Community Environmental Council Announces 2020 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival—the 50th Anniversary of “Earth Day”

Friday Night Concert with Beer & Wine Garden and Special 50th Anniversary Party Celebrate a Half Century of CEC’s Environmental Action

The 2020 festival – which is free to attend – celebrates the 50th anniversary of the creation of “Earth Day,” a designation inspired by Santa Barbara’s environmental activism in response to the 1969 oil spill. The festival also marks the 50th anniversary of host organization CEC. Led by a group of forward-thinking 20-somethings, CEC incorporated in the spring of 1970 and its first act as a new nonprofit was to hold an Earth Day celebration and teach-in. Around the country, 20 million concerned citizens attended similar events.

“Fifty years ago, our region faced an unprecedented environmental disaster, echoed today by the even larger impacts of the climate crisis,” stated Kathi King, CEC’s Director of Outreach and Education who directs the festival. “This year’s event aims to harness the energy of that first Earth Day, rallying activists of all ages and empowering the community to take rapid action on the climate emergency.”

This beloved festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country – and is believed to be one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Santa Barbara’s environmental reputation attracts national media, celebrity attention, and local crowds; the 2019 festival drew over 30,000 visitors.

Santa Barbara Earth Day will showcase over 200 eco-friendly companies and organizations, providing a wide variety of opportunities for taking climate action.

At our website, SBEarthDay.org, there are already several ways to get involved:

• Exhibit: Event registration for vendors is now open, with early bird pricingthrough Friday, March 20 at SBEarthDay.org/exhibit
• Sponsor: Over 130 eco-friendly businesses and organizations sponsor the festival each year. Learn how you can support the festival while receiving wide recognition at SBEarthDay.org/sponsor.
• Nominate: CEC is partnering with Explore Ecology to present their 4th Annual Environmental Stewardship Awards, which will be presented on Saturday, April 18. Community members are invited to nominate a deserving teacher, class, club, or student for their efforts to create a sustainable world. Nominations can be made now through April 1 at SBEarthDay.org/nominate or ExploreEcology.org.

Leading up to and during the festival, CEC and its partners are hosting many “Earth Month” events, including:

• A free film screening of Jane about the life of Jane Goodall, on Thursday, February 27 at Campbell Hall, UCSB, 7:30 p.m. This is part of the UCSB Arts & Lectures Forces of Nature series, of which CEC is a sponsor. More info >
• Bill McKibben – Our Changing Climate on Saturday, February 29 at Campbell Hall, UCSB, 7:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event and is almost sold out. This is part of the UCSB Arts & Lectures Forces of Nature series, of which CEC is a sponsor. More info >
• Lama Dog Taproom + Bottle Shop have selected the CEC as the charity recipient of their March/April Charity Tap donation, in honor of Earth Day! Lama Dog’s Charity Tap donates 10% of all sales from Tap #15 over a two month period.
• David Wallace-Wells – Surviving the World on Thursday, March 5 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street, 7:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event and part of the UCSB Arts & Lectures Forces of Nature series, of which CEC is a sponsor. More info >
• Anthropocene Film Screening on Tuesday, March 10 at the UCSB Pollock Theater, 7:30 p.m. This is a free event and part of the UCSB Arts & Lectures Forces of Nature series, of which CEC is a sponsor. More info >
• The Nature Track Film Festival, March 20-22 in Los Olivos. Featuring 50 films from 20 countries. CEC is a promotional partner. More at naturetrackfilmfestival.org.
• Santa Maria Open Streets on March 29. Learn more at sbopenstreets.org.
• Draughtsmen Aleworks Eco Trivia Night on Tuesday, April 7, 53 Santa Felicia Drive, Goleta at 6 p.m.
• Sustainable Future Eco Challenge Santa Barbara County residents will have the opportunity to participate in a worldwide Earth month eco-challenge, April 1-22, 2020 with suggested actions and measured impact around water conservation, food waste reduction, elimination of single-use plastics, smart transportation solutions, and energy efficiency. This challenge will be tracked through a mobile-friendly platform by Portland-based ecochallenge.org and Santa Barbara-based sustainablefuture.org.
• A League of Women Voters and CEC forum focused on “Our Climate Emergency: Taking Action Now!” on Wednesday April 15 at the Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Library, 6 p.m. CEC’s CEO Sigrid Wright is the moderator and featured speaker.
• A FREE opening evening concert at Alameda Park on Friday, April 17 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. with Beer & Wine Garden.
• A 50th anniversary party in the Alameda Park Gazebo on Friday, April 17 from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Tickets ($50) will go on sale soon and include signature drinks, appetizers and more.

Festival highlights will include:

• The US Postal Service “Earth Day” stamp regional unveiling ceremony. The USPS will also host a booth to distribute postcards featuring this new commemorative stamp.
• Two full days of music on the Main Stage, organized by New Noise Music Foundation, as well as music and speakers on three mini stages.
• The annual Green Car Show – featuring the largest collection of hybrid and electric vehicles in Southern California. Talk with owners, take a test drive and see new and exciting cars up close.
• The third annual Electric Bike test ride area allows you to take one of the fastest-selling mobility options on the market today for a spin.
• The Public Square zone that features local non-profits, educational groups and elected officials.
• A free Bike Valet, managed by SB Bike, with complimentary bike tune-ups and secure all-day parking. (626 bikes were valeted and another 400 self-parked in 2019)
• A Homegrown Roots zone that connects attendees with local farmers, food and beverage artisans, and organizations working to promote sustainable food systems in the Central Coast. This year’s theme is “Reclaim Your Food System.”
• An Eco Marketplace featuring a NEW Eco Voices stage for speakers and music, plus a wide variety of eco-friendly products, services and yummy samples.
• A Plant-Focused Food Court with local, sustainable, and organic menus.
• A Beer & Wine Garden, located in the middle of the festival near the Main Stage, with beer on tap from Firestone Brewery and local wines. We are debuting the ‘rCup’ rental system, offering reusable cups to reduce waste.
• A Kids Corner organized by LearningDen Preschool and Explore Ecology, with arts & crafts, musical performances, storytelling, face painting, and eco-activities, along with a Family Passport that promotes kid-friendly activities throughout the park.
• A Great Outdoors zone where attendees can take part in fitness activities like the UCSB Adventure Tower climbing wall and discover regional groups advocating healthy, eco-friendly lifestyles.
• A Zero Waste zone led by Green Project Consultants where the public can participate in efforts to separate waste, compost, and recycling – and earn drink tickets in the process! (89% of all waste was recycled or composted in 2019)
• Celebrity and public official appearances. Recent festivals have included stage appearances by singer Kenny Loggins, actor/activist Jeff Bridges, “Drawdown” author Paul Hawken, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and Congressman Salud Carbajal. Past honorees include activist and CNN host Van Jones, scientist and TV host Bill Nye, film director James Cameron, actress Daryl Hannah, ocean activist Marcus Erikson, author Suzy Cameron and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk – all of whom were awarded CEC’s annual Environmental Hero Award.

CEC is partnering with Carp Events, Cultivate Events, LoaTree, Lucidity, New Noise Music Foundation, Oniracom, Pharos Creative, WA Event Management, and Write Kinda Girl to produce the festival.

About CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day

Widely acknowledged as the birthplace of Earth Day, Santa Barbara’s involvement began with the devastating 1969 oil spill off its coast. This led a local group of concerned citizens to begin discussing a different way of looking at environmental systems. During that time, Senator Gaylord Nelson visited Santa Barbara to view the oil spill damage. When he returned to Washington, D.C., he introduced a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth. Over the next few years, the environmental movement was born across the country – including CEC. In the spring of 1970, CEC incorporated and, in its initial act as a new non-profit, hosted Santa Barbara Earth Day, one of the first celebrations of its kind in the country. We recognize that ‘every day is earth day’ and that special events like this are a way to bring our community together as a reminder to always tread lightly on the planet.

For up-to-the-minute information on CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival:

• Find Santa Barbara Earth Day on the web at SBEarthDay.org
• Like “Santa Barbara Earth Day” on Facebook.com/SBEarthDay
• Follow the event on Twitter @SBEarthday and on Instagram @SB_EarthDay
• Call CEC at 805-963-0583 Ext. 112 or email earthday@cecmail.org

About the Community Environmental Council (CEC)

Since 1970, CEC has incubated and innovated real life solutions that directly impact climate change. Our programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction of single-use plastic. We educate and activate the community by producing events like the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival. Find CEC on the web at www.CECSB.org and on Facebook.com/CECSB and Twitter.com/CECSB.
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