Earth Day is an annual event first held in the United States on April 22, 1970, to demonstrate support for environmental protection. A wide range of events are coordinated globally in more than 193 countries.
In Wilmington, an annual Earth Day festival hosted by the Wilmington Earth Day Alliance will celebrate its 35th year.
Here’s what to know:
What’s happening
The Wilmington Earth Day Festival’s theme this year is “Our Power, Our Planet.” The festival will be held on Saturday, April 26 from noon to 6 p.m. at Long Leaf Park, located at 314 Pine Grove Drive. The fun-filled free festival will have live music, great food, environmental information and activities designed for the entire family. Over 50 environmentally minded exhibitors and vendors will be at the festival, explaining issues that affect the environment and illustrating how you can get involved. There will be a raffle for a Hurricane Kayak donated by Great Outdoor Provision Co. T-shirts featuring the 2025 festival logo designed by Atrox Designs will be for sale. Leashed pets are welcome in the grassy areas, but please do not bring your pets not inside the tents or in the food area.
Children enjoy creating nature-themed artwork at Earth Day 2022 at Long Leaf Park in Wilmington on April 23, 2022.
Food/refreshments
The festival strives to be zero-waste, food scraps will be composted, and festival beverage cups will be dispensable. Food trucks will offer vegan and vegetarian options and will serve food in compostable packaging and offer compostable cutlery.
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The food trucks on site will be: Johnny Cheesehead, A&M’s Red Food Truck, and all-vegan food trucks Well Fed Ed and Arabelle Cookin’.
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Chocolatey treats will be available from Chocolate and S’more.
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Beverages available for purchase include beer from Fermental Beer & Wine, Good Hops Brewing, Wilmington Brewing Company, and Bill’s Brewing Company
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Wine from Noni Bacca Winery.
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Panacea Brewing Company will sell kombucha and hard kombucha.
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Culligan Water will provide drinking water. Bring your own refillable water bottle.
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Music line-up:
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Au Naturales – Americana and “old school” rock, noon-1:30 p.m.
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Rapping Red Oak and the children’s Nature Brigade Parade, 1:30-2 p.m.
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Tercel – Indie rock, 2-3:30 p.m.
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Community Drummers and Dancers, 3:30-4 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join the Community Drummers and Dancers drum circle.
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Righteous Roots – Reggae, 4-5:30 p.m.
Shuttle service
Wave Transit will offer fare-free shuttle service between the New Hanover County Senior Center and the festival all afternoon. Only trained service animals may accompany their humans on the WAVE Transit bus. Also, in honor of Earth Day, Wave Transit fixed-route bus and RideMICRO services are fare-free on April 26.
For more information, visit www.wilmingtonearthday.com or call 910-798-7130.
Other Earth Day events
The town of Oak Island Recreation Department present Earth Day and Arbor Day. Oak Island will be celebrating the events together on Saturday, April 26 from noon to 4 p.m. Events at Middleton Park Complex on 4610 E. Dolphin Drive will include educational and interactive activities, booths, demonstrations and more. Events at Bill Smith Park, 4410 Fish Factory Road SE, will include a tree dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. Wallace’s Food Truck with be on site. Live oaks will be distributed. There will be no Arbor Day activities on Friday, April 25. For more information, contact Jacob Hyle at [email protected].
Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Earth Day 2025 events in Wilmington, NC: Here’s what to know
