Auburn’s Clean Sweep returns for 24th year
Published 5:30 am Saturday, March 21, 2026
Auburn’s now annual spring Clean Sweep event got moving in 2002 to a backdrop of general fussery about how grubby downtown Auburn looked.
Fortunately, this coincided with city efforts to get people from all over Auburn “involved” in things, recalled former Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis, then in his first term.
“It started with the department directors and the councilmembers brainstorming, and someone there said something about ‘we need to do a clean sweep,’ and it took off from there,” said Lewis.
The city along with the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Auburn Downtown Association put out multiple notices about a pending Clean Sweep of the city.
“We were hoping to perhaps get a hundred people,” said Lewis. “We staged the event in the empty under construction Sound parking garage, and people kept coming, well over 600. We had all sorts of projects to be done, but by noon all those were done and they were asking, ‘What do you want us to do now?’”
Clean-up, environmental restoration, and beautification efforts in and around Auburn have continued every spring since then. Once again the city extends its invitation to all to volunteer for the city’s 24th annual Clean Sweep on Saturday, April 18.
It’s a chance for everyone to pitch into light clean-up and maintenance projects, landscaping, painting, weeding, and planting in and around downtown, and at various park sites.
Service clubs, social service agencies, faith-based groups, scouting troops, businesses, families, and individuals are invited to get together and work on these projects. Volunteers may choose either to participate in a specific project or ask to be assigned to any project.
“As always,” Lewis said this week, “I’ll be out there.”
The morning’s agenda for the big day is follows:
• 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: Optional check-in at Auburn Community and Events Center.
• 8:45 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Optional welcome breakfast at Auburn Community and Events Center.
• 9 a.m. to noon: Volunteers commence project tasks. Bring your own water to your project. Online registration closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. Registrations won’t be accepted April 16 or April 17. Volunteers interested in participating, but who have have not registered may register on-site at park locations to be announced.
• To register, visit auburnwa.gov or email events@auburnwa.gov or call 253-931-3043.
Easter egg hunt
Organized by the Auburn Noon Lions Club, the annual Auburn Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 4 at Les Gove Park, 910 9th St. SE.
This year’s event will feature more than 1,500 eggs filled with candy and special prizes. Children up to age 12 can participate and will be divided into age groups. Last year’s event drew more than 400 kids.
Event organizers suggest showing up on time because the hunt could be over in 10 minutes. Bring a basket and wear running shoes. To learn more, contact Mike Morrisette at 509-388-4182.
