Earth Day is our annual reminder to check in with the work we have ahead of us. From beach cleanups to crash courses on sustainability and going green, the holiday offers us opportunities to transition into Earth-friendly habits that could add up to a global step in the right direction.
Here are the five best Earth Day events happening in South Florida.
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort
3030 Holiday Dr., Fort Lauderdale954-525-4000
marriott.com
Our local marine ecosystem will receive a much-needed boost this Monday. As part of an Earth Day celebration at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., artificial reef structures built by the organization 1,000 Mermaids will be sunk offshore. Additionally, guests will be able to participate in a massive beach cleanup, and Shipwreck Pompano Beach will host live virtual reality tours of the artificial reefs located off the Pompano Beach Pier. Admission is free.
Hollywood Beach
320 Johnson St., Hollywoodeventbrite.com
Square Organics, maker of all kinds of natural, delicious protein bars, is hosting Earth Day cleanups nationwide. Among them is a cleanup starting at the Hollywood Beach Visitor Information Center this Monday from 5 to 6 p.m. Square Organics will provide gloves, snacks, and even a swag bag for all attendees. All you need to bring is yourself. Admission is free.
Public Kite Beach
NE 16th St., Pompano Beachfacebook.com
The Trashy Girls Collective sounds like a South Florida Bad Girls Club, but it's actually doing a lot of good in the community. The group of citizen environmentalists aims to collect one bag of trash on each of its outings, and you can join the members this Earth Day during their Pompano Beach cleanup. Participants will meet at Public Kite Beach at 10 a.m. for a 45-to-60-minute cleanup. Organizers ask that participants bring a reusable bag for trash collection and wear reef-safe sunscreen. Admission is free.
Rosemary Square
700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach561-366-1000
cityplace.com
West Palm Beach’s CityPlace was recently rebranded as Rosemary Square. Despite the reinvention, the community hot spot is still hosting stellar events. This Monday from 6 to 7 p.m., Rosemary Square will team up with Palm Beach Farmyards for the gardening class Herbs for the Earth. The class will be hosted by nearby BurgerFi, which is offering a $5 VegeFi & Beyond Burger deal today. Class registration costs $5.
Sunrise Dan Pearl Library
10500 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise954-357-7428
browardlibrary.org
Looking to go green but have no idea where to begin? A Green Living 101 session at the Dan Pearl Library in Sunrise can help. The educational event is sponsored by the City of Sunrise Sustainability Office and will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on Earth Day. After taking in some knowledge here, you’ll never look at that leaking faucet, running toilet, or heap of paper towels the same way.
