CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Celebration is Back!
Join us for a full day of events at the Arlington Theatre on Saturday, April 23
The FREE daytime event will take place in and around downtown Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A separate ticketed evening concert will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Check out the highlights below and find full details for the event here.
Short films from the SBC Food Action Network, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Wildling Museum
Secondhand fashion show in partnership with UCSB students, Buffalo Exchange Ventura, The Closet Trading Company, and VanJane LA
CEC’s Environmental Hero Award Ceremony
CEC’s Annual Climate Leadership Summit, from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
In-person networking with 28 organizations and businesses offering action on climate
Green Car Show in the parking lot behind the Theatre
Evening concert featuring local favorites Jackson Gillies, Alastair Greene, and No Simple Highway, along with some exciting special guests. Continuing our celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the concert’s theme is “1972” and performances will feature songs from that year. The concert will be a separate, ticketed event.
Register Now
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions on large public events, photo ID, and proof of vaccination will be required for Theatre entry and the event will adhere to the most up-to-date County Public Health COVID-19 guidelines.
Lead-up & Additional Events:
2nd Annual Climate-Themed Mural Open Call
Submission deadline is March 11
The winning muralist will install their artwork near the Earth Day 2021 mural on the upper deck of the Paseo Nuevo parking lot. Organized by Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, CEC, and Paseo Nuevo. Learn more.
“Climate Change: Our Impact” Poetry Competition, Youth & Adult Categories
Submission deadline is March 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Poetry entries will be judged by poets Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, former Santa Barbara Laureate (2015-2017) and Chryss Yost, former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate (2013-2015). The top three winners in both categories will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to share their poems on stage at the April 23 event. Organized by the Wildling Museum of Art & Nature. Learn more.
Impact: Climate Change & the Urgency of Now
April – September
Eleven museums, a zoo, and a botanic garden present first-of-its-kind collaboration with exhibits, events, and programs. Presented by the Environmental Alliance of Santa Barbara County Museums. Learn more.
19th Annual “What the Channel Means to Me” Student Art Show
The contest is open to high school students from Carpinteria to Goleta and serves to highlight our region’s natural beauty while celebrating student creativity and artistic skills. Presented by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Details coming soon.
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 Community Environmental Council (CEC). Led by a group of forward-thinking youth and elders, CEC incorporated in the spring of 1970 and its first act as a new nonprofit was to hold an Earth Day celebration – a one block long teach-in between State St. and Chapala St. along Anapamu. Around the country, 20 million concerned citizens attended similar events. We recognize that “every day is earth day” and that special events like this are a way to bring diverse voices from our community together as a reminder to tread lightly on the planet.
Earth Day 2022 will highlight the critical role CEC has played across the region for more than 50 years, shining a light on the 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, which will feature 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 act as the program’s emcee and co-facilitate the Climate Leadership Summit with Sigrid Wright, CEO of CEC.