Concert, Cleanups, Sea Turtle Releases and More to Commemorate Florida Keys’ Earth Day

FLORIDA KEYS — The Florida Keys & Key West are putting Earth Day in the spotlight with a wide range of activities throughout the island chain on and around April 22, 2024.

Every day is a reason to celebrate the beauty of the planet in the Florida Keys, full of natural wonders including 10 state parks, two national parks, four federally protected wildlife refuges and the continental United States’ only contiguous coral barrier reef.

While Earth Day highlights in the Florida Keys are listed here, more can be found at fla-keys.com/calendar/. Earth Day activities include:

KEY WEST

Earth Day Jam with That Hippie Band: Key West musician Gary Dempsey and friends perform as That Hippie Band on Earth Day, April 22, at Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St. The group plays the music of a movement that will help listeners remember the songs from the Age of Aquarius. Audiences can raise their environmental consciousness as the band performs songs from the Moody Blues to Joni Mitchell and all points in between. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show at 7 p.m. thekeywesttheater.com

Plogging the Keys Earth Day Cleanup: Plogging the Keys, a group that stages numerous cleanups around Key West, is to hold its Earth Day cleanup event in the Triangle area at the entrance to the island city, including the Cow Key Channel Bridge and surrounding streets, starting at 8 a.m. Monday, April 22. Those interested can meet at Tavern N Town restaurant, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. to pick up their vest, gloves, bucket and picker. Participants will clean for one hour, followed by complimentary breakfast sandwiches, coffee and juice from Tavern N Town. 

LOWER KEYS

Full Moon Kayak Excursion: Captain Bill Keogh’s Big Pine Kayak Adventures hosts full moon kayak excursions from October through May in the waters surrounding the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key. April’s full moon paddle takes place Tuesday, April 23, the day after Earth Day. Paddlers on the 6:30-8:30 p.m. excursion can explore the quiet beauty of the mangrove estuary, view the brilliance of the full moon light sparkling on the shallow water flats, and learn about the area’s delicate ecosystem. Cost is a $30 donation that supports the Florida Keys Wildlife Society, the friends group for the island chain’s national wildlife refuges. floridakeyswildlifesociety.org/full-moon-kayak-excursions

MARATHON

Attend a Sea Turtle Release or Visit the Turtle Hospital: Wildlife enthusiasts can celebrate Earth Day by attending the Monday, April 22nd release of two green sea turtles to their ocean home at 9:30 a.m. at Sombrero Beach, 2130 Sombrero Beach Rd. The juvenile sea turtles, both suffering from fibropapillomatosis, were rescued last fall, then treated at the Turtle Hospital, a licensed veterinary hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. Plan to be on the beach by 9 a.m. for the arrival of the turtles in the Turtle Hospital ambulance. If you can't attend Monday's release, you can visit and tour the Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, any day between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to view sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation. Visitors can even symbolically adopt a turtle to help support its care. turtlehospital.org

ISLAMORADA

I.CARE Trash Derby: The week after Earth Day, I.CARE is to hold its second annual Trash Derby and Festival. Set for Thursday through Sunday, May 2-5, it includes two days of debris collection both underwater and on land. Thanks to sponsorship from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in support of Goal: Clean Seas, the marine debris collection dives are free for certified divers from participating dive shops from Key Largo to Key West. For land and shoreline cleanups, participants can form their own teams or join an existing team. To cap the weekend, a free public festival is scheduled May 5 at Islamorada’s Founders Park, 87000 Overseas Highway. Attractions include an award ceremony for top debris collectors, live music, raffles, silent auction, games and activities, exhibits from coral restoration organizations and other environmentally minded vendors, food and more. icaretrashderby.com

KEY LARGO

Join Key Largo Yoga for a Sound Healing session in honor of Earth Day, April 22, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the studio located at 99198 Overseas Highway. Slip into a deep state of relaxation as the soothing tones of the sound bowls clear your mind, elevate consciousness and create a healing state for your body. keylargoyoga.com/workshops-events

Florida Keys sustainability information: fla-keys.com/sustain