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Step into the action at the 56th Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival!

April 25–26, 2026 

Alameda Park, Santa Barbara

On Saturday, April 25 (11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) and Sunday, April 26 (11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.), Alameda Park will come alive for the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, one of the longest-running Earth Day gatherings in the country. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and CarpEvents, this free festival is a reminder of the reason we started this work 56 years ago: to empower our communities to take meaningful local action for the future of our Central Coast.

This year’s theme — Our Power, Our Planet — calls on all of us to stand together in support of clean air, clean water, renewable energy, and a thriving planet for generations to come. Amid federal rollbacks and climate challenges, this message resonates louder than ever.

Festival-goers can also enjoy live music, a plant-forward Food Court and Beer Garden (featuring reusable cups), a Kids Zone, and over 200 eco-friendly exhibitors throughout the festival. We invite you to step into the action and find the CEC team at:

Elected Officials Booth Schedule

Got Film Plastic?

 

Bring your clean film plastic, such as grocery bags and bubble wrap, to CEC’s booth for collection through our partnership with the UC Santa Barbara Environmental Leadership Incubator program.

Get Involved:

Earth Day Production Partners and Sponsors as of April 15, 2026

Other Opportunities

Help Us Plan For an Upcoming Blood Drive

We’re planning a blood drive in partnership with Vitalant and want to gauge interest from our community. If you are interested in donating, please take a moment to fill out this Google Form — this isn’t a commitment, but will help us determine how many donors we can expect. Your participation could help save lives!

Become a Resilience Hub and Help Your Community Prepare for Disasters

The California Central Coast faces growing challenges from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and poor air quality. Community resilience hubs — trusted local spaces like schools, libraries, community centers, and churches — can provide aid and resources before, during, and after these events. CEC can help activate your site to:

1. Provide clean air during smoke events

2. Act as cooling locations during extreme heat

3. Distribute food

4. Serve as an emergency shelter or hub for emergency services

5. Facilitate disaster preparedness training and neighborhood organizing

6. Host off-grid charging during power outages or shutdowns

Learn more about Community Resilience Hubs, take our short survey, and use our toolkit to get started today.

Other Events

Embodied Arts Workshop: A Guided Meditation & Cello Sound Bath

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

CEC Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Treat yourself to a restorative evening of mindfulness, music, and reflection led by cellist and meditation instructor Ilan MacAdam-Somer. This 90-minute introductory workshop offers a practical, evidence-based approach to supporting mental and physical well-being through mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) for a 45-minute guided meditation accompanied by a live cello sound bath, creating an immersive and calming experience. Participants will explore the core principles of MBSR, learn foundational meditation techniques, and gain insight into how mindfulness can be integrated into daily life to build resilience and reduce stress. Attendees are invited to sit or lie in a comfortable position during the meditation. Blankets will be provided; bring any additional supports you may need, such as a yoga mat, pillow, or bolster. Doors close at 6:45 p.m., so please arrive on time. Learn more and register.

An Evening of Local Action and Inspiration: Sustainability Panel

Thursday, April 30, 2026

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

CEC Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join the Community Environmental Council and Santa Barbara City College Projects in Sustainability Club for a discussion around sustainability and eco-action, featuring Alelia Parenteau, Director of the City of Santa Barbara’s Sustainability and Resilience Department. The event will include a panel discussion, resource tables, and opportunities to learn how local organizations and leaders are advancing sustainability in our community, with additional special guests to be announced. Come get inspired, get informed, and explore meaningful ways to take action locally. Learn more and register.

Santa Barbara Literary Festival: A Conversation with Pulitzer Prize Winner Ed Humes

Sunday, May 3, 2026

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (time subject to change)

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join us for a compelling conversation between the Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Kathi King and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Ed Humes, centered around his book “Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World.” We’ll explore the hidden systems behind what we throw away and the environmental, economic, and ethical consequences of our waste. Ed will also examine the role of journalism in discovering environmental truths and inspiring meaningful climate action. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the country’s foremost environmental storytellers. This event is part of the inaugural Santa Barbara Literary Festival, with events taking place throughout downtown Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. The festival brings together leading voices in journalism, politics, and environmental writing for a weekend of thought-provoking conversations and community engagement. Learn more and register.

First Thursday with CEC and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Thursday, May 7, 2026

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State S.t, Santa Barbara

Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for an evening celebrating native plants and local biodiversity. Enjoy a short film, a panel discussion, and guided tours of the new State Street planters, along with light refreshments. As the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden marks its 100th anniversary — celebrating a century as the first U.S. botanic garden dedicated exclusively to native plants — this event will highlight the importance of native plant stewardship and share opportunities to get involved. Come learn, connect with your community, and discover how you can help grow a more resilient, climate-ready California. Learn more and register.

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a completely free, community-powered event where volunteers help fix broken items instead of sending them to the landfill. Bring up to two items — such as clothing, electronics, bikes, furniture, toys, small appliances, or knives for sharpening — and work alongside skilled fixers to bring them back to life. This is not a drop-off service; you’ll collaborate directly with a volunteer who will assess your item, guide you through the repair process, and share practical skills along the way. Open to the public and designed to empower you to repair your favorite items, this is a hands-on, educational experience rooted in sustainability and community connection. Interested in getting involved? Contact info@repaircafe.org to volunteer your skills, attend future events, or simply help us spread the word! Learn more.

Support Critical Work Like This

Recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, CEC is led by CEO Sigrid Wright, 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. See our most recent impact report to learn how we are serving California’s Central Coast by advancing rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.

Learn more about how you can invest in CEC’s work to accelerate regional climate solutions at cecsb.org/donate.