When is Earth Day 2025? Here's the origin and where to celebrate the holiday in Texas
As the world celebrates Earth Day, communities across the globe are coming together to raise awareness about climate change, conservation and the urgent need for sustainable practices.
From local clean-up events to global climate action initiatives, Earth Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.
Earth Day falls on April 22 each year but is not a federally recognized holiday, according to USA TODAY.
The roots of Earth Day trace back to a rising wave of environmental awareness in the 1960s — a time when pollution was rampant, rivers caught fire and public health was paying the price. Many credit the spark of the modern environmental movement to Rachel Carson's groundbreaking 1962 book "Silent Spring", which exposed the devastating effects of DDT — a synthetic insecticide — on wildlife, ecosystems and human health.
By the end of the decade, calls for action were growing louder. In 1969, students at the University of Michigan's Environmental Action for Survival Committee began selling buttons that read 'Give Earth a Chance,' borrowing language from the anti-Vietnam War protests that dominated the era, according to the Library of Congress.
That same year, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson envisioned a national day of environmental activism that could harness the same passion and energy that fueled the antiwar movement. He urged students to channel their advocacy toward protecting the planet, and the idea of Earth Day was born.
The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. About 20 million Americans joined rallies, cleanups and teach-ins across the country.
Just a few months later, in July 1970, the U.S. government responded by establishing the Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas is home to several major Earth Day celebrations, including large-scale events in Austin and Dallas that aim to inspire climate action, community engagement and sustainable innovation.
This year's theme, "OUR POWER, OUR PLANET" invites individuals around the globe to support renewable energy initiatives and the goal to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.
Earthx2025 is a five-day conference that brings together global leaders from business, politics and environmental sectors. Designed to foster collaboration and forward-thinking solutions, the event will include keynote sessions, panel discussions and extensive networking opportunities aimed at building coalitions for the planet's future.
When: April 21–25, 2025
Where: Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX
Time: Times vary by day and session
The Texoma Earth Day Festival offers a community-wide, family-friendly event where attendees can learn practical ways to reduce their environmental footprint. Open to the public and free to attend, the festival combines education, entertainment and local engagement to promote sustainable living.
When: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Where: Sherman, TX
Time: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Find the schedule and locations here.
Planting trees, which also aligns with the upcoming Arbor Day on April 26
Growing native plants
Spending time outdoors
Visiting state parks and national parks (it's National Park Week!)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When is Earth Day 2025? Where to celebrate Earth Day in Texas
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