The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival will fill Alameda Park, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, April 26 and 1 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, April 27.

Now in its 55th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and 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 serves as a beacon for environmental advocacy and education.

“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 director of Climate Education and Leadership.

“This is not only a point of pride for our community but a constant reminder of the responsibility we carry in leading environmental stewardship and advocacy,” King said.

“The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is honored to continue this tradition, engaging with our community and beyond to foster a deeper connection with our environment and drive meaningful action towards a sustainable future,” she said.
 
This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s global theme of Our Power, Our Planet. The theme invites everyone to unite behind renewable energy and work together to triple the global generation of renewable energy by 2030.

To further amplify the critical initiative, CEC has named Leah Stokes as the recipient of its 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Environmental Hero Award.

Stokes is a professor at UCSB focused on energy, climate, and environmental politics. An author of several books, 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 an author of the Inflation Reduction Act, widely recognized as the most influential piece of climate legislation ever enacted, CEC said.
 
The first Earth Day Environmental Hero Pioneer Award will be presented posthumously to Charlie Eckberg. Eckberg, who helped bring the Earth Day Festival back to Santa Barbara in the early 1990s, was an influential environmentalist throughout his life.
 
“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,” CEC said.

The Environmental Hero Awards ceremony will be noon-1 p.m. Saturday, April 26 on the Main Stage at Alameda Park. Stokes will be onstage to accept the award, along with members of Eckberg’s family. KEYT anchor Tracy Lehr will serve as emcee.
 
Highlights of the 2025 festival include the Green Car show featuring free Ride & Drive experiences, some 200 eco-friendly exhibitors, Beer & Wine Garden, Kids Zone, live music, and plant-forward Food Court.
 
“It’s truly an honor to be able 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,” he said. “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.”
 
For updates on CEC’s Earth Day, visit www.SBEarthDay.org.

To get involved check out the following: 
• Exhibit: Event registration for vendors is open; for details, visit SBEarthDay.org/exhibit.
• Sponsor: Some 60 eco-friendly businesses and organizations sponsor the festival each year. Learn how to support the festival at SBEarthDay.org/sponsor.
• Follow on social media for updates.
 
Earth Day sponsors and partners include city of Santa Barbara, MarBorg Industries, 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.

CEC advances rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis, including ambitious zero carbon goals, drawdown of excess carbon, and protection against the impacts of climate change. Learn more about the work of CEC at CECSB.org/impact, or visit CECSB.org

With over 30 years’ experience in event management, Mike Lazaro and the CarpEvents team have been producing events from concept to completion across the country and in Santa Barbara County. For more, visit https://www.carpinteriaevents.com/.