Wekiva Island to celebrate Earth Day with day of eco events

With sustainability as a core part of its mission and multiple sustainability measures front and center on property, Wekiva Island lives every day like it’s Earth Day. But this year, the Seminole County mainstay is taking its celebration to the next level.

Wekiva Island will host an all-day, multi-part Earth Day celebration for both adults and children on Friday, April 21 at the property in Longwood.

The event will consist of a river clean up, scavenger hunt, art exhibit, virtual eco talks, kids event and succulent workshop.

“Sustainability was woven into the fabric of Wekiva Island from the very beginning,” Owner Bill Weinaug said. “We aim to live out our passion every day, and we look forward to sharing that with more people in accessible ways in honor of Earth Day this year.”

The celebration will kick off with a river clean up in collaboration with Keep Seminole Beautiful, which sponsors regular clean ups at the Island and elsewhere in Seminole County. From 9 a.m. to noon, guests can let staff members know they are there for the cleanup, and they will receive a free canoe so they can collect trash along the river.

Guests can also explore the Island’s sustainability efforts through a group or solo scavenger hunt with prizes or pop upstairs to Gallery CERO to enjoy the Earthly Delights art exhibit featuring a curated selection of works inspired by Mother Nature.

Weinaug will conduct virtual Eco Talks throughout the day with leaders who are inspiring change in Central Florida and beyond. And the kids won’t be left out. Wekiva Island staff will lead them in a special Earth Day activity focused on birds at 6 p.m. in the Classroom.

To cap off the day, the Island is partnering with Bomb Blooms for Plants for the Planet, a succulent design workshop, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. so people can really dig in and get their hands dirty on Earth Day. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased here.

Since purchasing the property in 2008, Weinaug has implemented many changes to make Wekiva Island green. The business features hundreds of solar panels around the property, as well as native landscaping, reclaimed water and more. Wekiva Island aims to go carbon neutral by 2030.

For more information about the Earth Day events, visit https://wekivaisland.com/earthday/. For more information about Wekiva Island’s sustainability efforts, visit https://wekivaisland.com/sustainability/.