “garden walk” and check out the beautiful gardens in the Parkside neighborhood
30. Go for a walk or bike ride on the North Buffalo Rails to Trails
31. Soak in the waterfront views at Canalside
32. Embark on Visit Buffalo Niagara’s Scavenger Hunt
33. Participate in the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s “Solo Sweeps”
34. Window shop along Main Street in East Aurora
35. Hike the Niagara Gorge at Devil’s Hole State Park
36. Write a thank you note for essential workers with sidewalk chalk
37. Have a backyard barbecue with Buffalo staples, like Sahlen’s hot dogs
38. Dust off the rollerblades and go for a ride on a local bike path
39. Order plant-based foods for takeout from places like Root & Bloom and lloyd
40. Check out the public art near Lafayette Square
41. Walk the perimeter of Hotel Henry and the Richardson Olmsted complex for some historic architecture
42. Check out the Old Fort Niagara webcam for live views of Lake Ontario right from their lighthouse
43. Grab your yoga mat and head outside for free virtual workouts with local gyms like Barre Centric and Revolution Buffalo
44. Visit Forest Lawn Cemetery and discover some of its most famous residents
45. Wake up early or stay up late for views of the Lyrid meteor shower
46. Buy fresh local produce from places like the Lexington Co-Op and Boulevard Produce
47. Order flowers for your home and support FeedMore WNY through their Annual Plant Sale
48. Volunteer through the City of Buffalo by contacting volunteer@buffalony.gov
49. Rake up the branches covering your yard (it’s been windy lately!) and have a backyard bonfire
50. Walk to a local ice cream shop like Anderson’s or Churn for a taste of summer