Join us for the Love our Earth Festival April 22
Published on April 03, 2023
Celebrate the 53rd Anniversary of Earth Day at this year’s Love Our Earth Festival, Saturday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Menlo-Atherton High School. Admission is free.
This is the first-of-its-kind event bringing neighbors in Atherton, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, and Palo Alto together to celebrate Earth Day. Atherton Mayor Bill Widmer envisions this year’s event as “a catalyst for great action,” where community members are invited to “connect, explore climate solutions, and reflect on the progress that we have made so far.”
The event features Acterra’s Plant-based Market with over 20+ vendors offering mouthwatering meals, innovative plant product sampling, and live cooking demonstrations from Anne-Marie Bonneau, the Zero Waste Chef, and Zaida Soriana from Zaida’s Kitchen.
“Being part of this event is important to me because cooking is another way to connect to the Earth by being intentional about what I choose to eat, and teaching others what I know,” shares Chef Zaida. Attendees will enjoy her live demonstration of cooking jackfruit in the style of Oaxacan pulled pork.
This free festival offers many options for attendees to enjoy Earth Day. “Sometimes we can feel so hopeless confronted with the scale of climate change,” shares Menlo Park’s Mayor Jen Wolosin, “the ‘Love Our Earth Festival’ is an inspiring way for all of us to see that together, we can make a difference. Residents of all ages and abilities can learn about amazing work underway and how each of us, in small and big ways, can ‘be the change we wish to see.’”
Participate in various activities, including:
- Clean vehicle showcase: Featuring dozens of models of electric vehicles plus e-bikes, scooters and elliptical street bikes, too!
- Goodwill donation drive: Attendees can drop off unwanted items right at the event.
- “Ask an Expert” booth: Get answers to questions about electrifying your home, going solar, installing greywater systems and more.
- Speaker series: Offered in American Sign Language, English and Spanish, attendees will hear from Senator Josh Becker, Stanford Professors Dr. Rob Jackson and Dr. Rodolfo Dirzo, and more!
- Family activities: Spanish and English story times from the Menlo Park Library, live reptile shows from the Lizard Lady, and maker space and crafts from the Atherton Library
- Exhibitors and vendors: Visit 50+ booths with activities for all ages, resources, giveaways and more!
- Live music and entertainment: Performances from renowned Bay Area musicians, Deborah Levoy and the Cook 'N Fenny Combo and family-friendly movie screenings
- Bicycle fix-it station: Ride your bike to the event and make quick repairs with help from fix-it coaches
This festival is a celebration and invitation for all to participate in the climate movement. Fatima Khan, the City of East Palo Alto’s Climate Action Plan Fellow, encourages young community members to attend as “youth have a strong history of environmental advocacy on the peninsula,” and this festival provides a platform for them to “have a voice in the future they will inherit.”
For more information, register online at the event page.