It’s been over a decade since EWEB’s last Earth Day Celebration in Eugene, which brought together public agencies, nonprofits, and entertainment to help the public learn how to live more sustainably.

That event’s spirit will return with this year’s inaugural “Re-Imagine Earth Day Celebration (RIED)” on April 13 from 2-6 p.m. at the Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion.

The RIED event is “a free, family-friendly celebration and one-stop shop for learning about—in fun and engaging ways—what our local organizations, businesses, and others are doing concerning sustainability,” said Mitra Gruwell, a local sustainability advocate spearheading the event.

Like its predecessor, the gathering will also include art, performers, games, and food for attendees.

To bring the event to life, Gruwell partnered with the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (MECCA), BRING, Shift Community Cycles, the city of Eugene Waste Prevention, and Waste Wise Lane County. Gruwell also received a grant from the Eugene Downtown Program Fund Grant and funding from the Lane Council of Governments.

Gruwell said RIED was inspired by her experiences with the Eugene Pride Festival and her attendance at the Association of Oregon Recyclers (AOR) conference.

“We hope to channel the Pride Festival atmosphere, where everybody feels welcome to celebrate, engage, and discover,” Gruwell said. “The AOR conference is an inspiration because it’s where those in the sustainability sector get together to learn about what we’re all doing.”

Emily Reynolds, director of education and outreach with BRING, said RIED isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action.

“We encourage attendees to engage with hands-on activities, ask questions, and connect with local sustainability leaders,” Reynolds said.

While the event is technically not on Earth Day (April 22), Gruwell said the event’s aim is to help people live more sustainably every day, not just on Earth Day.

“First and foremost, we hope people have a blast,” Gruwell said. “Folks can come with their families and friends and have a memorable experience shopping for sustainable services and locally made products, eating from local food carts while using reusable dishware, and learning through play about all the cool things our local organizations are doing.”

Learn more at wastewiselane.org/earth.