­For the first time since 2019, Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting Santa Barbara Earth Day in person, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 23.

The free one-day event, in and around the Arlington Theatre, will feature an array of activities to inspire the community support needed to tackle climate challenges. An evening concert, a separate ticketed event, begnins at 7 p.m. For details, visit SBEarthDay.org.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions on large public events, proof of vaccination will be required for entry, and the event will adhere to the most current county Public Health COVID-19 guidelines.

Santa Barbara Earth Day 2022 includes attractions that have been a mainstay of the event for decades: a Green Car Show, 30 interactive climate-action booths, inspirational speakers, and art contests.

The event will highlight the role CEC has played across the region for more than 50 years, spotlighting system changes, policy implementation and individual action needed to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

Key to this is the annual Climate Leadership Summit, 3-5 p.m., which will focus on climate actions that organizations and individuals are undertaking throughout the region, with an emphasis on nurturing strategies that leverage intergenerational connections.

Eric Cardenas, CEO of LOACOM, will emcee the program and co-facilitate the Climate Leadership Summit with CEC CEO Sigrid Wright.

“In the two years since we were able to last gather in person for our annual Earth Day festival, the climate crisis has accelerated,” Wright said. “The Central Coast community has endured significant environmental challenges, and the need to collaborate and recommit to finding a better way forward is urgent.

“By designing a Climate Leadership Summit within the festival, we’re providing a platform for climate activists and social change agents to accelerate progress.”

“We are thrilled to provide a venue where we can come together in person and celebrate amazing artists, youth activists and community efforts. This kind of cross-pollination is essential for collective action,” said Kathi King, Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival director.

The Arlington stage will have programming throughout the day beginning at 10 a.m. with a Chumash blessing. Programming highlights include: 

Second hand-fashion show in partnership with Buffalo Exchange Ventura, The Closet Trading Company, and VanJane LA.
Short films from the SBC Food Action Network, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Wildling Museum.
CEC Environmental Hero Award Ceremony.
CEC Annual Climate Leadership Summit.
Tables in the Arlington breezeway from organizations and businesses offering action on climate.
Green Car Show in parking lot behind the theater.

To cap the day, Carp Events is organizing an evening concert featuring local performers Alastair Greene, Jackson Gillies and No Simple Highway, along with special guests. Continuing the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the concert’s theme is 1972, and performances will feature songs from that year.

Additional cultural events include:

» 2nd Annual Climate-Themed Mural Open Call, organized by Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, CEC, and Paseo Nuevo. The winning muralist will install their art near the 2021 mural on the upper deck of the Paseo Nuevo parking lot. Applications accepted through March 11. Details at www.mcasantabarbara.org/earth-day-mural.

» Climate Change: Our Impact poetry competition with youth and adult categories, organized by the Wildling Museum of Art & Nature. Entries will be judged by former Santa Barbara Poet Laureates Sojourner Kincaid Rolle and Chryss Yost.

Top three winners in both categories will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to share their poems on stage at the April 23 event. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. March 21. Details at https://wildlingmuseum.org/news/2022-earth-day-poetry-competition.

» Environmental Alliance of Santa Barbara County Museums will present Impact: Climate Change & the Urgency of Now. Eleven museums, a zoo and a botanic garden present a collaboration with exhibits, events and programs from April to September. Details at https://www.sbmuseumsalliance.org/.

» 19th Annual What the Channel Means to Me Student Art Show, hosted by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Contest is open to high school students from Carpinteria to Goleta and serves to highlight the region’s natural beauty. Details to come at https://www.sbck.org/.

CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day 2022 event sponsors: Advanced Veterinary Specialists, Bye Bye Mattress, Carp Growers, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5), city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County’s One Climate Initiative, KJEE, K-LITE, KTYD, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator.

Also, MarBorg Industries, Matilija Pure Water Systems, Noozhawk, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Santa Barbara Clean Energy, Santa Barbara Independent, Toad & Co., and Water With Life.

CEC’s Earth Day production partners, who contribute their time and expertise to produce the event, include: Carp Events, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5), LOACOM, Oniracom, Pharos Creative, Santa Barbara City College Environmental Studies, The Arlington Theatre, UCSB Environmental Studies, and Write Kinda Girl.

Interactive booths at the event include: Central Coast Climate Justice Network, Environmental Alliance of Santa Barbara County Museums, Environmental Defense Center, Fairview Gardens, League of Women Voters Santa Barbara, SB Bike + COAST, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Santa Barbara County Food Action Network, and Society of Fearless Grandmothers.

For up-to-the-minute information on CEC’s Earth Day 2022, visit SBEarthDay.org.