Maple Valley’s Earth Day Fair offers opportunity to learn something new and dispose of haz waste

A few years ago, Maple Valley set out to create a simple way for the community to come together and celebrate Earth Day.

Today, that idea has blossomed into an event that blends education, entertainment and hands-on ways to care for the environment.

On Saturday, April 18, the City of Maple Valley will host its 3rd annual Earth Day Fair at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum, and we’re excited to be part of it again.

Event details

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Lake Wilderness Arboretum (22520 SE 248th St)

Planting the seed

For Halley Kimball, Program Manager, and Tawni Dalziel, Public Works Director for Maple Valley, the idea started with the community itself.

“At the core of Maple Valley, our slogan and what residents are all about is communing with nature and being out in the wilderness,” Kimball said. “We wanted to celebrate that. We didn’t have anything centered around Earth Day in town, so we asked how we take this passion people have and connect it with an event in the spring.

“We’re a community that loves community events,” Kimball added. “So why not one more?”

From small sprout to a growing event

The first Earth Day Fair started a few years ago at the Legacy Site. It has since moved to the Lake Wilderness Arboretum where it has continued to expand.

“Moving to the Arboretum really allowed us to grow,” Kimball said. “It highlighted this beautiful asset the city has, and as more projects have been completed there, it’s given us even more opportunities to expand.”

And those opportunities have translated into more partner participation and more opportunities for people to learn and take part in activities.

A day full of learning and fun

The Earth Day Fair aims to connect people with practical ways to care for their homes, neighborhoods and the environment.

From natural yard care and water quality to sustainable energy and rebates, local partners will be on hand to share helpful information in an approachable way.

“It’s very centered around community,” Kimball said. “Live music, food, activities for kids. It’s a really positive experience where people can engage with each other while learning something new.”

And the increase in partnerships have played a major role in the event’s continued success.

“We don’t put a lot of money into the event and we don’t charge for booths,” Kimball said. “It really comes down to community partnerships and people showing up.”

That includes a growing presence from the Haz Waste Program and other King County departments like Public Health - Seattle & King County and Solid Waste.

“It started with hazardous waste drop-off,” Kimball said. “Now there are six or seven booths from King County sharing information on yard care and other topics.”

Haz Waste team checking your cookware for lead

As Kimball noted, like the event itself, our role has grown too.

In the early years, we focused on offering free hazardous waste disposal. This year, we are expanding to include even more education and direct engagement, with staff available to answer questions and share tips for safer alternatives, along with information on proper storage and disposal of hazardous products.

“The event has grown,” said Mohamed Ali, environmental health planner with the Haz Waste Program. “Maple Valley has been good partners, and we’re ready to help support again this year.”

This year we’ll be offering free lead testing again for household items at the event. People can bring a few items from home, and our team can test them to see if they contain lead. Items can range from cookware to toys. 

This is a quick and easy way to get peace of mind or identify items that may need to be replaced. Staff will also be available to answer questions and share information on safer alternatives.

Looking ahead

As the event continues to grow, Kimball is focused on reaching even more people.

“I’m excited to see more people coming out and reaching new community members,” she said. “We’re right off the Cedar to Green Trail, so we’re hoping to bring in folks from outside the area too.”

So if you’re looking for an easy way to celebrate Earth Day, take care of some spring cleaning, and connect with your community, this is a great place to start.

Bring your household hazardous waste and stick around for the activities!

“I hope people see the natural spaces in and around our city as an important piece of the puzzle and how they fit into that puzzle,” Kimball said. “That they find joy in learning something new and share that with friends and neighbors so (the event) continues to grow.”

Ali echoed that enthusiasm.

“We’re looking forward to a great turnout this year,” he said. “We’re excited to provide services and be able to serve the community. Hoping to reach even more community members and continue building on this durable partnership.”