April 24 – Noon – The Loft at Liberty Street – Harrisonburg, VA
On April 24, 2026 Renew Rocktown, the Friendly City Food Co-op, and area partners brought together over 140 environmental leaders and champions committed to a thriving Valley for all.
Thank you for joining us to connect, celebrate, and share a meal together.
Bringing People Together
The Earth Day Luncheon brings together advocates, local representatives, students, growers, non-profit leaders, conservationists, and businesses. Registration is free and open to all who share our values thanks to generous sponsors and attendee contributions.
Connecting the Dots
The Luncheon helps people and organizations connect to work happening within our community.
Check out the community slide deck featuring local projects, programs, and organizations doing incredible work in our Valley.
Celebrating our Champions
The Cathy Strickler ‘Good Trouble’ Award is given to someone in our community for their ‘commitment to environmental sustainability and social equity’. Learn about 2026 awardee Tom Benevento.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!
Partner Sponsors:
Event Sponsors:
Inaugural Earth Day Luncheon – 2025
Recognizing the importance of bringing environmental leaders and advocates together during a dramatic change in federal priorities and funding, Renew Rocktown, the Friendly City Food Co-op, and the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted the inaugural Earth Day Luncheon in 2025. The days’ events provided space for community members to celebrate our environmental & climate wins, connect on local initiatives, and discover ways to take action together for a stronger, more sustainable Valley. Conversations facilitated by JMU’s Institute for Constructive Advocacy & Dialogue helped identify local gaps and opportunities, helping shape the direction of Renew Rocktown’s emerging work.
Renew Rocktown also presented the inaugural Cathy Strickler ‘Good Trouble’ Award to Cathy Strickler and the 2025 award to Joy Loving. The award will be given each year to someone in our community for their, ‘commitment to environmental sustainability and social equity, and for displaying the courage, care, collaborative spirit, and tenacity to make the world a better place.‘
Check out photos from our inaugural Earth Day Luncheon and Happy Hour in 2025. Photos by Andrew DeVier-Scott.
