Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10 AM to 3 PM
1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples, FL
Free, family-friendly event featuring new activities, games, exhibits, vendors, and more!
GROUNDBREAKING
Witness a defining moment in our history.
Saturday, April 18 at 11:00 AM
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida invites the community to our annual Earth Day Festival as the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience breaks ground and moves from vision to reality. This groundbreaking marks the next chapter in how the Southwest Florida community will experience, understand, and protect the environment that sustains our way of life.
Watch a recap of last year's festival.
Program Schedule
10:30 AM
Animals in Need Puppet Show
Eaton Conservation Hall
11:00 AM
John & Carol Walter Nature Experience Groundbreaking
Welcome Gazebo, Southeast Area of Campus
11:45 am
Super Science Show with Glen Beitman
Eaton Conservation Hall
12:15 pm
Gopher Tortoise Grazing
Wheeler Education Field by Presentation Tent
12:30 PM
Adventures through the Everglades
Wheeler Education Field Presentation Tent
1:00 PM
We Are All Connected Story Time
Eaton Conservation Hall
1:30 PM
Super Science Show with Glen Beitman
Eaton Conservation Hall
2:00 PM
Around the World in 20 Minutes
Climate Change Theater in the Dalton Discovery Center
2:00 PM
Live Music with Moonstone Riders
Wheeler Education Field Presentation Tent
2:30 PM
Healthy, Happy & Engaged The Role of Enrichment for Animal Ambassadors
Lutgert Commons Area
Electric boat rides: 10:00 AM, 10:45 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:55 PM
All Day Activities
Kid Zone: Nature-focused games, activities, and crafts • Electric boat rides • Face painting • Specialty presentations • Food trucks • Learning Adventures Bus (LAB) • Dalton Discovery Center and John + Carol Walter Discovery Wing exhibits • Local exhibitors and vendors • Little Explorer Play Zone • Giveaways • Nature walks
Vendors
Audubon/Corkscrew Swamp
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Big Cypress National Preserve
Bonita Estero Rail to Trail
Childrens' Museum of Naples
Club Travalia
Collier County Bee Keepers
Collier County Library
Collier County Pollution Control
Collier County Sheriff’s Car & Equipment
Collier County Solid Waste
Collier County Water
Collier - Seminole State Park
Collier Supervisor of Elections
Conservation Collier
Crew Land & Water Trust
Defenders of Wildlife
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Eden's Earth, Wind & Fryer
Earth Harmony
Education Alliance of Southwest Florida
Everglades Astronomical Society
Ferry Farms
FGCU Water School
Florida Blue
Florida Department of Health
Florida Forest Service
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Freedom Waters Foundation
Greater Naples Fire - Truck
Healthy Earth Org
Hing Family Apiary
Juicelation
Kiwi Leo's Ice Cream
League of Women Voters
Maddie's Sweet Lemonade
Mosquito Brigrade
Olu Kai
Peeled Fruit Pops
Pryless Island Grill
Rookery Bay
Seminole Tribe A-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
Starability
Stropharia Mushroom Farm
Studio 431
Susan Levine - Local Author
Susellie Arts
The Farmer's Corn
The Great Canoe Races of Naples
Travelin Tom's Coffee
UF/IFAS Extension
Xerces Society
Sponsored by
Rules and Guidelines
- The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a non-smoking, non-vaping campus.
- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
- Pets or ambassador animals are not permitted on the Conservancy campus. Service animals are permitted with limited access.
- Balloons, confetti, glitter, and artificial flowers are not permitted.
- Please enjoy your food and beverages outdoors and in designated picnic areas.
- Please be prepared for the weather. Take appropriate hot weather precautions:
- Use sunscreen and bug spray.
- Wear a hat and comfortable lightweight clothing and shoes.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Recycle and dispose of trash properly.
- Refrain from removing leaves, limbs, plants or flowers, insects, or wildlife from the Nature Center. These living organisms are a source of education for visitors and protection for the environment.
- Do not feed any wildlife you may encounter.
- Vehicles may not drive on the Conservancy campus between 9:30AM and approximately 3:30PM.
Parking and Directions
Parking is available at the Naples Zoo and Lake Park Elementary.
If parking at Naples Zoo, you may walk to the entrance on the Smith Preserve Bridge south of the parking lot, or the walking gate in the southeast corner of the parking lot.
If parking at Lake Park Elementary, please cross Goodlette-Frank Rd using the crosswalk at 14th Ave N and enter the entrance of 14th Ave N. There will be a shuttle stop at 14th Ave N to bring you to the festival.
Earth Day Festival attendees are not permitted to drive on 14th Ave N.
