13 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day in Milwaukee
Originally published in Milwaukee Magazine 4/18/211. Milwaukee River Keeper Annual Spring Cleanup
SATURDAY, ALL DAY | ACROSS THE CITY
Volunteers will be cleaning up trash and debris from over 80 spots from Milwaukee’s several beautiful rivers. Registration is required, and participants will get gloves and trash bags to help clear river basins, plus a complementary t-shirt. Register to clean your neighborhood river here.
2. Planet Plume
SATURDAY, ALL DAY | PLUME
Buying second hand is a big part of the sustainability movement, and Plume is making it easy for you! On Saturday, modern vintage collector and creator Altered State Studios will be at Plume selling vintage clothes in “The Nest,” the new annex section of the shop. Plume will have plenty of vintage clothes too, plus cocktails available for shoppers. BYOB (bring your own bag) for 10% off your purchase. A portion of sales will go to Stand with Standing Rock, to help halt the Dakota Access Pipeline.
3. Hawthorn Glen Earth Day Clean-up
SATURDAY 9 A.M.-NOON | HAWTHORN GLEN
Hawthorn Glen is one of the city’s most revered urban nature spaces, with 25 acres of woodland, native wild animals and plants and prairie land. Anyone can volunteer to clean up this beloved space, just in time for more visitors to enjoy the springtime blooms.
4. Community Cleanup & Block Party
SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M.-6 P.M. | CROSSROADS COLLECTIVE
Are you an Eastsider looking to make an impact directly in your community? You can clear the streets of litter and make the East Side a clean and enjoyable passageway for its many visitors at this community cleanup at Crossroads Collective. Registration is required and all volunteers can enjoy the post-cleanup block party with lawn games, raffles and live music.
5. Earth Day 2023 at Lakefront Brewery
SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M.-9 P.M. | LAKEFRONT BREWERY
Lakefront Brewery is participating in the Milwaukee Riverkeeper Annual Spring Cleanup (see above). Join them to cleanup the river near their brewery and receive tokens for free beers as well as a mini-seedling planter kit. Register here to save your spot.
6. Earth Day Plant Sale
SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M.-2 P.M. | ECO-JUSTICE CENTER
Racine’s Eco-Justice Center is hosting an Earth Day plant sale to prep your spring gardens. They will be selling a variety of seasonal vegetables and herbs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m from their incredible farm and garden.
7. Earth Day Ride 2023
SATURDAY AT 9:15 A.M. | BEERLINE CAFE
Enjoy a bike ride while making an impact on your community. Participants of the Earth Day ride and clean will meet at Beerline Cafe, then roll out at 9:30 a.m. all the way to the Hank Aaron State Trail via Water Street. There will be a wrap-up celebration at Third Space Brewing at 1 p.m.
8. 4th Annual Neighborhood Cleanup Day
SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M.-NOON | VLIET STREET
Pete’s Pops over on Vliet Street is hosting its fourth-annual neighborhood clean up. Meet at Pete’s Pop at 10 a.m., then branch off to clear streets, alleys and parks from trash and debris. After, volunteers can enjoy a complimentary pop from Pete’s Pops!
9. Alice’s Garden Earth Day Activities
SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M.-3P.M. | 2136 N. 21ST ST.
Urban farm Alice’s Garden is welcoming members of the community to join in to tend the farm on Earth Day. Participants should bring their own gloves and water bottles. The day will kick off with an earth blessing by Executive Director Venice Williams.
10. Big Clean MKE
SATURDAY 11:30 A.M.-3 P.M. | THROUGHOUT THE CITY
The City of Milwaukee is coming together for The BIG Clean, a city-wide initiative to clear our street of trash and clutter in over 15 neighborhoods around the city. All clean-up tools and supplies will be provided. Check out the Common Council website to learn more.
11. Rock The Green
SATURDAY FROM NOON-3 P.M. | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
Milwaukee’s annual eco-fest, Rock The Green, is back for its 12th year of earth-friendly celebrations. Kids (ages 3 to 7) will be able to demo Harley-Davidson’s electric-powered balance bike, and festival-goers can enjoy live music from SistaStrings and Klassik performing on a pedal-powered stage.
12. Earth Day Park Clean Up
SATURDAY AT 1 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
Bay View’s beloved music venue is stepping off the stage and into the neighborhood for a clean up. Volunteers of any age can meet at Cactus Club at 1 p.m. and make their way to Cupertino Park, only a few blocks away, to collect and dispose of garbage.
13. South Shore Beach Clean Up
SUNDAY APRIL 30 FROM 10 A.M.-2 P.M. | SOUTH SHORE BEACH
Busy on Earth Day? Maybe you can catch this clean up a week later at South Shore Beach. Bring your own supplies to beautify one of Bay View’s most scenic spaces and clean up trash and recycling along the sandy beach, and in the walkways and rocky areas too.
