City Cast Madison logo

How to Celebrate Earth Day 2026 in Madison

Posted on April 13   |   Updated on June 4
Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas

A man in a plaid shirt peruses a rack of clothes.

Overture Center is sponsoring its first-ever Community Clothing Swap on April 18. (Overture Center)

One single act by itself won’t save the world. One single person on their own won’t save the world. But the message of Earth Day on April 22 is that a lot of people all doing little things to preserve and beautify the planet can achieve big results.

Earth Day has its roots in Wisconsin – U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson founded it in 1970 as a national day to promote environmentalism, and it went global in 1990. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to Curt Meine, a senior fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, about Wisconsin's conservationist tradition.

There are all kinds of family-friendly, thoughtful, and fun ways to celebrate Earth Day and support environmental causes in Madison this week.

Given Earth Day’s Wisconsin roots, UW-Madison goes big for Earth Day with this weeklong series of events. This year’s festivities includes a Climate Games Day on April 17, a Make Your Own Bee House crafting activity on April 19, a two-day symposium by the Center for Ecology and the Environment on April 20 and 21, and a Climate Change Theatre Action performance on April 23.

There’s also a special Earth Fest Forum on April 21, featuring a keynote address by Isaias Hernandez, an environmentalist and educator best known online by the moniker Queer Brown Vegan.

For the first time, Overture Center is sponsoring a massive clothing swap on April 18. Bring your gently used clothing to the Rotunda lobby to donate this week, then come back Saturday to find new fashions to enjoy.

At the April 18 event, DaneNET will also be accepting donations of electronics that they can refurbish and donate to nonprofits and low-income households.

Get rid of your computers, peripherals and other tech safely at this event sponsored by Hilldale and Goodwill on April 18.

Sign up to volunteer to help clean up Dunn’s Marsh, Swan Creek, and other open spaces in Fitchburg on April 18.

Arts and science meet in this special concert on April 20, where meteorologists and musicians join forces to use climate data to create musical pieces.

Madison Parks is looking for 900 volunteers to clean up over 60 of its parks on April 25. Register online and see where volunteers are needed most, then head out with your neighbors to help keep Madison beautiful.

Share article

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Madison's Best

See All
Madison's BestAugust 17

Madison Artist Knocks It Out of the Park With Brewers Mural

Madison artist Emily Balsley unveils her new "Seventh Inning Stretch" mural at Fitchburg’s McKee Farms Park, inspired by her Brewers T-sh...

A woman paints a mural on a wall. The mural has a cornflower blue background and is populated with people and animals in Brewers uniforms and caps..
Madison's BestAugust 6

The Best Fish Fries in Madison

Friday fish fries are a tradition in Wisconsin, and Madison has lots of options. Here are some of our favorites, including Dexter’s Pub,...

A plate of fried fish and french fries.
Madison's BestJuly 31

Madison’s Best: Your Guide To August 2026 in Madison

Discover the best events, festivals, and activities in Madison this August 2026. Don't miss out on the ultimate summer highlights—plan yo...

The City Cast Madison team stands in front of a pop-up tent at the 2025 Magic Pride Festival.
Madison's BestJuly 17

An AC/DC Fan’s Guide to Madison

Get all the details for the AC/DC Power Up Tour at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison! Discover how to get tickets, show times, and where to...

Brian Johnson of AC/DC stands on stage with his arms extended out the side during a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Madison's BestJuly 7

A Phish Head’s Survival Guide to Madison

Are you going to see Phish in Madison at the Kohl Center this week? Here’s what to know, from your chance to score last-minute tickets to...

A crowd of people wearing colorful t-shirts and bracelets smile at a Phish concert.
Madison's BestJuly 1

Your Guide To July 2026 in Madison

Plan your perfect July in Madison with our ultimate guide. Discover top summer events like Fete de Marquette, Maxwell Street Days, and At...

A large group of people sit at tables on a terrace overlooking the beach.
Madison's BestJune 16

How To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Madison

June 19 is Juneteenth, the day that America celebrates the end of slavery. But there are events all week in Madison to commemorate the ho...

A group of people walk down the street on a sunny day in a parade celebrating Juneteenth. People in the front hold a banner that reads "June 19, 1865."
Madison's BestJune 10

How to Celebrate Pride Month 2026 in Madison

The city’s biggest LGBTQ+ gathering, OutReach Magic Pride Festival, isn’t actually until August, but there are still plenty of ways to ce...

A group of 6 people sit on a bench smiling, looking on at the Middleton Pride Festival

The latest in Madison

Food & DrinkAugust 27

The Best New Restaurants in Madison

This month’s list of the area’s best new restaurants includes a new outpost for a wildly popular local pizza chain, a new sushi spot near...

A blue bowl filled with a scallop tiradito.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 24

Test Your Madison News Knowledge!

This week's news quiz dives into everything from a new downtown restaurant to a big shake-up at UW-Madison. Can you get every question ri...

Francesca Hong and David Crowley stand on stages.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 20

Uncovering the Ghosts of Madison’s Wonder Bar

Discover the history of Madison's Wonder Bar Steakhouse as neighbors fight to save the Prohibition-era mobster hangout from a developer's...

A two-story brick building with boarded up windows and ivy growing up the side was the location of Wonder Bar Steakhouse. It now sits abandoned.
Madison NewsAugust 19

UW Floats Tuition Freeze in Exchange For State Aid

The Universities of Wisconsin propose a 2027–29 tuition freeze and inflation-capped increases, conditional on a $190 million state fundin...

A UW Madison campus building - red brick with white columns.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 18

Fitchburg Took Down Flock Cameras, But Will Test Others

Fitchburg ends its Flock Safety license plate reader contract over privacy concerns, testing alternatives from Axon and Motorola despite...

A city street on a winter's day with a Flock camera attached to a pole.
Food & DrinkAugust 13

These Madison Restaurants Are Gone But Not Forgotten

We also asked our readers and listeners to share their favorite defunct Madison restaurants, and dozens of you responded. Here are some o...

A strip mall restaurant with a green-and-white sign.
Madison NewsAugust 10

Listen to Our Interviews with Wisconsin’s Candidates for Governor

There are still seven candidates in the running for Wisconsin governor. Find out where they stand on the issues.

Four voting stations sit empty in front of a windows on a sunny day
Madison, ExplainedAugust 10

Meet the Madison Democrats Running For Assembly District 76

Find information about the candidates running for Wisconsin's Assembly District 76 seat in the upcoming primary election.

Five political candidates sit on a stage with microphones in front of them.