Carrboro Earth Day + Open Streets

Carrboro hosted a joint celebration of Carrboro Day, Earth Day, and Open Streets on April 19 from 12–4 p.m., marking the first time these events were combined. Town officials said the format is expected to continue in future years.

By pairing the events, Mayor Barbara Foushee framed the day as both civic and environmental. “We are making a clear statement: you cannot separate the spirit of our community from the health of our environment,” she said. “To love Carrboro is to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate that sustains us.”

Mayor Foushee pointed to a series of upcoming initiatives tied to the town’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030. That includes expanding EV charging and eBike use, launching a street tree inventory and urban forestry plan this summer, and continuing energy efficiency, weatherization, and solar programs aimed at lowering costs for residents. 

The town is also working with the county on heat and emergency planning, with an emphasis on Equity – addressing how climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat are felt unevenly across Carrboro. 

Weaver Street Comes Alive

As with many large Carrboro events, West Weaver Street was closed to vehicles, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to move freely. Clean Machine used a nearby lot to teach children and adults how to ride a bike. East Weaver Street was also closed this year, with environmental and sustainability groups setting up tables along the sidewalk near Weaver Street Market.

Many Town departments hosted tables under the Farmers’ Market pavilion— including Planning and Zoning, Police, and the Race Equity Commission, among many others. Staff from Stormwater helped residents fill out stormwater assessment applications. The presence of so many departments made the event a great opportunity for residents to meet and speak directly with officials and staff.

A stage in front of Town Hall featured sets from local artists, including Honey Magpie and Takiri Folclor, with poetry readings woven in between performances. 

Carrboro High School’s Poetic Justice League set up a table on East Weaver Street and invited festivalgoers to engage with poetry in hands-on, unconventional ways. Visitors could pick from a basket of sealed envelopes in a “blind date with a poem,” receive micropoems dispensed from a repurposed gumball machine, or take a photo on a Polaroid camera and return with it for a custom-written poem. 

“Carrboro Earth Day was such a fantastic opportunity for my fellow poets and I to share our work with the community,” said Owen Russell, Carrboro High’s Poet Laureate. “It was awesome to have a table and contribute while getting to meet so many new people.”

On East Weaver Street at 1 p.m., residents were especially excited for the Beatles cover band, One After 919. 

“They had amazing energy and truly care about the 919 area. They said multiple times how Carrboro was the best place in the world,” Alicia Roskind Dearing, co-owner of Oasis Botanical Lounge, said. “The whole day was so much fun!” 

Always Something to Learn! 

Dozens of booths lined the streets and Town Hall lawn, with local organizations showcasing their work and engaging residents in conversation.

Heather Holley, from the Public Works Department, had a tank set up to resemble a stream ecosystem. Inside were mayflies, crayfish and other small organisms. Holley explained that the types of macroinvertebrates found in streams can help determine pollution levels — some species point toward healthy water quality, while others are more tolerant and indicate more polluted conditions. Holley used this to teach both young kids and adults about pollution. 

Outside of Town Hall, Carrboro Community Garden Club had a table with all kinds of free plants (including bee balm and cantaloupe, which I took home). The club is open to all levels of gardeners, from master gardeners to those just getting started and looking to learn.

Carolina Community Compost spoke about composting at home, giving some tips on aeration and composition. They shared that residents can purchase backyard compost bins for $45 and kitchen pails for $5 at Town Hall and drop off scraps at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. The group was also circulating a petition to push for county-wide food waste collection in Orange County. Their mascot, Wiggles the Worm, may have stolen the show, especially with the children. 

“It’s been fun having people come by, not only for Wiggles, but to show interest in composting and ask the County to do more,” a representative said.

The Switchback Gear Collective, a nonprofit focused on making outdoor recreation more accessible, helped people find affordable second hand outdoor gear. Lands and Waters South donated pollinator plants and Trees for the Triangle donated longleaf pines. 

Small Actions Add Up

Amy Armbruster, Carrboro’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said events like this amount to a “quiet revolution” at a time of environmental rollbacks. Mayor Foushee emphasized local actions, saying each tree planted, eBike ridden, energy bill reduced, and emergency kit assembled contributes to a more resilient Carrboro.

“We are committed to ensuring our neighbors have healthy air, clean water, and vibrant green spaces,” said Armbruster. “These events give me hope because they prove one thing: we aren’t giving up on our planet or each other.”