Nashville’s Official Earth Day Celebration Announced for April 20, 2024
The expansive free event, held in Centennial Park, to feature more than 75 exhibitors and vendors, live music, Kidsville activities, educational demonstrations, tree giveaway, and more.
Centennial Park Conservancy announced today that Nashville Earth Day, the city’s only official annual event to celebrate Earth Day, will return to the BandShell area of Centennial Park on Saturday, April 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Presented in partnership with Urban Green Lab and sustained by Amazon, Nissan, and HCA Healthcare Foundation, this free family-friendly event brings the Nashville community together to celebrate our planet, inspire positive environmental change, and support sustainable small businesses and nonprofits. Nashville Earth Day will feature engaging and educational activities from more than 75 exhibitors and vendors, including local growers and makers, nonprofits, sustainable small businesses, and state/metro government agencies.
The event will also include free live music, engaging Kidsville activities for all ages, and local food vendors. Returning this year is the EarthTalks Tent, which will feature a diverse lineup of experts providing information about interacting with nature and actionable sustainable living tips for attendees.
“Nashville Earth Day is one of the most exciting days of the year at Centennial Park,” says Justin Branam, Vice President of Programming for Centennial Park Conservancy. “Centennial Park Conservancy is thrilled to partner yet again with Urban Green Lab, who bring an abundance of sustainability expertise and practical advice for attendees on big and small ways they can make an environmental impact. From fascinating speakers to hands-on activities to incredible live music, our Nashville Earth Day lineup will offer something fun and educational for the whole family.”
"Nashville has set big goals for living more sustainably, and we can all play a part in achieving them," says Urban Green Lab Executive Director Todd Lawrence. "Urban Green Lab is proud to partner with the Centennial Park Conservancy again so we can celebrate solutions that make our planet, its people, and their prosperity a top priority.”
Urban Green Lab also invites Nashvillians to celebrate all week with their Earth Day Restaurant Challenge. From April 12 - April 20, select Nashville-area restaurants will showcase a prix fixe meal or menu special that incorporates elements of sustainability like organically produced, sustainably recovered, or locally sourced ingredients.
“Now more so than ever before, Earth Day is a critical reminder of the need for conservation, sustainability, and protection for this city we call Nashville and this planet we call Earth,” said Metro Parks Director Monique Horton Odom. “Our city is growing at a pace unlike anything we’ve seen before. It is critical that sustainability, resilience, and equity continue to serve as the map for providing everyone in the city with an inviting network of parks and greenways.”
Nashville Earth Day Highlights Include:
The EarthTalks Tent will feature a diverse lineup of local experts speaking on a variety of environmental issues, including home composting, gardening, recycling, and more.
Live Music will be presented throughout the day with performances by local artists, including The Brummies, Denitia, Karina Daza, Crys Matthews, and Hayes Peebles.
Kidsville’s Active Play Zone, powered by Akuna Consulting Group, will include a Nashville Earth Day passport sketchbook for kids to get stamped at select booths, as well as a nature sculpture area to spark imagination and creativity. Plus, kids are invited to take a Storybook Walk on the Centennial Park Walking Trail around Lake Watauga and explore the pages of the book Plants Can’t Sit Still, written by Rebecca Harsch and illustrated by Mia Posada.
Puppet Truck performances: The Nashville Library’s Puppet Truck will offer performances of Aesop’s Fables 12:15 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The 2nd Annual EV Car Show, in partnership with Drive Electric Nashville, will provide Nashvillians with a hands-on experience to learn about a variety of electric vehicles on the market and speak with EV owners. New this year will be ride-alongs from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The Kidsville Earth Day Parade will take place from 3:45 to 4:00 p.m. The parade will allow kids to use recycled supplies (available all day at the Kidsville area) to create props or costume pieces that tell about their favorite plants, creatures, and other wonders of the earth.
Nashville Tree Foundation with sponsorship from Amazon will be onsite distributing 850 trees to event attendees on a first come first serve basis.
In addition to being Nashville Earth Day’s official sustainability partner, WM will be collaborating on growing sustainability efforts for Earth Day. WM will coordinate with vendors on material management, lead a team of volunteer Rubbish Wranglers to ensure compostable, recyclable materials, and trash are all diverted to the correct space with Compost Nashville, and provide a post-event sustainability report.
Small World Yoga will offer a complimentary 45-minute class from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in front of the event stage.
Turnip Green Creative Reuse will host the Reuse Village and provide free crafts and Creativity Kits for festival-goers, with all craft materials diverted from the landfill. Patrons can participate in hands-on projects, or take them on the go!
The Artisan Market will provide opportunities to shop local for recycled, reused, up-cycled, and natural products from sustainable small businesses.
Nonprofits and Government Agencies will provide education and inspiration for sustainable living and positive environmental change.
Food will be offered by a variety of local food trucks and vendors, including Birra Babe, Bondi Bowls, The Grilled Cheeserie, Retro Sno, and more
The Earth Day Pub will serve craft beer, wine, and cocktails for patrons 21 and over along with other water and juice options.
EVENT TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING
Nashville Earth Day attendees are encouraged to walk or bike to the event and take advantage of free bike valet parking provided by Walk/Bike Nashville. Attendees can also take the bus to Centennial Park via Metro Transit Authority from West End, Charlotte or University Connector. Free limited parking is available in and around Centennial Park.
VOLUNTEER AT THE NASHVILLE EARTH DAY EVENT
Nashville Earth Day is made possible by the many generous individuals who volunteer their time to present this free event for our community. To sign up, volunteers may contact Centennial Park Conservancy at www.nashvilleearthday.org.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS FUNDED BY NASHVILLE EARTH DAY
Nashville Earth Day strives to create positive environmental change in our city. Since 2020, event proceeds totalling $100,000 have been donated to support environmental projects across Nashville. Thanks to the generosity of attendees and corporate and foundation partners, several projects were underwritten last year including:
Planting 40 trees at McKissack Middle School and educating 180 students through Nashville Tree Foundation
Caring for 160,000 bees that reside in hives located in Centennial Park in Midtown Nashville, in partnership with Nashville Area Beekeepers Association
Giveaway 1,300+ native plants to more than 60 families, in partnership with Neighbors for Native Plants
Stream clean-up in Richland Creek and Mill Creek, with the Harpeth River Conservancy
Establishing a community garden in Southeast Nashville, in partnership with the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee
You can learn more here.
NASHVILLE EARTH DAY 2024 PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
Centennial Park Conservancy presents Nashville Earth Day in partnership with Urban Green Lab. The program is sustained by Amazon, Nissan, and HCA Healthcare Foundation, and sponsored in part by Kroger and WM. Nashville Earth Day is organized by Centennial Park Conservancy, with support from Metro Parks. The program is made possible with support from the following socially responsible organizations who share our mutual respect and concern for the environment and desire to inspire positive environmental change in our city.
Presenting Sponsors:
Amazon • HCA Healthcare Foundation • Nissan
Sustainability Sponsor:
WM
Supporting Sponsors:
Ankura Consulting Group • Kroger • Nashville Parks Foundation
Primrose Schools of Nashville • Republic Services • Tennessee Valley Authority
Additional support provided by:
AARP • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee • Drive Electric Nashville
Goodwill Industries of Middle • Manuel Zeitlin Architects • Power Home Remodeling
Tennessee Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
TuneCore • The Village Fund
Media Partners:
Blackbird Media • Do615 • Lamar Advertising Company • Lightning 100 WRLT
Nashville Scene • The Nashvillian • The Tennessee Tribune • WMGC El Jefe • 92Q WQQK • WSMV 4
Event Management Partners:
Centennial Park Conservancy • Metro Parks • Urban Green Lab
In-Kind Sponsors:
6th Man Movers • Radios615
About Nashville Earth Day:
Nashville Earth Day is the city’s official annual event to celebrate Earth Day. The free family event takes place in Centennial Park every April and brings the Nashville community together to celebrate our planet and inspire positive environmental change. The event is organized by Centennial Park Conservancy with participation from local community groups, environmental organizations, and state/metro agencies that collectively strive to educate Nashvillians about protecting our environment.
