Celebrate at the La Crosse Earth Fair, Apr 26 at Myrick Park
Wisconsinites may not know, or have forgotten, that Earth Day was the vision of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson.
Wisconsinites may not know, or have forgotten, that Earth Day was the vision of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson.
EARTHDAY.ORG’s founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since then, Earth Day Network has been mobilizing over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day and every other day to protect the planet. They provide an interesting history of Earth Day and Senator Nelson’s role in making it part of the modern consciousness.
Senator Nelson’s awareness of the deteriorating environment in the United States was a major concern of his. Then, the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, happened in January 1969. Senator Nelson wanted the public to know the facts about air and water pollution. His initial idea was for a teach-in on college campuses to the national media. He even persuaded a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, Pete McCloskey, to serve as his co-chair, and they hired staff to organize the campus teach-ins. April 22 was chosen because it was a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, hoping to maximize the greatest student participation.
The first Earth Day was in 1970. It immediately sparked national media attention and caught on across the country. Earth Day inspired 10% of the total population of the United States - 20 million Americans at the time — to take to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development, which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts.
By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first-of-their-kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later, Congress passed the Clean Water Act.
Celebrate Earth Day at the La Crosse Earth Fair
Join us in honoring Senator Nelson’s legacy and celebrating Earth Day 2026 at the La Crosse Earth Fair. It’s being held from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, April 26, at Myrick Park and the Nature Place, and is hosted by the Sustainability Institute. This free event offers fun for the whole family. There will be
o Children’s Activities
o Live Music
o Farmer’s Market
o Local Artisans
o Door Prizes
o Food Vendors
o Demonstrations
Parking is extremely limited inside Myrick Park, so people are encouraged to walk, bike, ride the bus, or carpool. If driving is required, parking is available along neighborhood streets. Bike parking is also available outside of The Nature Place building.
Learn more at the Sustainability Institute’s La Crosse Earth Fair webpage.
(The La Crosse Climate Action Plan provides programs and ideas that businesses and individuals can implement to achieve the city’s 2026 goals and realize energy cost savings. You can learn more about what you can do at lacrosseclimateactionplan.org.)