Each year on April 22, Earth Day is celebrated across the world. It is a day devoted to Mother Earth with a focus on environmental issues. Started in the United States in 1970, this is the 48th year of events.
The 2017 Earth Day falls on a Saturday, April 22, 2017, and unless otherwise noted the events below are on that day. Eastern North Carolina events abound for this special weekend.
In addition to the Eastern North Carolina events listed below, this Earth Day website lists more alongside its environmental content: www.earthday.org.
Bunn Fun Day
Bunn Fun Day is 10am to 4pm, along Railroad Street in downtown Bunn, North Carolina (Franklin County).
People of all ages come for the day to relax, eat, listen to the live music, often setting out chairs or blankets in the shade. This event draws folks from Bunn and surrounding towns. Vendors offer local handmade goods, a variety of tasty foods and treats, and information about local organizations and their services. Children’s activities range from pony rides to games and barrel rides to inflatables.
Bunn is located in Franklin County, North Carolina, northeast of Raleigh and southwest of Rocky Mount. The Bunn of the new millenium is a “green” place to spend Earth Day, with organic farms, pick-your-own fields, and livestock roaming as natural “mowers” in town solar farms.
Visit the Town of Bunn Facebook page for updates and more information. Contact organizer Sherry Mercer via email with questions.
Note that the Bunn Garden Club is holding a plant sale on this date. Stop by and pick up plants and support the club.
Opening Day at Zebulon Farm Fresh Market
The Zebulon Farm Fresh Market (ZFFM) opening day draws together farmers and local goods vendors, alongside a special bake sale, and Earth Day activities. The Zebulon Youth Council’s bake sale will be raising funds for the Farmer Foodshare program at Zebulon UMC. The opening day / Earth Day announcement by market manager Maurine Brown may be read here.
ZFFM is held at the Zebulon Municipal Complex, 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC — just across Arendell from the Food Lion plaza.
This farmer’s market is open Saturdays from April 22 through October; market hours are 9am to 1pm. Check for holiday closings or special hours / special events on their Facebook page.
Earth Day Festival in Wilson NC
On April 22, 2017, 11am to 4pm, join the 11th Annual Earth Day Festival with local Artist, venders, local groups, and activities. Vendor spots may still be available for $25, free to some community groups. Held at Truely Unique, 2006 US Highway 301 S, Wilson NC. See more at www.facebook.com/events/1417695508281346 or truelyunique.com.
Durham Earth Day Festival
Celebrate Earth Day at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham NC. In addition to environmental education activities, there will be food trucks, music, a parade, family Fun Zone, and market. Bring a water bottle for refills, and optionally a yoga mat for free yoga session(s). The 2017 Earth Day Festival is presented by Durham Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Durham Parks Foundation.
Paper shredding will be available for free, open to the public, 12-3pm with ProShred Security drive-through at 412 Morris St. (Measurement Incorporated Parking Lot). Unlike other events on this page, this Durham event’s date is Sunday, April 23, 2017, noon-5pm. See planned activities at durhamnc.gov/1003/Earth-Day-Festival.
Piedmont Earth Day Fair
Support the planet and celebrate with this free community event. This Earth Day Fair is Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, 421 27th Street NW, Winston-Salem NC.
The event is organized by the Piedmont Environmental Alliance and includes music, food, exhibits, and activities for all ages. Details are on the event website at www.peanc.org/EDF.
Wilmington Earth Day Festival
Head to Hugh MacRae Park, 314 Pine Grove Drive, Wilmington NC, for this annual Earth Day festival, Saturday from noon to 6pm. There will be live music, exhibitors, food, outdoor activities, and more.
See activities schedule and directions at www.wilmingtonearthday.com, or check their Facebook page for updates.
March for Science
This new event for 2017 draws scientists and people affected by science to gather to show support for the environment. Marches are planned across the US, with six listed for North Carolina: Raleigh, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Asheville, and Charlotte.
Visit the March for Science website at www.marchforscience.com to get details for a specific location.
Other Events
In addition to the events above, April 22 offers other events around Eastern NC:
- Bailey (NC) Chamber of Commerce’s Craft Fair/Flea Market is April 22, 2017, in Bailey NC (Nash County).
- “Howell Woodstock” on April 22, 2017 1-5pm. Lots to do in Four Oaks NC (see details here)
- Spring Craft Market at the Wake Forest Farmer’s Market, 405 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest NC, on April 22 (8am-noon).
- Soil Trotters Garden Club is holding a Spring Plant Sale (9am-4pm) at 439 E Main St, Clayton NC.
- Granville Gardeners are holding an Herb Sale (9am-noon), at the Granville County Expo & Convention Center, 4185 US Hwy 15, Oxford NC.
- Volunteer to help with the Goldsboro Community Action Day – Pitch In Downtown. Volunteers are needed to help beautify downtown Goldsboro (9-11am). Meet at the John St. Parking lot (behind the Flying Shamrock).
- The Person Place Preservation Society is offering the annual Franklin County Homes & Gardens Tour April 22-23.
- SSStrong Community Day brings Selma and Smithfield communities together for a celebration with entertainment, vendors, exhibits, and activities (11am-1pm). Free event, with food available for purchase. All are welcome at Smithfield-Selma High School
700 Booker Dairy Road, Smithfield NC. - The Town of Wake Forest is holding an Arbor Day Celebration alongside a tree giveaway. Details of the day’s activities may be found here.
A Little Bit of Earth Day Info
The US Census Bureau released its “Profile America Facts for Features” for Earth Day. Here are a few of their facts about the planet as you head out to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2017.
April 22, 2017, marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day — a day intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. Organizers started Earth Day in response to a massive oil spill in waters near Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1969. In honor of Earth Day ― and Earth Week (April 18-22) ― this edition of Profile America Facts for Features includes examples of Census Bureau statistics pertaining to energy and the environment.
It is worth noting the types of information that the Census Bureau feels represent environmental efforts.
Renewable Energy
$9.7 billion — The total of revenues in 2012 for electric power generation industries that use renewable energy resources, such as hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation. Source: 2012 Economic Census
1,183 — The number of hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2014. Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
12,456 — The number of employees in hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2014. Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
$5.1 billion — The total of revenues in 2012 for the wind electric power generation industry, the highest among the industries using renewable energy resources. Hydroelectric power generation followed with revenues of $2.5 billion. Geothermal electric power generation had revenues of just under $1 billion ($981.2 million), followed by biomass electric power generation with $721.5 million in revenues; solar electric power generation with $427.6 million; and other electric power generation with $43.4 million. Source: 2012 Economic Census
Heating and Cooling the Home
2.4 million — The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by wood in 2015, which is 2.0 percent of all homes. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04
106,737 — The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country using solar energy in 2015 as their primary source of heat, which is 0.1 percent of all homes. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04
57.0 million — The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by utility gas in 2015, which is 48.2 percent of all homes. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04
93% — The estimated percentage of newly-built single-family homes across the country with air conditioning in 2015. Source: Presence of Air-Conditioning in New Single-Family Houses Completed
Commuting to Work
26.4 minutes — The estimated average time workers age 16 and older across the country spent getting to work in 2015, up from 26 minutes in 2014 and 25.8 in 2013. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801
33.1 and 32.6 minutes — The estimated average time workers age 16 and older in New York and Maryland spent getting to work in 2015, the longest one-way commute times in the nation. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801
16.9 and 16.6 minutes — The estimated average time workers age 16 and older in South Dakota and North Dakota spent getting to work in 2015, the shortest one-way commute times in the nation. The estimates for North Dakota and South Dakota are not significantly different. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801
885,188 — The estimated number of people who rode a bicycle to work in 2015. This comes out to about 0.6 percent of the American workforce. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B08006
4,114,125 — The estimated number of people who walked to work in 2015. This comes out to about 2.8 percent of the American workforce. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B08006
Working in the Nuclear and Forestry Fields
54,183 — The number of workers employed in forestry and logging establishments across the United States in 2014. Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
48,602 — The number of workers employed in nuclear electric power generation establishments across the United States in 2014. Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
109.9% — The percentage increase in the number of nuclear electric power generation establishments across the United States from 2005 to 2014, going from 68 establishments to 149 establishments, respectively. Sources: 2005 County Business Patterns and 2014 County Business Patterns
Using Energy
18,817 trillion Btu — The energy consumption in the US manufacturing sector in 2010, down 17 percent from the 22,576 trillion Btu (British thermal units) consumed in 2002. Source: US Energy Information Administration, 2010 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey
-32% — The percentage drop in the consumption of coal in the US manufacturing sector from 2002 to 2010, going from 1,956 trillion Btu to 1,328 trillion Btu, respectively. Source: US Energy Information Administration, 2010 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey
Building a House
2,467 square feet — The median size of a single-family home completed in 2015. Source: Median and Average Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed
648,000 — The number of single-family homes completed in 2015. Of these, 66,000 had two or fewer bedrooms and 307,000 had four bedrooms or more. Source: Number of Bedrooms in New Single-Family Houses Completed
$360,600 — The average sales price of a new single-family home sold in 2015. Source: Median and Average Sales Prices of New Single-Family Houses Sold
14,000 — The number of multifamily buildings built across the United States in 2015. Of these, 8,000 used electricity as the primary heating fuel. Source: Number of Multifamily Buildings Completed by Type of Heating Fuel
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
113,090 — The number of employees working in recyclable material merchant wholesale establishments in 2014. Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
$95.8 billion — The total sales for recyclable material merchant wholesale establishments in 2012, up 19.6 percent from $80.1 billion in 2007. Total sales in 2012 for recyclable paper and paperboard products were $9.8 billion; recyclable plastics products were $2.5 billion; and recyclable glass products were $560.9 million. Source: 2012 Economic Census and 2007 Economic Census
$8.4 billion — The product shipments value for recycled paperboard in 2015. Source: 2015 Annual Survey of Manufactures
Collecting Revenue
$2.1 billion — The estimated revenue for hazardous waste management collection services in 2015 for US waste collection employer firms. Source: 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5621
$5.2 billion — The estimated revenue for hazardous waste treatment and disposal services in 2015 for US waste treatment and disposal employer firms. Source: 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5622
$14.9 billion — The estimated revenue for local, fixed-route passenger transportation, by road and transit rail in 2014 for US transit and ground passenger transportation employer firms. Source: 2014 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 485
Ed. Note: Source links for data mentioned above:
- 2012 Economic Census (link)
- 2014 County Business Patterns (link)
- 2014 County Business Patterns (link)
- 2012 Economic Census (link)
- 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04 (link)
- Presence of Air-Conditioning in New Single-Family Houses Completed (link)
- 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801 (link)
- 2015 American Community Survey, Table B08006 (link)
- 2014 County Business Patterns (link)
- 2014 County Business Patterns [nuclear] (link)
- 2005 County Business Patterns (link)
- US Energy Information Administration, 2010 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (link)
- Median and Average Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed (link)
- Number of Bedrooms in New Single-Family Houses Completed (link)
- Median and Average Sales Prices of New Single-Family Houses Sold (link)
- Number of Multifamily Buildings Completed by Type of Heating Fuel (link)
- 2014 County Business Patterns (link)
- 2012 Economic Census (link)
- 2007 Economic Census (link)
- 2015 Annual Survey of Manufactures (link)
- 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5621, 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5622, & 2014 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 485 (link)
US Census Bureau Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines.
