Photo courtesy of Bill Lewis – Santa Cruz Sand
This Saturday marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day and we’ve rounded up all the ways to celebrate the planet right here in our own backyard.
From volunteer opportunities and festivals to concerts and a chance to be a citizen scientist, it’s pretty easy being green in Santa Cruz.
Here are 13 ways to celebrate Earth Day (and week) in Santa Cruz.
April 18 – 23
Earth Week at the Seymour Center
During Earth Week, anyone who arrives at the Seymour Center via public transportation, bike or foot receives free admission. Learn about marine life, coastal geology, and how scientific research works to conserve the world’s oceans. Enjoy pop-up exhibits, arts and crafts, and a special talk on Sunday by artist/explorer Lily Simonson.
April 21-23
Volunteer Work Weekend for Little Basin
Having recently camped at Little Basin, this sounds like an awesome opportunity. As a thank you for volunteering to help clean, paint, fix, and clear trails, you will receive free camping (cabins included), Saturday morning coffee and snacks, and a group dinner on Saturday. More info available by contacting reservelittlebasin@uccr.org or 831-338-3314.
Saturday April 22
Special Earth Day BioBlitz
When: April 22 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: Free
Get your Earth Day off to an early start with a morning walk along the San Lorenzo River and a chance to be a citizen scientist. Participating in a BioBlitz means you will help make observations and identify organisms in an attempt to record all the living species in this area. Check out this video for an introduction to BioBlitzes and get more info here.
Earth Day Cleanups
Join Save Our Shores for one of Monterey Bay’s largest cleanup efforts from Panther State Beach to Hidden Beach and in between, including the San Lorenzo River in Downtown Santa Cruz. Get more info here.
There will also be habitat restoration and cleanup efforts with the California State Parks Foundation at Lighthouse Field State Beach—plant butterfly friendly native plants—and Seabright State Beach. Get more info here.
March for Science
When: April 22 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: Begins at Santa Cruz City Hall
Santa Cruz joins the March for Science rally starting at Santa Cruz City Hall at 10:00 am with speakers and live music. From there, the march will proceed through Downtown, along the Riverwalk, and over to San Lorenzo Park for the community’s Earth Day Festival.
Earth Day Santa Cruz
When: April 22 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: Free
Come and enjoy a fun environmental celebration for the whole family! Event highlights include activities for kids, live music, sustainable food vendors and a beer garden, a recycled fashion show, electric vehicle showcase, and plenty of green business vendor booths.
Comcast Cares Day at Downtown Boys & Girls Club
When: April 22 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: 543 Center Street
Help clean up and beautify the Boys & Girls Club Downtown with Comcast for Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County. Projects include cleaning up the garden and repairing cabinets, repainting the main room of the Downtown Clubhouse, and adding bark to the front planter areas.
Kids Food Fest
When: April 22 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Charlie Hong Kong
Cost: $5
Get your kids excited about eating healthy! Charlie Hong Kong is partnering with Life Lab for a fun-filled celebration that includes face painting, preparing food, art projects, music, a photo booth, roaming veggies, and prizes. Ticket price includes lunch.
Organic Farm Earth Day
When: April 22 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Crystal Bay Farm @ 40 Zils Rd, Watsonville
Cost: Free
2017 marks 20 years of certified organic farming at Crystal Bay Farm in Watsonville. Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon on the farm, including an earth blessing and drum circle (bring your hand drums and percussion!), plus tunes from Toby Gray of Highway Buddha.
Loch Lomond Broom Bash
When: April 22 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Loch Lomond Recreation Area
Help protect our watershed by removing the invasive and flammable French broom plant from the park. Volunteers will receive a small token of appreciation and it looks to be a wonderful weekend to enjoy some reservoir recreation.
The Elements – Aerial Dinner Theatre Spectacular
When: April 22 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Cost: $65
Celebrate Earth Day with dinner and a show—the first aerial show at the Food Lounge! The evening’s entertainment will take you on a journey through the four elements as you enjoy passed appetizers, dinner, and a raffle.
For the Beauty of the Earth – A Choral Concert
When: April 22 at 8:00 pm and April 23 at 4:00 pm
Where: Calvary Episcopal Church
Cost: In advance—$12 General/Senior, $5 Student; Door—$15 General, $12 Senior, $5 Student
In the spirit of Earth Day, join Ariose Singers, Santa Cruz’s highly regarded chamber choir, for a concert celebrating the wonder and tribulations of life on our planet. Under the direction of new artistic director, Camille Couture, the concert program features Aaron Copland’s The Lark as well as Frostiana, Randall Thompson’s setting of seven Robert Frost poems.
Sunday, April 23
Earth Day/Day of the Child
When: April 23 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Downtown Watsonville Plaza
Cost: Free
Come out and celebrate youth and the environment! There will be 50 organizations and community services joining together at the event, each with booths offering fun activities for kids and info about local resources. There will also be a number of local children and teen musical and dance acts to enjoy on the main stage, affordable food options, raffle prizes, and bounce houses!
For the Beauty of the Earth – A Choral Concert
See description under Saturday.
