Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated annually on April 22. This year, international celebrations are taking place under the theme 'Planet vs. Plastics,' aligned with a demand to reduce the production of all plastics by 60% by the year 2040. Below, find out how Tourism Kelowna and other local businesses plan to celebrate Earth Day 2024.
Earth Day Quest
While Earth Day 2024 falls on April 22, Tourism Kelowna is kicking off the festivities early with an exciting event in partnership with the City of Kelowna and downtown Kelowna businesses. Spearheaded by the Kelowna Yacht Club, celebrations will include an Earth Day Quest on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This family-friendly event for locals and visitors is a journey full of learning, where participants can unlock the secrets as they decode five challenging clues that lead to eco-prizes.
Participating locations include:
- Kelowna Yacht Club (The Galley Lakeside Cafe), 1370 Water Street
- Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (Kelowna Yacht Club marina entrance), 1370 Water Street
- City of Kelowna (City Hall Main Entrance), 1435 Water Street
- Kelowna Visitor Centre, 238 Queensway
- Okanagan Regional Library, Downtown Kelowna, 1380 Ellis Street
- Kelowna Museums, Laurel Square at the Laurel Packinghouse, 1304 Ellis Street
Click here for more information about Earth Day Quest.
Print & Play Earth Day Workshop
On Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the team at the Kelowna Visitor Centre (KVC) will be welcoming local artists Ashleigh Green and Moozhan Ahmadzadegan for a fun event in conjunction with Earth Day and Small Shop Weekend.
At the Print & Play Earth Day Workshop, guests can select from unique handmade stamps created by Ashleigh and Moozhan to bring new life to clothing or fabric accessories like tote bags that they have at home.
Admission to the event is free; however, stamping prints will range from $5 to $10, depending on the stamp size and the number of times the stamp is applied to an item. Attendees can also purchase items at the KVC to stamp if they don't have anything at home they want to upcycle.
If you have any questions about the event, contact Meghan Olson at meghan@tourismkelowna.com.
Earth Day Community Clean-Up
Earth Day 2023 Cleanup
Tourism Kelowna will participate in the Regional District of the Central Okanagan's (RDCO) community clean-up program as part of our commitment to environmental stewardship. On Monday, April 22, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., our team will focus on cleaning up the downtown core around the Kelowna Visitor Centre. Tourism Kelowna invites all local businesses to join this initiative and help create a cleaner, more welcoming community.
The annual program, spearheaded by the RDCO Waste Reduction Office, encourages residents to do some light spring cleaning in their own neighbourhoods—you can register here. Cleanup gear, including gloves and bags, is provided, and once your cleanup is complete, the Waste Reduction Office can arrange to collect the trash.
If you can't join Tourism Kelowna or host your own neighbourhood cleanup, the RDCO is also holding a Community Cleanup & BBQ event on Saturday, April 13. Head to Glen Canyon Regional Park, Mill Creek Regional Park, or Scenic Canyon Regional Park to participate in the event, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The free BBQ will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
To learn more about Earth Day, visit the Earth Day Canada website or EarthDay.org.
