Events

You're invited to Raleigh Earth Day in partnership with We Plant it Forward’s Arbor Day! 

Join us to grow our collective community purpose toward the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.

Event Details

Time: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Location: Flowers Field at Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603

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RSVPs help us plan for the number of attendees and you will be in the know of event updates and weather alerts.  

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Event Schedule 

5:00 - 5:30 pm     Garden Demonstrations
5:30 - 5:45 pm     Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
5:45 - 6:15 pm     Native American Earth Dances
6:15 - 7:00 pm     Raleigh Environmental Awards
7:00 - 7:10 pm     Paperhand Puppet Parade and Drum Circle 
7:10 - 7:30 pm    Tree Dedication and Planting
7:30 - 8:00 pm    Garden Demonstrations
8:00 - 10:00 pm    Movie on the Lawn

Activities + Food Trucks | 5:00 – 8:00 pm

• Information and activity booths from City of Raleigh and local organizations
• Kid Lab trailer with coral reef education and crafts
• Bike Course, Disc Golf, and Fishing-on-Land
• Lawn Games: cornhole, hula hoops, lawn bowling, giant Jenga, Kan Jam 
• Food trucks: LocoPops, Vane Hot Burgers, Chick-N-Que, DonutNV

Garden Demonstrations | 5:00 - 5:30 pm | Demo Stage

• Walk with the Arborist
• Air pruning boxes
• Rain barrels

Shredding + e-Waste Recycle | 5:00 – 7:00 pm | Adams Building Parking Lot

Raleigh Solid Waste Services is hosting a free shredding event to dispose of household documents in an environmentally responsible way. In an effort to shred your sensitive documents in a timely manner, attendees are limited to (3) three boxes (cardboard copy paper box or smaller) per vehicle. There is no need to remove binders, binder clips, paper clips, staples, rubber bands, or CDs/DVDs prior to shredding. Household e-waste will also be accepted, no batteries. Shred and e-Waste Collection Details. 

Official Welcome | 5:30 pm | Main Stage

David Rahahę•tih Webb of the Tuscarora community will share a traditional opening in the Tuscarora Language, with the English translation. This opening directs our gratitude towards all of the natural world that surrounds us: Earth, the waters, plants and trees, crops, animals, birds, and the life-sustaining rains. Video and audio recordings are not permitted.

Earth Dances | 5:45 pm | Main Stage

Members of the North Carolina Tuscarora and other regional tribal communities will share Earth Dances, also called social dances.  These dances, such as the Stick Dance, Alligator Dance, and Smoke Dance are fun and interactive.  You might even find yourself invited to participate in some of them! 

Raleigh Environmental Awards | 6:15 – 7:00 pm | Main Stage

Every year during Earth Month, the City of Raleigh celebrates people, organizations and businesses that protect our natural environment with the Raleigh Environmental Awards given out by the Office of Sustainability, Solid Waste Services, Raleigh Water  and Raleigh Arts.

Garden Demonstrations | 7:30 – 8:00 pm | Demo Stage

• Leave the leaves
• Native Seeds

Movie on the Lawn | 8:00 – 10:00 pm 

• A Plastic Ocean, documentary short
• The Lorax, 2012, PG, run time of 1 hour 35 minutes

More Earth Day Activities

City of Raleigh shares More Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with activity resources for families, a list of upcoming programs, and other ways to learn, get involved and celebrate with the City.

Raleigh Parks is also offering Full-length Screenings of A Plastic Ocean at area community centers April 20 - 27.

Know Before You Go

• Please come prepared for the weather and being outdoors.
• Walking will be necessary in and around the event area. Please note, portions of the event have uneven surfaces. 
• Portable restrooms are the only restrooms at the event area. 
• Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome, but please use your best judgement to determine if your pooch will enjoy the crowd and noise.
• If there is inclement weather, the event will be canceled and we will post alerts on social media and the website.

What to Bring

• Sunscreen, hats and a refillable water bottle
• Bug spray and wear closed-toe shoes
• Camp chairs and blankets
• Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed

Getting to Dix Park + Parking

Driving

• Via Western Boulevard: Enter at Hunt Drive
• Via Centennial Parkway: Enter at Blair Drive

Biking or Walking

• Via Rocky Branch Greenway: Enter at Hunt Drive
• Via Centennial Bikeway Connector: Enter at Blair Drive

Parking

• Follow event signs
• See map below for recommended event parking. Click to view a larger PDF.

 

Accessibility

Park continues to strive to be accessible and welcoming for visitors, including those with disabilities. Currently, portions of Dix Park, including some areas where programs and events occur, have uneven surfaces and are not fully accessible. Accessibility is a primary focus for early park improvements and all future planning and development.

Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available in all lots.

Restrooms: Accessible port-a-johns are located at the event site. Indoor accessible restrooms are available in the Chapel.

Programs and events: Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form or contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.

Questions?

Contact Dix Park Staff at events@dixpark.org or 919-966-3255