Invest in Our Planet: Practicing Sustainability

Let’s celebrate our Earth! This year, the City of Alexandria is celebrating Earth Day 2023 throughout the month of April.

Join us as we commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day with a month full of environmentally focused events, activities, and online initiatives that center on the Eco-City Vision in which Alexandria’s residents, businesses, and City government participate in a vibrant community that is always mindful of the needs and lifestyle of the generations to come. We all need to do our part and what better way than through fun, educational, and engaging opportunities.

Download the 2023 Earth Month Calendar of events

APRIL 1-29: Alexandria Students “Invest in Our Planet”

For Earth Day 2023, the City of Alexandria is partnering with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) to showcase sustainability-themed student artwork. Artists from kindergarten to 8th grade are creating works based on their interpretation of the 2023 Earth Day theme, "Invest in Our Planet, Practicing Sustainability." A gallery of the works will be displayed in the Vola Lawson Lobby at City Hall (301 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314) during the month of April.  

April 1: Trash Trekkers with Alexandria Library

Calling all Trash Trekkers! Start Earth Month doing good. Join the Burke Branch walking and litter pickup club.

Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304)
Link: https://alexlibraryva.org/event/8020146

april 4: Thermal Camera Demonstration with Alexandria Library

Is your home energy efficient? Come to this free demo by the Office of Environmental Quality to learn how to use a camera and then check one out from the library!

Time: 7 – 7:45 p.m.
Location: Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (717 Queen St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
Register: https://alexlibraryva.org/event/8097013

April 5: Climate Art/Data Workshop

Community members age 8 and up are invited to join the Office of Climate Action’s discussions about climate change using local, climate-related data to understand global changes, impacts of those changes, and hear how everyone needs to contribute to the solution. This workshop even includes modeling clay to visualize a local data set of your choice!  

Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Charles Houston Rec Center (901 Wythe St Alexandria VA 22314)
Link: https://www.research.net/r/AlexandriaVA-ClimateDataWorkshop

April 8: Learn to Ride Class

Register today and join WABA and the GO Alex team for a Learn to Ride class and start enjoying more than 49 miles of on-street bike lanes, shared lanes, and trails in the City where bikes can quickly, safely, and enjoyably get around.  

Time: Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Jones Point Park (Jones Point Dr, Alexandria, VA 22314)
Link: https://www.alexandriava.gov/Bicycling

April 8: Spring Garden Planting Party with Alexandria Library

Help us weed, feed and beautify the public art garden bed and plant stunning Spring/Summer annuals. Stay after the planting for games and refreshments.

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304) 
Link: https://alexlibraryva.org/event/7909304

april 14: Tree Planting at Chinquapin Park

Recreation, Parks, and Culture Activities is working with a dedicated volunteer group to plant trees in Chinquapin Park that will serve as a buffer for the existing forest. While this event is not open to volunteers, it is important to Alexandria’s Eco-City initiatives. 

Time: TBD
Location: Chinquapin Park (3210 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302)

april 15: Stream Cleanup 

In celebration of Earth Day and participation with the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Potomac River Cleanup, the Stormwater Management Division will be hosting a cleanup along the banks of Four Mile Run. 

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Location: Four Mile Run Park at the roundabout at the end of Commonwealth (3700 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305)
Link: https://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/Detail.aspx?si=51830

april 15: We are Eco-City Alexandria!

Join Mayor Wilson, City Council, and ACPS students to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day in April! From tree planting and reading the Earth Day proclamation, to recognizing our young resident’s art projects displayed in Vola Lawson Lobby at City Hall – all focused on meeting our Eco-City initiatives and showing how every resident can make a difference.

Time: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: City Hall (301 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
Link: https://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/Detail.aspx?si=51827

april 17: Food Waste Reduction Webinar

Join T&ES' Resource Recovery team and Alexandria Library to learn the importance of reducing food waste and various techniques and alternatives to throwing out this regenerative resource. Please register to attend this virtual event.

Time: 7 – 8 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Link: https://alexlibraryva.org/event/8079434 

april 22: Battery Take Back Day

Covanta is partnering with a local non-profit to collect batteries, mercury switches, and electronics. 

Time: 1 – 4 p.m.
Location: TBD

april 23: Del Ray GardenFest and Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

The Del Ray Citizens Association is celebrating Earth Month by hosting GardenFest and the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award presentation! 

GardenFest is a fun, free, educational afternoon of garden-centric demonstrations, informational booths, and activities! Celebrate sunshine and springtime by learning about all sorts of gardening topics, including at-home composting, growing native plants, beekeeping, and much more! 

The Ellen Pickering award, presented by AlexRenew and the Environmental Policy Commission, recognizes community members that have had significant, positive impacts on our environment.  

Time: 12 – 4 p.m.
Location: 2207 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
Link: https://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/Detail.aspx?si=51831

APRIL 28: Intro to Electric Vehicles Webinar

Curious about electric vehicles, but don’t know where to start? Join the Office of Climate Action’s introduction to electric vehicles webinar to get your questions answered and learn more about available financial incentives, EV charging, and the City’s initiatives to advance our transportation electrification goals.

Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q-GVLsCxQImS1qNkHudRlQ

april 29: ALX Dog Walk

Let the dogs out! Join the ALX Dog Walk as they educate members of the DMV community about plastic-free and sustainable living. While there, you can help beautify the City of Alexandria and protect its environment. 

Time: 8:– 10 a.m.
Location: Check-in at Oronoco Bay Park/Old Town Alexandria (100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
Link: https://alxdogwalk.com/

april 30: Electric Vehicle Showcase

Come take a look at the different electric vehicles that we have in our community! The Office of Climate Action is hosting an event with electric buses, cars, and micromobility vehicles, such as e-bikes and scooters. Email amy.posner@alexandriava.gov to bring your vehicle or to have a booth at the event! 

Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Chinquapin Park (3210 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302)

The 2023 Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award will be presented to this year’s recipient on Sunday, April 23 at the Del Ray GardenFest. Visit the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award page for information about the eligibility criteria, nomination requirements, and selection process.

For more information about Earth Month events in Alexandria, contact Melissa Atwood, Senior Environmental Specialist, at melissa.atwood@alexandriava.gov.