Updated for 2026
While every day is a great day to be kind to Mother Nature, April 22 is an especially great day to show appreciation! This year marks the 56th anniversary of Earth Day, a global celebration of fostering the beautiful world we call home. Every tree. Bodies of water, both big and small. All animals - from invisible microorganisms to larger-than-life giraffes. We only get one Earth, so check out these fun, environmentally-friendly things to do on Earth Day in Fairfax County!
Green Reston
April 11, 2026
Get together with Reston Community Center at the plaza in front of RCC Hunters Woods for a fun and eco-friendly family event to celebrate Mother Earth. Learn from local organizations about how to protect our home planet through valuable information about resources and programs dedicated to the cause. The best part is that families can also engage in Green Reston activities right in their neighborhoods! Share your experiences anytime between April 1 and 30 for a chance to win an exciting prize! Learn more details here.
Providence Earth Day Celebration
April 18, 2026
A community event celebrating our beautiful planet! This free, family-friendly event features sheep visits and FUN-ducational activities to discover just how amazing Earth is.
Eileen Garnett Civic Space's Earth Day
April 18, 2026
Head to Annandale for a Small Space Gardening 101 workshop! Learn techniques and best plant varieties suitable for growing in small spaces and containers, because not even the smallest space is an excuse to skip adding a little green to your surroundings.
eARTh Day Celebration
April 25, 2026
It's time for Reston Town Center’s “eARTh Day” Celebration! Partnering up with Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art and Public Art Reston, this Earth Day festival will include an environmentally themed chalk festival, live performances, a new public art installation, and numerous family-friendly art activities.
Earth Day Fairfax
April 25, 2026
Courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority
Get in on the Earth Day fun at Lake Fairfax Park, where sustainability meets fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. Enjoy live music, activities for all ages, including a craft beer garden offering local brews, an array of outdoor activities, interactive nature exhibits, and more.
Sustainable Buys
Shopping sustainably is one way to make your money work for the Earth's well-being, while still enjoying the finer things! It's an easy lifestyle change that empowers you to make purchasing decisions in a way that benefits our environment. One way is to reduce waste by using fabric shopping bags, reusable water bottles, metal straws, and similar products instead of their plastic counterparts.
Another way is by purchasing food from local farmers' markets - which not only supports local farms and makers but reduces the need for packaging waste and the burning of fossil fuels for long-distance shipments. Even ensuring that the manufacturers of products you purchase have ethical labor practices is a part of the sustainable movement.
Luckily, Fairfax County has a variety of local sustainable brands, such as local makers from the Made in Fairfax network, River-Sea Chocolate Factory, and Cervantes Coffee Roasters. For more on sustainability and eco-friendly businesses, check out this round-up of some great places to visit and support.
Hot Tip: If you're a music lover, attend a performance at Capital One Hall, which was awarded the prestigious LEED Gold Green Building Certification for its sustainable practices.
Whether you're a beer drinker, nature lover, sustainable shopper, or anything in between, there are plenty of ways to celebrate our world this Earth Day. How will you get involved this year? Don't forget to tag us in your adventures using #FXVA and @VisitFairfax on all social media platforms!
