Temperatures are starting to warm up and people are excited to get outside and celebrate the return of spring and summer weather. Everyone is thinking “green” — both in terms of plants and the planet. That makes late spring and early summer perfect for focusing on nature and sustainability.

Green events let you celebrate nature and also touch on many consumers’ core values. Audiences are increasingly choosing to support events and brands that promote sustainability and have a smaller carbon footprint.

If you want to host a green event, read on for sustainable event ideas that will help drive attendance and get your audience excited about nature.

Have fun with flowers

Nothing signals the arrival of spring quite like flowers, and many towns and cities across the country put on flower- or garden-themed events. Spring festivals or outdoor events are a great way to let your attendees enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful blooms.

1. Step out with outdoor events

Consider taking your events outdoors, such as with an outdoor yoga class. Attendees can enjoy the colorful landscape and cool breeze as they work their way through the poses. Or, organize a walking tour of a local nature spot so your guests can take in the scenery and discover new places.

2. Host a flower or garden show

What better way to usher in the summer months than to put nature on display? A garden show or flower festival can draw in professional and amateur horticulturalists to show off their work, and enthusiasts will come to see the displays.

To make things feel appropriately summery, find an outdoor spot that boasts plenty of space for your green event. Try to include new and small businesses as well as seasoned pros in the event, so you can show off all the floral expertise in your local area. To increase revenue for the event, invite local shops to sell garden décor or patio furniture alongside the displays. Gardening demonstrations and seminars can also generate interest and add some variety to the proceedings.

3. Get your hands dirty in a workshop

Inspire attendees’ imaginations and cultivate their creativity with a floral workshop — like the ones that Eventbrite creator Fresh Flower Bar has hosted in the past. Teach your guests how to make beautiful floral arrangements that they’ll be proud to display in their homes.

Workshop classes could cover:

  • How to choose flowers from a store and condition the stems for use in a professional-looking floral arrangement
  • The symbolism of different flower varieties
  • How to make use of local wildflowers

Whatever the subject, your attendees don’t need prior experience — just plenty of enthusiasm.

4. Celebrate your local flora

Turn your green event into a celebration of a specific flower that’s important to your city or region. For example, Washington D.C. is famous for its cherry blossoms, and Holland, Michigan holds an annual tulip festival.

Offer photo opportunities with the flowers, like BlueHour Photo Ventures does in its instructional photography workshops. Or create a colorful — and Instagrammable — display that promotes the event, and hire professional photographers to offer posed floral portraits. After the workshop, you can even send attendees home with some bulbs or seeds to make the flowers part of their own gardens. Don’t forget to include information about your brand in the goodie bags.

Celebrate holidays

Planning your green event to coincide with a holiday can help drive attendance and make marketing easier.

5. Celebrate family on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a special holiday for both children and parents. It’s also an ideal time for a tie-in to a green event with a focus on beauty, sustainability, and preservation for future generations.

Hold a Mother’s Day brunch with keynote speakers such as prominent gardeners or landscape architects. Give attendees blooms and ribbons so they can learn how to create bouquets for their mothers.

6. Host a patriotic Memorial Day event

On Memorial Day, it’s common for picnics and barbecues to accompany local parades as we honor those who died in service.

During your Memorial Day summer kick-off event, bring together some local chefs and restaurants to enhance your event. Workshops and speakers can touch on the holiday’s meaning, but don’t forget about music — every great picnic comes with a band.

7. Give back on Earth Day

Celebrate the planet on or around April 22 with a green Earth Day event. This eco-friendly holiday brings attention to the harm that pollution and deforestation cause, and it’s a great occasion for service events.

At your green event, you can:

  • Help heal the planet with a tree planting workshop
  • Plan a walk through a nature park with a ranger and learn about native plants in the area
  • Hire speakers to discuss present environmental issues and provide green tips to attendees

Enjoy plants and produce

As summer begins, many people are planting gardens and getting ready to enjoy fresh summer produce. It’s a fantastic opportunity for event creators to throw a summer kick-off party that focuses on garden flowers and vegetable plants.

8. Celebrate summer at the market

Your local farmers’ market is a great place to hold a summer celebration. Attendees will be surrounded by flowers and fresh produce, and you are also supporting your local growers.

Set up different booths for local merchants, experts on gardening or composting, or outdoor games. You can also invite local farm-to-table restaurants or food trucks to provide snacks.

9. Teach your community a new skill

An educational event doesn’t have to be dry — with proper planning and dynamic speakers, you can make learning fun for everyone. Draw a big crowd to your classes with fun games, food, or giveaways.

Offer classes on sustainable practices such as recycling, composting, or starting a container garden. Teach people how native plants can reduce water usage, or educate them on the importance of bee, butterfly, and hummingbird gardens.

10. Promote family fun at the farm

Seeing how food is made can be an illuminating experience. Partner with a local farm to offer tours and instructional classes. These events can be fun for the whole family — consider including a petting zoo, a pick-your-own patch, or a hayride.

Eventbrite’s top tips for green events

No matter what kind of event you’re hosting, you can take action to make it greener and more sustainable.

Here are some tips to make your event eco-friendly:

Now that you’ve got your ideas flowing, learn more about how to keep your event green. Sign up with Eventbrite and start hosting your summer celebration.