With Earth and its unique harvests of ongoing interest to our readership, we’ve featured timely coverage over the years. However, we’ve never dedicated an issue entirely to this theme — until now. Welcome to the official inaugural Earth Day 420! For an overview of what’s inside, see our editor’s introduction a page or two back. As for my role — and yours as an enthusiastic event attendee — here are upcoming events for 420, Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Audubon Day.
420 Festivities
April is when we lament the fact that marijuana is illegal, still illegal, illegal again — it’s all very confusing. Urban legend has it that the first 420 (as in “4/20”) was started by some California youth smoking out at 4:20pm daily. True or not, we’re all down for a theme party.
On Fri, Apr 17, start your 420 by raising the roof at a screening of the classic 1995 stoner comedy Friday, starring Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, and Nia Long, at Rooftop Cinema Club on the roof of the Worthington Hotel (235 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth, @RooftopCinemaClubDowntownFortWorth) at 10pm. The movie’s tagline says it all: A lot can go down between Thursday and Saturday. Shout out iconic lines like “You ain’t gotta lie, Craig” and “Bye, Felecia!” as you watch two homies, Smokey and Craig, smoke a dope dealer’s weed and try to figure out a way to get the $200 they owe said dealer by 10pm that same night. Tickets start at $21 at RooftopCinemaClub.com/us//films/friday.
Courtesy YouTube
Smokin Dragon Gifts (10621 S Fwy, Fort Worth, 817-551-5578) celebrates 32 years in #TheFort with a 420 Party on Sat, Apr 18, from 2pm to 10pm. There will be free beer (21+), a storewide sale, food trucks, and a raffle with 32 gift baskets, plus live music by Silent Rumor (6pm) and Jordan Lee (2pm).
Or for a little road tripping, you could hop on the inaugural Free All Plants Tour on Sat, Apr 18, from 1pm to 7pm. It’s presented by Greenhouse Lounge & Wellness Center in DeSoto (682-238-8599), but the meet-up spot is at 4466 S Marsalis Av in Dallas. This curated bus tour takes you to locations around North Texas to explore hemp and plant culture, wellness spaces, and more. Tickets are $82.85 at Eventbrite.com.
However, the biggest weed-oriented event isn’t until June. The two-day Lucky Leaf Expo at the Irving Convention Center (500 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, 800-247-8464) is Fri-Sat, Jun 26-27. This major cannabis conference and expo features more than 100 exhibitors, speakers, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. Learn about the new laws, markets, and business opportunities 10am-5pm Fri and 10am-4pm Sat. Two-day passes start at $35 at LuckyLeafExpo.com.
Earth Day
April is also a time to celebrate Planet Earth. The Artemis II team’s recent journey around the moon offers a renewed perspective on our planet, inspiring this week’s cover art by Weekly Art Director Ryan Burger. As always, Fort Worth offers a variety of special events, mostly on Saturday rather than the actual holiday.
Start the day on Sat, Apr 18, with the Garden of Eve Project (4716 Richards Ter, Fort Worth, 682-900-1365). This nonprofit that teaches “the cohesiveness of gardening for the betterment of nature, community, and humanity” is celebrating Earth Day by refreshing its green spaces at Gardening Cleanup Day from 9am to 1pm. After the cleanup, new greenery will be planted, and the on-site experts will share tips on sustainable gardening practices. All skill levels, from novice to experienced gardeners or those who simply love the outdoors, are welcome to attend. This is a free event, but you will need to bring your own gloves and a reusable water bottle.
This is also when Tanger Outlets (15853 N Fwy, Fort Worth, 817-464-5400) has its big event, on Sat, Apr 18, from 11am to 2pm. At the Ladybug Lounge, help set free hundreds of lucky little ladybugs. There will also be garden crafts, balloon art, and other family-friendly activities. At 11:30am, Meet the Beekeeper Bee Workshop will discuss the world’s most important pollinators and observe a working beehive IRL. Sample varieties of honey made by the bees who reside at the various Tanger centers. Denton County Master Gardeners are doing special presentations and giving out plant-pollinator flowers to take home and place in your own garden. As the mall partners with Sneaker Impact (GotSneakers.com), a shoe-recycling organization, you can unlock special offers by donating two pairs of used sneakers.
If you’d like to keep other types of clothing out of landfills and earn some cash, take your items to Uptown Cheapskate (seven locations nearby). They’re always seeking current trends and unique finds — learn more at UptownCheapSkate.com. If your items aren’t accepted, donate them to thrift stores or nonprofits. Don’t toss them. Shop Uptown, too, for high-end, guilt-free fashion!
Then, Three Wide Brewing (16230 Three Wide Dr, Fort Worth, 817-984-3534) is hosting an Earth Day Celebration, also on Sat, Apr 18, from 2pm to 5pm, featuring live music by Maddie White’s duo, Nick & Maddie. Earth Day-themed vendors will be on-site for some sustainable shopping, and there will be face painting for the young or young at heart.
While space and time are limited, there are tons of other events happening around North Texas that I’d like to tell you about. For example, the huge annual Earth X Conference is happening soon in Dallas (EarthX.org/earthx2026). Here are some other events in April and May in cities where many of you readers live, along with where to get the info online.
Courtesy the artist
Burleson at Bailey Lake Park
Facebook.com/BurlesonParksandRecreation
Grand Prairie at EpicCentral
Grapevine at Heritage Park
Irving at Valley Ranch
Lake Worth at Atwoods
Facebook.com/AtwoodsLakeWorthTX
Oak Cliff at Lake Cliff Park
Courtesy Facebook.com
Arbor Day
The last Friday in April is National Arbor Day. Founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, a newspaperman who served as President Grover Cleveland’s secretary of agriculture, the holiday is dedicated to planting, caring for, and celebrating trees to ensure a better future. In honor of the occasion, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, 817-463-4160) is offering free admission on what they call Neighbors in Nature Day on Fri, Apr 24, from 8am to 5pm. It’s a full day of earthy programming, and you can get all the details at FWBG.org.
Remember good ol’ Dubya? Current events kind of make us miss that particular president. Sigh. As an extension of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, his wife has a garden named after her. The Laura Bush Native Garden (2943 SMU Blvd, 214-200-4300) is offering free guided tours by North Texas master naturalists every Saturday at 10am thru Sat, May 30, weather permitting.
If you happen to be headed to Scarborough Renaissance Festival on Sun, Apr 26, make some time to include a Wildflower Adventure. From 2pm to 4pm, stop by Ellis County Rural Heritage Farm (130 Cunningham Meadows Rd, Waxahachie, 972-937-0681) and enjoy free wildflower activities, including demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and nature walks to see the birds, fauna, flora, and wildlife of the Texas Blackland Prairie.
Courtesy Scarborough Renaissance Festival
Audubon Day
The last weekend of the month is for the birds. Named for ornithologist and naturalist John James Audubon, National Audubon Day promotes the appreciation, study, and conservation of birds and their natural habitats, often marked by birdwatching, educational events, and nature photography.
The Fort Worth Audubon Society (Facebook.com/fwas.org) is so busy with birdwatching and such throughout April that they are knocking out their big spring event this Sat, Apr 18. (That’s my theory anyway.) Before the AI robots ruin everything (see this week’s Metro story), join these folks at Dinosaur Valley State Park (1629 Park Rd 59, Glen Rose, 254-897-4588) from 10am to 2pm for the Spring Wingding. This free celebration brings together nature enthusiasts to share their expertise on bats, bees, butterflies, birds, and dinosaurs (bird ancestors).
You can also join your city’s iNaturalist project, snap photos outdoors, and participate in citywide and team challenges from Fri, Apr 24, to Mon, Apr 27, using the iNaturalist app to observe biodiversity. More at iNaturalist.org.
Courtesy Radiant Swim School
