THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Earth Day Celebrations!

As Earth Day (April 22) celebrations continue this weekend throughout Chicagoland, it’s a great time to do some spring cleaning outdoors by escaping the house, even if it is as far as your backyard! However, here are some local Earth Day events to help make the planet a better place and have some fun while you’re at it!!

Join in Earth Day Parks and Preserves Celebration and Clean-Up this Saturday. In coordination with the Chicago Park District, Friends of the Parks is hosting a few Earth Day clean-up events in parks throughout the city this year, focusing on a small number of hub sites with safety being their top priority. Just sign up for a socially distant clean-up at one of the parks listed on their website. Help celebrate Earth Day by cleaning and beautifying a Chicago Park!

Andersonville in Bloom returns after a year hiatus this Saturday and Sunday to celebrate all things spring in their neighborhood in honor of Earth Day weekend. “Blooming” promotions and product highlights will be offered by participating businesses. A few of those businesses include Andersonville Galleria (5247 N. Clark St.) who just restocked with lots of brand-new plants, pots, and many other items for your home; @tmosphere (5355 N. Clark St.), whose staff painted wooden flowers to decorate and celebrate the event; City Grange (5500 N. Western Ave.) brings organic herbs and veggies in recycled pots, beautiful small space trees and shrubs, annuals, natives, and other perennials; Defloured: A Gluten Free Bakery (1477 W. Balmoral Ave.) offers a variety of flower sugar cookies; and many others!

It’s back, and not too late to join in the 3rd annual Earth Day Virtual Challenge Run/Walk – Naperville. This event’s goal is to see how many times the participants can run the distance of the equator, which is 24,901 miles, and to crush their last year’s total of 51,023,592 miles! It’s free to join, but you can upgrade your registration to receive the Earth Day official t-shirt, the cool commemorative medal, and an eco-friendly stainless steel drinking straw. They’ll even include an Earth Day pack of wildflower seeds so you can help make a difference!!

Brookfield Zoo (8400 31st St., Brookfield) will be collecting recyclables at their Party for the Planet this Saturday (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) in their North Parking Lot. It’s a perfect time for families to gather up their old and unused stored items of electronics, textiles, and used books to dispose of these items in an Earth-friendly way! Find a list of acceptable and unacceptable items on the zoo’s website. While you’re there, stop in at the zoo as they will be showcasing some of the steps you can take to make a difference for animals across the globe!!

By the way, Navy Pier Plans to Begin Phased Reopening! Yep, Chicago’s largest tourist attraction will begin a phased reopening starting April 30 with outdoor seating, outdoor parks, and docks opening first.

Are you ready to go a little green and celebrate Earth Day? I’m so ready!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago