Earth Day Community Celebration at NCC

Northampton Community College (NCC), in partnership with Northampton County, hosted a successful Earth Day 2025 celebration on Saturday, April 26 on the Bethlehem Campus Quad. The free, family-friendly event welcomed community members of all ages and the drizzle throughout the day didn’t deter guests from enjoying the festivities. Attendees took part in educational programming and hands-on activities, all focused-on sustainability and environmental awareness. 

The festival offered something for everyone. A variety of local vendors and food trucks served up delicious treats. Live music performances kept energy high on the quad, and the earth day speaker series panel throughout the day provided valuable insights on environmental leadership. NCC welcomed County Executive, Lamont McClure, to speak about how climate change impacts us locally. During his remarks, McClure took time to applaud NCC, explaining how, “the work that the college does in terms of mitigating [the issue] is amazing. All the work that the college does with respect to energy use is truly fantastic.”  

The event’s interactive stations and eco-friendly exhibits made learning about the planet both fun and entertaining for all ages. Kids and families especially enjoyed the creative and nature-focused activities. Rock art gave people the opportunity to design their own colorful rock pets, while bus stop art invited attendees to brighten up a real campus bus stop with original artwork. Mosaic-making and “Take Home a Native Plant” stations offered opportunities to explore sustainability and recycling in creative and practical ways. Other highlights included guided “Walks in the Woods,” nature explorations in the East 40, and a relaxing story corner where visitors listened to tales about the planet, animals, and our role in protecting the environment. Tree planting activities at the Wedge introduced the community to the site of NCC’s future Community Meadow — an immersive environmental learning lab in the making. 

One of the day’s most exciting moments was the presentation of the first-ever Green Ribbon Award. Martin Guitar was honored on the festival’s main stage for their eco-conscious innovation within the music industry. The award recognized their role as a model of environmental responsibility and their dedication to reducing environmental impact. 

Everyone came together to support a greener future.  Check out the photos from the Earth Day Celebration below!