Celebrate Earth Day
Join us to honor and celebrate our remarkable planet on this extraordinary day. Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future. This year it is officially on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 but at UC Davis we celebrate the day, the week and the month!
At UC Davis, Earth Day events can highlight sustainable efforts happening across all of our campuses from natural resource conservation and recycling, to social sustainability topics including community development and human rights. You also may be interesting in celebrating Earth Day by participating in any or all of EARTHDAY.ORG's initiatives.
Earth Day 2026
Date | Description | Details |
|---|---|---|
4/1, 4/3, 4/4, 4/9. 4/15, 4/17, 4/23 | Weed Out StressLocation: Details on where to meet up will be emailed to registrants a day or two before the event This spring, help out the Arboretum and Public Garden by joining us to "Weed Out Stress"! Spring is the busiest season for weeds in the Arboretum and Public Garden, and we can use extra hands to get a handle on them! Your participation is not only a huge help in maintaining our landscapes: research shows that spending time in nature can reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being. What a win-win! Questions? Email Stacey Parker, Director of Public Horticulture and Engagement, at [email protected] | Learn more |
| 4/7, 12 - 1 p.m. | Sacramento Light Rail Field TripLocation: 39th Street Light Rail Station (Meet in front of Cypress) @ UCDH Sacramento Campus | Learn more |
4/11, 9 - 1 p.m. | Arboretum Plant Sale - Split Plant SaleLocation: Arboretum Teaching Nursery Friends Members enjoy one hour of members-only shopping and 10% off their purchases. The next three hours are open to everyone! Not a member? Join, shop early and save! | |
| 4/10 Deadline | Earth Day Art Competition 2026UC Davis Health Sustainability invites all UC Davis students to celebrate Earth Day through creativity and impact. We’re seeking original artwork that illustrates the effects of climate change | Learn more |
4/15, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) | Earth Month Celebration at UCDHLocation: Education Building Outdoor Rotunda @ UCDH Sacramento Campus Stop by the Medical Education quad to learn about sustainability at UC Davis Health. Meet sustainability representatives from:
You can also vote on student artwork submissions for the Earth Day Art Competition. Plus, don’t miss out on the opportunity to de-stress by petting therapy dogs! | Learn more |
| 4/16 | UC Davis Industry & Materials Decarbonization SymposiumLocation: UC Davis Conference Center The UC Davis Industry & Materials Decarbonization Symposium brings together industry, academia, government, and utilities to examine policy, research, and deployment pathways for decarbonizing industrial systems and materials production. Programming will include plenary discussions, parallel breakout sessions, poster sessions, and networking opportunities. Registration is now open. Advance registration is required. | Learn more |
4/16, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. & 4/17, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Sheep Shift: Endless PossibilitiesLocation: Near California Ave. and the North Quad Be part of a campuswide art and sustainability moment. Join community painting days for Sheep Shift: Endless Possibilities, a new student-designed mural celebrating our beloved sheepmowers and the Big Shift—a campuswide infrastructure project that, when complete, will reduce UC Davis' carbon emissions by 80%. Drop in any time. No art experience needed! | |
4/21 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN :(Sustainability x ASUCD CoHo: Earth Week Waste AuditLocation: West Quad UC Davis Sustainability and the ASUCD Coffee House are teaming up for a waste audit this Earth Day, and they could use a few extra hands. By breaking materials down by type and volume, we can see what’s working, what’s not, and where we can improve—all while generating data that directly supports a more sustainable campus. No experience needed, just show up ready to get a little messy. Gloves and additional protective supplies are provided! Volunteers can sign up for one or two hours—or stay longer. Whether sustainability is your whole thing or you're just a little curious, you're welcome here. | Learn more |
4/22, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Sustainability Walking Tour @ UCDHLocation: Medical Education Breezeway @ UCDH Sacramento Campus Join the Director of Sustainability, Kristina Bair, and Sarah Janus on a sustainability walking tour. They will share more than a dozen sustainable points of interest over approximately one mile around our medical campus. No reservation is needed. Just bring your walking shoes and a reusable water bottle, and meet the team at the corner of 45th and X streets. | Learn more |
4/22, 11 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. | 3rd Annual College Symposium: Food, People, Planet - Advancing Healthy CommunitiesLocation: UC Davis Conference Center Please join Dean Ashley M. Stokes and the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the third annual College Symposium. We will open the day with a poster session and Making Connections networking lunch featuring topics from across the agricultural, environmental and human sciences. After lunch, stay for an afternoon of engaging panels with faculty and collaborators as they discuss this year’s theme: Food, People, Planet – Advancing Healthy Communities. The day will close with a fireside chat hosted by Dean Stokes, followed by a Taste of the College reception for continued networking. This event is free, but space is limited and advance registration is required. Priority registration may be given to external partners and faculty. Parking is available in Lots 1 and 2. Staff and Faculty may use their regular daily permits. | |
| 4/23, 6 - 7:30 p.m. | Community Perspectives on Climate Action WorkshopLocation: Hoagland Hall Rm 124 Join the Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellows and ASUCD Environmental Policy and Planning Commission (EPPC) for a conversation based workshop to discuss our diverse community perspectives on the climate crisis and how to take climate action. This event is part of EPPC's Climate Week programming. Topics will include Personal and Community Resilience, Climate Adaptation, Environmental Justice, Institutional Role/Campus Planning, and Climate Literacy. The workshop will aim to capture community perspectives to bring them to ASUCD and broader campus planning audiences. Light refreshments will be provided, please RSVP in advance. Send any questions to [email protected]. | Learn more |
4/30, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | SDG SymposiumLocation: UC Davis International Center The inaugural SDG Symposium strives to address the lack of awareness surrounding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also developing the capacity of attendees to pursue actionable change around the goals in their current and future work. The SDGs provide a clear framework for how to make specific and substantial progress towards environmental prosperity, which while incredibly valuable is unfortunately overlooked in many US-based spaces. The SDG Symposium will cover each of the 17 SDGs in a variety of ways to provide educational opportunities for attendees to engage with the goals. It aims to foster the skills and confidence necessary for attendees to take local action, such as through information booths geared towards each of the goals, panels, Q&As, and more. Interested in attending and/or volunteering at the SDG Symposium? Fill out the attached Google Form! For any questions, email Judi Eppele at [email protected] We hope to see you there! The SDG Symposium is made possible through the UC Davis Global Impact Fellows Program |
History of Earth Day at UC Davis
UC Davis has a deep and enduring connection to Earth Day and the broader environmental movement. The university’s engagement with Earth Day began in the early 1970s, closely following the national momentum sparked by Senator Gaylord Nelson, who founded Earth Day in 1970 to mobilize students and communities for environmental action. At UC Davis, this spirit of activism quickly took root, with students and faculty channeling their energy into creative and impactful events.
One of the most significant outcomes of this early environmental enthusiasm was the creation of the Whole Earth Festival. Originating as an “Art Happening” in 1969, the event was renamed the Whole Earth Festival in 1971, directly inspired by the United Nations’ recognition of Earth Day. The festival has since evolved into a major, student-run, three-day celebration each Mother’s Day weekend, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and emphasizing sustainability, community, and creative expression. The Whole Earth Festival is now a zero-waste event, with volunteers and organizers committed to minimizing environmental impact and educating attendees about sustainable practices. Learn more about WEFs history here!
UC Davis’ commitment to sustainability extends far beyond annual celebrations. The university is recognized as a leader in environmental stewardship, consistently ranking among the greenest campuses in the nation. UC Davis has implemented ambitious climate action plans, invested in renewable energy infrastructure, and set bold targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The campus serves as a living laboratory for sustainability, engaging students, faculty, and staff in hands-on projects and research that advance climate solutions and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Through its long-standing support of Earth Day, the Whole Earth Festival, and a comprehensive approach to sustainability, UC Davis continues to inspire environmental action and innovation—demonstrating a lasting legacy that began with the first wave of student activism and endures in every facet of campus life today.
Written by Zach Bernstein, Outreach Integration Coordinator, UC Davis Sustainability
Past Earth Day Celebrations
2025
Date | Description | Details |
| Everyday in April | Virtual | Earth Month Bingo (Sacramento campus only) How to Play:
Earn a bonus entry when you submit a photo of yourself completing an action. | Learn more |
| Submissions Open 3/31 to 4/11 | Virtual | SHDS Sustainability Earth Day Contest 2025 – Only open to SHDS residents Earth Day is a celebration of everything wonderful about the planet that sustains us, and a call for action to preserve and protect it. To mark the occasion, SHDS residents are invited to get inspired and create a work of art on Earth Day 2025 based on the theme “Our Power, Our Planet”. The creation can take many forms, including painting, drawing, embroidery, crochet, knitting, poetry, fashion, photography, digital art. | Learn more |
| Wednesdays, 4/2 to 5/28, 10 a.m. - 1:30pm. | Student Community Center | Sustainability tabling at the Farmers Market Stop by and say hi to learn about sustainability initiatives at UC Davis and actions — big and small — that you can take every day to reduce your own environmental footprint. | Learn more |
| 4/2-4/4 & 4/23-4/25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Wellman Hall | Sheep Mowers events Come watch UC Davis sheep mow the lawn in front of Wellman Hall and check out the sheep-related activities we'll have throughout the day. Learn all about the dorper breed - our iconic hair sheep! | Learn more |
| 4/5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Hunt Hall | Aggie Day Screen Printing SED club is hosting a screen printing booth with Davis inspired prints! Check out clothing, items and clothing canvases | Learn more |
| 4/7 to 4/26 | Virtual | ASUCD Cool Campus Challenge This Earth Month, participate in the Cool Campus Challenge! 🌎🌱 What is the Cool Campus Challenge?
How do you participate?
| Learn more |
| 4/22, 10 a.m. - 3p.m. | West Quad | Earth Day Waste Audit Spend your Earth Day with the Sustainability and ASUCD Coffee House teams to help our campus get closer to our Zero Waste goals! | Learn more |
| 4/22, 12 - 1 p.m. | Cypress Building | Light Rail Field Trip Never taken the light rail before? Now is your chance to try it for free with guidance from UC Davis Health's transit experts. Join the Green Commuter Program team for a field trip on the Gold Line Light Rail. Lunches will be provided. Space is limited, so register now! | Learn more |
| 4/23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Education Building Outdoor Rotunda | Earth Month Celebration
| Learn more |
| 4/24, 12 - 1 p.m. | 45th and X St | Sustainability Walking Tour Join the Director of Sustainability, Kristina Bair, and Sarah Janus on a walking tour around the beautiful medical center campus. Learn about more than a dozen sustainable points of interest, covering approximately one mile. No reservation is needed! Simply pop on your sneakers, grab a (reusable) water bottle, and meet at the corner of 45th and X St. | Learn more |
2023
UC Davis vs UC Berkeley Sustainability Challenge, April 3 - 28, 2023, To participate visit: https://www.coolcampuschallenge.org/UCDvsUCB2023
ASUCD Environmental Planning & Policy Commission (EPPC) Environmental Law Seminar, Tuesday, April 18, 2023 6:00pm @ Olson 206
Reusable Utensil Giveaway, Tuesday, April 18, 2023 11:00 - 1:00pm @ ASUCD CoHo, For more information visit zerowaste.ucdavis.edu
UC Davis Farmers Market Earth Week, Wednesday, April 19, 2023 10:00 - 1:30pm @ Student Community Center Entrance, Reusable utensil giveaway and educational zero waste activities!
Aggie Surplus Free E-Waste Drop-Off , Thursday, April 20, 2023 10:00 - noon @ Hopkins Services Complex, Event details
Zero Waste Musical Festival, Sunday April 23, 2023 3:00 - 7:00pm @ Central Park, Downtown Davis; Sponsored by UC Davis Zero Waste & Sustainability Club and the City of Davis Community Development and Sustainability Department
Cool Davis Earth Day Pledge Challenge, Sunday April 23, 2023 4:00 - 5:00pm @ Yolo County Library Stephens Davis Branch, https://www.cooldavis.org/earthdaypledgechallenge
2020/2021
2021
In 2021, UC Davis continued this "pandemic tradition" with another round of "virtual" Earth Month events.
2020
In April 2020, UC Davis – led by the Sustainability office in collaboration with other departments across the university – celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Earth Day with Earth Month, a series of events and initiatives beginning April 1 and concluding the last day of the Whole Earth Festival, Sunday, May 10 – Mother’s Day. We shifted events from in person to online in response to the pandemic.