Updated: 03/24/2026
In Salt Lake, "sustainability" and "being green" are more than just buzz words - they're a way of life. With the nearness of the Wasatch Mountains and the daily availability of incredible outdoor recreation and scenery, the desire to protect those natural resources is strong. Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 24th are important to recognize and remember, and many Salt Lake businesses and organizations have creative methods in staying sustainable year-round. Here are a few examples.
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebrations
Arbor Day Celebration
Check out Red Butte Garden and Arboretum's Arbor Day Celebration on April 24th, 2026. Thanks to the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks, entrance fees are waved. The day will include free tree giveaways, tree scavenger hunt, exploration stops to discover how every part of a tree has a job to do. If you love trees like Red Butte, discover the beauty of the natural world and learn about the vital role trees play in our lives and environment. With family-friendly activities, there's plenty to inspire you to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.
Nature Hour & Community Service
Check out the Salt Lake City Public Library's Nature Hour on April 5th, 2026 for a family-friendly way to get to know the natural world with the Salt Lake City Park Rangers. Every third Sunday of each month, kids and families can partake in a ranger-led activity and lesson!
On April 18th, The Salt Lake Public Library is hosting a fun and interactive "Show Up Saturday" fair for families to meet with local non-profits. This is a great opportunity to find volunteer and service opportunities for the whole family to partake in for all interests and ages.
Ripple Effect Earth Day Celebration
Head to Millcreek Common on April 24th, 2026 for the Ripple Effect Earth Day Celebration. Enjoy free roller skating, student painted rain barrel auctions, water conservation activities, Great Salt Lake education sessions, sustainability community group tents, and so much more!
Arbor Day & Exploring Nature's Hidden Worlds
Check out the Natural History Museum of Utah for a family-friendly eco Arbor Day on April 18, 2026. Spend the afternoon crafting in celebration of Earth and Arbor days! Explore sustainability through hands-on science and art activities, build unique sculptures from recycled household materials. Make seeds bombs to take home and plant and earn from the best on how plants drink with capillary action experiments!
On April 21st, 2026 learn from keynote speaker, Anand Varma as he speaks on Exploring Nature's Hidden Worlds. From the life cycle of a honeybee to the lightning-fast hummingbird, discover the hidden worlds just beyond our perception. Step into a world of wonder with biologist-turned-photographer Anand Varma as he unlocks the mysteries of nature through cutting-edge photography techniques.
America250: Spring Spectacular
Attend South Jordan's Spring Spectacular at East River Front Park on April 18th from 10am to 4pm. The Spring Spectacular is a part of a nationwide initiative that supports environmental goals and celebrates America's 250th anniversary. You will get the chance to take home a two-gallon sapling, partake in tree & plant raffles, plant cutting exchanges, consultations from master Gardners and enjoy food trucks, vendor booths and so much more!
More Earth & Arbor Day Events!
- Tree Care Event April 22nd - https://slc.volunteermatters.org/volunteer/sign-up/2815
- Tree Planting Event April 22nd - https://slc.volunteermatters.org/volunteer/sign-up/2816
- Party for the Planet: Tracy Aviary Nature Center at Pia Okwai Event April 25 - https://tracyaviary.org/
- Party for the Planet: 5k Run & Walk Event April 25 - https://recreation.utah.gov/event/party-for-the-planet/
Year-Round Earth Day Participation
GREEN-Bike in April
Salt Lake adopted a bikeshare program in 2013, GREENbike, and now it boasts over 50 stations with 24/7 access to the bikes. Since 2013, riders have prevented more than 6.4 million vehicle miles from hitting local roads and offset upwards of 5.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide from polluting the air. The program is affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly so make sure to give it a try this month in support of our planet and in the spirit of Earth Day!
You Are Here Initiative
The Salt Palace Convention Center, through its You Are Here initiative, promotes and encourages sustainable practices in every area of the events industry. Large meetings and conventions generate a great deal of waste, and the Salt Palace team work hard to divert as much of that waste as possible through conventional and creative means. Recycling stations abound throughout the building, including for name badges. The landfill diversion rate is 60% through recycling, material donation, and food rescue for both the Salt Palace and the Mountain America Exposition Center, and their goal is to produce zero waste by 2040. They partner with more than 100 community non-profit organizations, art and theater programs, schools, and small businesses. Since 2018, more than 1.5 million pounds of materials have been recycled, 560,000 pounds of material have been donated, and 166,000 pounds of food have been donated. In addition, the Salt Palace houses the nation's largest convention center rooftop solar array - 600,000 square feet.
Dreamscapes: Art that Saves the Planet
This immersive art attraction created by the Utah Arts Alliance is where visitors enter a world of recycled imagination. Over 100 artists, builders, and audio-visual wizards have contributed to this interactive journey and include donated recyclable materials from our partners at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
This exhibition, now located at the Gateway in Salt Lake City has been recognized for multiple national and local sustainability initiatives. Through their up-cycling, recycling, and repurposing landfill diversion efforts, they have successfully upcycled and repurposed over 50,000 pounds of waste from landfills since 2017, which have reduced the exhibit's carbon footprint by approximately 180,000 pounds of CO2.
