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Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
Returns to Alameda Park
April 26 & 27, 2025
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This year’s theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’
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Community Environmental Council Honors
Environmental Heroes
Dr. Leah Stokes and Charlie Eckberg
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The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival will return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 2025. Now in its 55th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and is one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and produced by longtime festival partner, CarpEvents, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival continues to serve as a beacon for environmental advocacy and education.
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“As we prepare for the 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, we are reminded of Santa Barbara’s deep-rooted legacy as a pioneer in the environmental movement,”
said Kathi King, CEC’s Director of Climate Education and Leadership.
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This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s global theme of Our Power, Our Planet. This theme invites everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy and to work together to triple the global generation of renewable energy by 2030.
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CEC is pleased to announce Dr. Leah Stokes as the recipient of its 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Environmental Hero Award.
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Dr. Stokes is a professor at UCSB focused on energy, climate, and environmental politics. An author of several books, Dr. Stokes was named an advocate on TIME100 Next, and as one of Business Insider’s top 30 global leaders working toward climate solutions. She is also an author of the Inflation Reduction Act, widely recognized as the most influential piece of climate legislation ever enacted.
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We are also pleased to announce our first Earth Day Environmental Hero Pioneer Award recipient being presented posthumously to Charlie Eckberg.
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Charlie helped bring the Festival back to life in the early 90s and was an influential environmentalist throughout his life. To learn more about Charlie’s impact on Santa Barbara’s environmental movement, read this beautiful tribute recently published in the Santa Barbara Independent.
Activists like Stokes and Eckberg have dedicated their lives to making an impact on climate change and their work lights the way for communities everywhere. The Environmental Hero Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 26 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Main Stage in Alameda Park, and Stokes will be on stage to accept the award, along with members of Eckberg’s family. KEYT anchor Tracy Lehr will serve as emcee.
The 2025 festival— which is free to attend — anticipates all of the fun of past years. Highlights of this year’s event include the Green Car show featuring free “Ride & Drive” experiences, over 200 eco-friendly exhibitors, Beer & Wine Garden, Kids Zone, two full days of live music, plant-forward Food Court, and so much more.
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“It’s truly an honor to produce the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, knowing what a profound impact this event has on our community year after year,” said Michael Lazaro, CEO of CarpEvents and Festival Producer. “This festival is more than just a weekend of activities; it’s a catalyst for change, inspiring attendees to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and to think more deeply about their role in environmental stewardship. Our commitment is to produce an event that not only educates and entertains but also empowers every participant to make a positive difference in the world.”
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Community members can stay updated on details of Earth Day at www.SBEarthDay.org, and can get involved in many ways:
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Exhibit
Event registration for vendors is now open
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Sponsor
Over 60 eco-friendly businesses and organizations sponsor the festival each year, and receive a variety of valuable marketing benefits.
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Volunteer
All hands on deck! We need your help to make this event possible.
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Earth Day production partners and sponsors to date
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City of Santa Barbara, MarBorg Industries, Chevrolet, Dave’s Killer Bread, SBCAG, Firestone Walker 805, June Shine, Bye Bye Mattress, Cox Communications, Santa Barbara Foundation, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, Central Coast Community Energy, Channel Islands Restoration, Learningden Preschool, e-bikery, GreenStart Electrify, Toyota of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Independent, and TV Santa Barbara
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About Santa Barbara’s Earth Day
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Widely acknowledged as the birthplace of Earth Day, Santa Barbara’s involvement began with the devastating 1969 oil spill off its coast. Over the next few years, the environmental movement was born across the country — including the Community Environmental Council (CEC). Led by a group of forward-thinking youth and elders, CEC incorporated in the spring of 1970 and its first act as a new nonprofit was to hold an Earth Day celebration. Read the whole story.
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A Community-Led Vision for a Central Coast Green New Deal
Join the Central Coast Climate Justice Network (CCCJN) for a webinar as we present key findings from the Green New Deal Framework for California’s Central Coast. Together, we’ll spotlight community-driven solutions that advance climate resilience, social equity, and economic transformation throughout our region.
Two Opportunities to Participate:
Daytime Session
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Register: gnd.cccjn.org/day
Bilingual Evening Session
*Spanish & Mixteco interpretation available*
Thursday, April 24, 2025
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Register: gnd.cccjn.org/eve
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Regenerative Agriculture: Building Soil Health & Climate Resilience
Friday, April 18, 2025
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
CEC’s Environmental Hub
1219 State St., Santa Barbara
Join us for an engaging discussion and panel featuring experts in the field of regenerative agriculture on California’s Central Coast. This event will explore how regenerative practices—such as cover cropping, composting, agroforestry, and holistic grazing—are transforming agriculture to enhance soil health, boost biodiversity, and increase climate resilience. Whether you’re a farmer, land steward, policymaker, or simply curious about sustainable food systems, this is your chance to learn from leading voices in the movement. Connect with fellow community members, gain valuable insights, and enjoy locally sourced food and drinks. Join us for an evening of education, networking, and inspiration as we discuss practical solutions for a more sustainable agricultural future! This event is co-hosted by the Community Environmental Council and Orella Ranch/Gaviota Givings. Learn more and register.
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CEC is offering in-person and virtual help to apply for EV savings
April – August, 2025 (next session is April 30)
See full list of events
For a limited time, the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) is helping income-eligible Californians save big on an EV lease or purchase, including:
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up to $12,000 to scrap and replace your vehicle with an electric vehicle;
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up to $7,500 for clean mobility options when scrap your vehicle; and
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up to $2,000 for in-home charging equipment or a charge card to access public charging stations.
CEC is offering FREE bilingual in-person and virtual DCAP application assistance sessions. During the sessions, CEC associates will provide one-on-one support to help you complete your application. Fill out this form to see if you qualify and sign up for one of our in-person or virtual application assistance events. Our team will review your response and send you a list of required documents for your application if you qualify.
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May Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Friday, May 2, 2025 (AND every first Friday in 2025)
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
CEC’s Environmental Hub
1219 State St., Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends. We aim to create a space where individuals can learn about regional climate change issues, take collective action, and collaborate to protect our planet. These monthly gatherings will facilitate inspired grassroots action to combat climate change in quantifiable ways. May’s meeting will feature information about planned events for the 10th anniversary of Refugio Oil Spill and a MOVE Santa Barbara County presentation about CycleMAYnia events. Learn more and register.
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Turtle Walker Film Screening
Friday, May 2, 2025
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
CEC’s Environmental Hub
1219 State St., Santa Barbara
Join us for a screening of the extraordinary film, Turtle Walker. the late 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an epic journey along India’s coastline and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he uncovered the vital nesting beaches of sea turtles. During his death-defying quest, he unravels mysteries surrounding these enigmatic ocean creatures – and sets out to save them from extinction. After a devastating tsunami strikes in 2004, Bhaskar grapples with a pressing question: What happens to sea turtles when their nesting beaches disappear? Introduction by director Taira Malaney. Learn more and register.
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How To Live Simply and Sustainably with Robin Greenfield
Sunday, May 4, 2025
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
CEC’s Environmental Hub
1219 State St., Santa Barbara
Join truth seeker, activist, and social reformer Robin Greenfield as he shares reflections from his radical experiment living in Los Angeles with no money and only a few borrowed items. Now three months into his non-ownership journey, Robin is going on tour, inviting us to join him in questioning consumer culture, reconnecting with the Earth, and exploring more intentional ways of living. Co-hosted by CEC, this event offers a rare opportunity to engage with one of today’s boldest voices in sustainability and hear about his immersive experience firsthand. Learn more and register.
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AVAILABLE NOW
Newly Renovated Open-Plan Office Suite in CEC’s Environmental Hub
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Located at 1219 State Street in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, this prime location 1,850-square-foot unfurnished second-floor office features a dedicated entrance from State Street, state-of-the-art green building features, private kitchen and restroom facilities, adjacent city lot with ample parking, and discounted event and meeting space. Second floor windows offer views of the iconic Granada Theater and 1200 block of State Street’s historic ARTS District. See photos of the space. Non-profit tenant preferred. Competitive rates.
To learn more and view the space, contact:
The Miramar Group
Geoffrey Carter
geoffrey@miramarsb.com
(805) 233-7988
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Support Critical Work Like This
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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.
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Learn more about how you can invest in CEC’s work to accelerate regional climate solutions at cecsb.org/donate.
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