View the Santa Barbara Independent insert HERE to learn more about the highlights for the Earth Day Festival 2008!

At a time when climate change and other energy-related concerns have captured national attention, CEC presented the South Coast Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 20 at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens.

2008's theme - "Reduce Your Eco-Footprint" - emphasized personal ways to reduce your impacts on the planet along with displays of renewable energy technologies, conservation techniques, and advanced-fueled vehicles. Over 600 people took CEC's Get Energized pledge at the Earth Day Festival, pledging to reduce their carbon emissions and save money. Visit www.GetEnergized.org to take th epledge yourself!

All the Earth Day features you've grown to love were back

The best of the fest returned again in 2008, from a fun and educational children's activity area to live music from the solar-powered stage. Through our expanded features, attendees learned about how to reduce their eco-footprint through a variety of displays and activities, including:

Green Car Show and Advanced Transportation Marketplace
Featuring the latest technologies in hybrid and advanced-fuel vehicles. The Advanced Transportation Marketplace encourages thinking 'beyond the car' by looking at the greater carbon footprint of the goods and services.

Energy Village
Featuring displays from solar energy and wind turbine installers, green architects and builders, and landscapers who are committed to using fewer fossil fuels.

Environmental Entrepreneurs and Innovators
New and upcoming technologies through presentations at the Green2Gold booth.

Live Music and Entertainment on the Solar-powered Stage
CEC's Earth Day Festival promises a crowd-pleasing line-up each year on the stage that is "off the grid". Powered by REC Solar.

Free Bicycle Check-ups
One way to come to Earth Day 'car free' is to ride your bike! There's always plenty of bike parking and free check-ups.

Children's Area
Featuring hands-on activities that explore climate change through the eyes of a polar bear and its reliance on the Arctic ice as a hunting ground, plus loads of fun and educational exhibits for the whole family.

Do Your Part On Earth Day - Ride Free on MTD
All day on Sunday, April 20, every Santa Barbara MTD bus and electric shuttle was FREE, anywhere to anywhere. Click here for more information.

If you have questions or you'd like to get involved with the South Coast Earth Day Festival, please contact us at sfeldman@cecmail.org, or call (805) 963-0583 x116.