Goleta’s Creek Week 2025, celebrated Saturday, Sept. 20-Saturday, Sept. 27, will brim with activities for all ages to connect with, learn about, and care for local waterways.
From art and cleanups to guided tours and restoration projects, following are some ways to participate:
Saturday, Sept. 20
9 a.m.-noon – Coastal Cleanup Day.
Help clean up Ellwood Bluffs and Beach and Haskell’s Beach (hosted by Explore Ecology).
Register and view all sites at exploreecology.org/coastal-cleanup-day.
9 a.m.-noon – San Pedro/Las Vegas Creeks Cleanup
Help the Environmental Defense Center and city of Goleta restore healthy waterways. Meet at Covington Footbridge, 6200 block of Covington Way.
RSVP to btrautwein@environmentaldefensecenter.org
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Beautify Goleta: Free Bulky Item Drop-Off
Safely dispose of unwanted items at Phelps Road between Cannon Green Drive and Pacific Oaks Road. Accepted items include mattresses, box springs, furniture, wood pallets and tires.
Do not bring electronics, hazardous waste, or medications as they will not be accepted.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
4-5:30 p.m. – North San Jose Creek Walking Tour
Meet at southeast corner of Cathedral Oaks Road and North Kellogg Avenue. Learn about the challenges facing creek health and efforts to protect and restore this important waterway.
This year’s tour highlights the county’s Beach Sediment Management and Resilience Tactics (BeachSMART) project.
Reserve a spot by emailing environmentalservices@cityofgoleta.org.
5-6:30 p.m. – From Bluffs to Backyards: Native Plant Walk at Ellwood
Meet at Ellwood Mesa parking lot (across from Ellwood Elementary).
Take a guided walk through Ellwood Mesa to explore the beauty, resilience, and ecological benefits of native plants. Learn how these species support pollinators, conserve water, and strengthen ecosystems – at Ellwood and in your own garden.
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/2kv3mvz4.
Thursday, Sept. 25
9 a.m.-noon – Restoration Planting at Ellwood Monarch Grove.
Meet at Ellwood Mesa Parking area opposite Ellwood Elementary at 8:45 a.m. for a short walk to the planting area.
Join UCSB’s Cheadle Center staff and student team to plant native plants in support of Monarch butterflies.
Wear pants, close-toed shoes, and bring a hat and water. Gloves, tools and plants will be provided. RSVP to ncos@ccber.ucsb.edu.
5:30-7 p.m. – Creek Week Art Contest Reception at Goleta Community Center, 5679 Hollister Ave.
Enjoy the works from local artists of all ages who created art for the 4th Annual Creek Week Art Contest. This year’s theme is Once Upon a Creek: Bringing the Community Together with Art. Artwork on display Sept. 12-Oct. 10.
For a full list of South Coast Creek Week events, visit SBCreekWeek.com.