52 years of Earth Day in Santa Barbara, CA

Langhorne Group | 4/22/2022

Let's all be part of the solution!

On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day celebration happened in Santa Barbara. The event was held in response to a massive oil spill off the city's coast just a few weeks earlier. An estimated 3 million gallons of oil had leaked into the ocean for several days, killing wildlife and fouling beaches. The spill brought to light the growing pollution problem, spurring locals to action. The first Earth Day was a success, and it helped launch the modern environmental movement. Today, Santa Barbara remains at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and the city continues to celebrate Earth Day each year.

Today is Earth Day, and Santa Barbara is gearing up for a Community Environmental Council's 2022 Earth Day Celebration at the historic Arlington Theatre on Saturday, April 23! There will be events and activities happening all over town, so save the date and get ready to have some fun. Keep reading to find out how you can get involved!

The goal of the holiday is to promote environmental awareness and action. One of the highlights is the Green Car Show, which features electric vehicles, hybrid cars, and other eco-friendly transportation options. Southern California is known for its car culture, and at this event, visitors can get a free ride or even a driving experience. It is a great way to learn about the latest advances in green transportation and have some fun. Taking part in this kind of meaningful event is a great way to learn about environmental issues and what local businesses are doing to help the Earth. A chance to meet and speak with public officials one-on-one and visit with many local non-profits. Aside from this, there will be more activities for people of all ages such as art contests and film shows. And Of course, no festival would be complete without music that will surely get you moving and groove to the beat of our Planet!

Celebrate this Earth Day by leaving your car at home and taking advantage of Santa Barbara's walkable streets and public transit options. Walking and biking are great ways to get some exercise while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery. If you need to travel further, Santa Barbara's bus system offers several routes covering the entire city. An electric shuttle is an excellent option for exploring the downtown area, and the coastal express takes riders all along the coast. Amtrak provides service to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles and San Francisco for longer trips. So this Earth Day, do your part to reduce your carbon footprint by choosing to go car-free.


Here are all the details on what's in store for this festival.

Festival Highlights

  •  Green Car Show

  •  Sponsor / Partner info tables

  •  Climate Summit

  •  Art Contests (mural and poetry)

  •  Secondhand Fashion Show

  •  Environmental Film Shorts

  •  Environmental Hero Award


Schedule

COME BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

When

  • 10 am - 5 pm is a FREE event

  • 7:30 pm is a ticketed concert

Community Environmental Council's one-day event on April 23 will celebrate climate leaders throughout the community.

Where

  • The Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara, CA

  • Programming on the Arlington Stage from 10 am to 5 pm, display tables with climate-focused action in front of the theater (outdoors), and Green Car Show in the parking lot behind the theater.

  • Photo ID and vaccine card are required to enter the theater. Rapid test results are also accepted (rapid tests are available at the entrance).

  • Bring your reusable bottle! We will have water stations at the event.

What

  • 10:00 am - Emcee Eric Cardenas, CEO of LOACOM welcomes you. Opening remarks by Community Environmental Council CEO Sigrid Wright.

  • 10:15 a.m. - Chumash Blessing by Art Cisneros

  • 10:45 am - Community Environmental Council's Reverse, Repair, Protect mission presented by CEC Policy Director Michael Chiacos

  • 11:45 am - Short films from SBC Food Action Network, Wildling Museum, NOAA, and The Sea League/Los Padres Forest Watch

  • 12:45 pm - Eat Less Water Challenge presented by Florencia Ramirez

  • 1:00 pm - Climate and Culture: Wildling Museum Poetry Contest Winners, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Student Art Show Winners, Environmental Alliance of Santa Barbara County Museums, and reveal of 2nd Annual Earth Day Mural

  • 2:00 pm - Recycled Fashion Show featuring secondhand clothing, organized by UCSB students

  • 2:30 pm - Environmental Hero Awards Ceremony

  • 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Annual Climate Leadership Summit

  • 10:00 am to 5 pm - Green Car and E-bike Show located behind the theater

  • 10:00 am to 5 pm - Display tables in front of the theatre featuring ways to get involved

  • 7:30 pm - Evening concert featuring local favorites Jackson Gillies Trio, Alastair Greene, No Simple Highway, and Lois Mahalia (separate, ticketed event. BUY TICKETS HERE.)

*For more info about the event, visit www.sbearthday.org

Whether you're a local or just visiting for the day, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Let's all be part of the solution, invest in our Planet!

Sofie Langhorne