Celebrate Earth Day in NOLA
Earth Day can be more than remembering to drop off those glass bottles. It can be an opportunity to join a local organization and get your hands muddy.
Locals are invited to garden, clean up, volunteer at local non-profits, and attend local events to celebrate. Here are some opportunities and events to choose from in New Orleans for 2026.
There is an array of exciting Earth Day events on Earth Day: the Audubon Zoo's annual Earth Fest, City Park's Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon with the Urban Forestry program and Town Gardeners, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade Annual Celebration, and the St. Charles Parish Trash Bash celebrations are all open to the public.
A major Earth Day event to check out would be the New Orleans Earth Day Festival on April 11 at The Broadside. This free event promotes sustainability and will feature live performances by The Soul Rebels, Gov't Majik, and more.
Dillard, Tulane, and Loyola University each host annual Earth Day festivals. Dillard University's Annual Earth Day Celebration on April 22 offers environmental education tips, hands-on plant care workshops, and arts and crafts. Tulane University's The Earth Day Festival on April 11 takes place in Pocket Park on campus. Learn from environmental organizations spreading awareness, grab a bite from food vendors, see live music, and even take part in art competitions. The community is invited to volunteer at the festival and get involved. Loyola University will also celebrate Earth Week from April 16 to 22, starting off with a ceremonial Mass and a Bat Walk. Throughout the week are farmers markets, an animal showcase, clean-up walks, a sustainability fair, and evening stargazing to close out the week.
If you're looking for in-depth opportunities, then check out the on-going list of non-profits. One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2026, is to volunteer and donate to local environmental sustainability projects and non-profits such as Common Ground, Meraux Foundation, the Green Project, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, NOLA Tree Project, Mississippi River Delta Institute, Soul NOLA, Ground Works NOLA, Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective, Wetland Watchers K-12, Recirculating Farms, Parkway Partners, and Glass Half Full. Volunteer opportunities happen year-round both in the heart of the city and the surrounding rural Louisiana areas.
For our green-thumbers itching to get dirty, becoming an active member in the city's on-going environmental initiatives is the long-term goal—not on just one day but every day. Planting trees or grasses with local non-profits is a great way to start to celebrate in cooler months in the year.
Coastal and Environmental Program Director at the Meraux Foundation Blaise Pezold said April is typically the last suitable month to plant trees in our region, as rising temperatures heading into summer make it harder for young trees to grow. He said April is a transition month that moves out of tree planting into grass planting. Pezold recommends grass planting opportunities with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana organization for the hotter months including this April.
Pezold also works with Common Ground Relief and said volunteering opportunities are always fulfilling. "You're going to get really muddy. You'll feel good after that day," Pezold relayed.
While not all environmental non-profits host Earth Day events, many still celebrate through on-going initiatives and seasonal projects that the public can support year-round. Planting trees and greenery is a popular way organizations give back to the city. You can also invest your time and donate money locally or nationally such as the Earth Day Foundation or the Arbor Day Foundation, according to Pezold. "I think of Earth Day as year-round," Pezold said, emphasizing that environmental action should extend beyond a single day on the calendar.
That sentiment is shared by Connie Uddo, founder of the NOLA Tree Project, who also views Earth Day as every day. Uddo plants trees in neutral ground public green spaces through partnerships with local groups and corporate companies. The trees are purchased from local farmers on the Northshore and Belle Chasse, made possible by major local sponsors and businesses such as Entergy and Enterprise.
She said her planting season runs from late October through mid-March, the prime time to root. In addition, she hosts Big TREEsy Giveaways throughout the city, offering more than 35 varieties of trees ranging from flower and fruit trees from Belle Chasse to great oaks from local farmers. "The reason why we give away trees at our giveaways is to encourage people to plant on their own properties," Uddo said. "I always tell people, [if] you want to really help your neighborhood, your city, your community, plant on your property."
Uddo was inspired to start the Big TREEsy giveaways when she noticed that the neighborhood trees NOLA Tree Project were planting weren't properly being taken care of or watered. So Uddo reimagined her planting strategy. She realized she wanted people to come to her for trees to plant for their own, giving away over more than 4,000 trees, according to Uddo.
Instead of planting trees for the residents themselves, she wanted to inspire people to come to her and plant their own trees. Big TREEsy began hosting giveaways at central locations, where community members learn how to plant them properly at home in workshops.
Looking for a fruit to grow for your own? Uddo sells lemon, orange, satsuma, fig, blackberries, and citrus plants, as well.
Whether you're picking up trash, planting greens, attending local events, or volunteering with the community, every small, hands-on action helps protect our city. Keep New Orleans blooming and attend our city's events during this Earth Day season.
