Earth Day is right around the corner, and there are plenty of opportunities downtown between now and then to pick up trash in a park, run or walk to save the bees, shop sustainably, and support clean water by drinking beer.

Lend a hand in a citywide cleanup organized by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling takes place on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon at more than 40 sites. Registration isn’t required; bags and gloves are provided.

Since 2008, volunteers have removed more than 165,000 pounds of garbage from Minneapolis parks during Earth Day cleanups, according to the City.

These are the City’s downtown cleanups on Saturday:

  • Boom Island Park (724 Sibley St. NE) – In collaboration with the Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk and River Cleanup
  • Chute Square (Ortman Street SE and Bank Street SE)
  • The Commons (425 Portland Ave. S) – The Downtown Improvement District and the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association’s Earth Day edition of Service Saturday
  • Elliot Park (1000 E. 14th St.)
  • Father Hennepin Bluff Park (300 Main St. SE)
  • James I. Rice Parkway Trail (West River Parkway and North Fourth Avenue)
  • Loring Park (1382 Willow St.)
  • Luxton Park (112 Williams Ave. SE)
  • Nicollet Island-St. Anthony Main (SE Main Street between Merriam Street and to SE Third Avenue) – Meet by the Merriam Street Bridge
  • Triangle Park (10th Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues)

Great River Coalition’s 9th annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk and River Cleanup is a dog- and family-friendly event on Saturday featuring music, info booths, and a beautiful route along both sides of the Mississippi River between Boom Island Park and the Third Avenue Bridge.

The North Loop Neighborhood Association is promoting two Earth Day cleaning parties in its neck of the woods on Saturday. One meets at Corner Coffee at 9:30 a.m., and the other meets at the North Loop Playground at 10 a.m.

Minneapolis Cider Co. is holding a self-guided Trail Magic Earth Day Hike from its taproom to nearby Nicollet Island and encouraging people to pick up trash along the way on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If picking up garbage isn't your bag, there are plenty of other options to celebrate Earth Day.

Rise Bagel Co. is teaming up with Madewell on a denim recycling drive. Just drop off unwanted pairs of jeans, jean jackets and other denim items at Rise's shop in the North Loop on Friday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and they'll be turned into housing insulation for communities in need through Blue Jeans Go Green. Anyone who donates will receive $20 off a pair of Madewell jeans and a token for a free bagel with cream cheese on a future visit to Rise.

Buy fresh produce, eggs, meats, flowers, and other items from local vendors at the Minneapolis Farmers Market or the Mill City Farmers Market on Saturday.

A free clothing swap event called the Hewing XChange returns to the Hewing Hotel on Sunday at noon. There’s also an eco marketplace, as well as chances to learn from experts how to transform old clothes into trendy new pieces and how to build an eco-friendly closet that reflects your style.

Drink beer and do good. Inbound BrewCo. is donating $1 to Clean Water Action for every full pour that’s purchased in the taproom on Monday from 5-8 p.m. in honor of Earth Day.

Earth Day officially takes place on Monday. If you’re tied up this weekend, don’t fret because there are tree planting events in Elliot Park for Arbor Day on April 26 and Neighborhood Day on May 11.

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