By TR Robertson
Earth Day celebrations will soon take place across the nation and in many countries around the world. You can learn more about how you can help locally by attending the Earth Day events held at Vista’s Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. The official designated day for Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22th, since 1970. Vista’s Alta Vista Botanical Gardens Earth Day will be Saturday, April 18, 2026. This environmental awareness day was inspired by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. Nelson was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who organized national demonstrations to raise awareness about environmental issues, using the inspiration of campus teach-ins about the war in Vietnam that swept the nation in the 1960’s. Rallies took place across the country for Earth Day using teach-ins on college campuses. Nelson recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize these teach-ins. He put together a staff of 85 to promote events that brought together thousands of colleges and universities inspiring over 20 million Americans. Many of the teach-ins organized protests against the deterioration of the environment involving a number of businesses, industries, and environmental issues.
These protests would lead to the passage of the National Environmental Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Clean Air Act of 1970. Two years later Congress would pass the Clean Water Act. The next year the Endangered Species Acts was passed. By 1990 Denis Hayes organized a Global Earth Day mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries. In 1992 the UN Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro was held. Today Earth Day is recognized as the largest secular observance in the world involving more than a billion people in 193 countries.
The Earth Day web site, www.earthday.org, highlights a plethora of events, activities and goals supported by the organization. Some of the various topics you can go to and discover ways you can help the environment include the Canopy Project, Sustainable Fashion, Climate Literacy, Conservation and Restoration, End Plastic Pollution, Food & Environment and joining the Earth Day Volunteer Corps. The organization has aided in planting 100’s of millions of trees, raising over $7 billion for green school grants and getting over 36 million people to take part in a variety of clean-up events around the nation.
Vista’s Alta Vista Botanical Gardens will sponsor Earth Day Events at the Garden once again celebrating their Earth Day Festival this year on April 18, 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm. This fun family day is a FREE event, and all are invited to enjoy kids’ activities, plants and food for sale, vendor booths and discover the beautiful Gardens. Vendor applications are found on their website. Sponsors this year are Amigos de Vista Lions Club, City of Vista, Women’s Club of Vista, Progressive Growers, and United Plant Growers.
Some of the events that will be held include music by Vic Moraga in the Children’s Garden, Food provided by Amigos de Vista Lions Club, Arbor Day Tree planting at the Bocce courts, music in the Ceremonial Gardens, Door prizes and lots of activities. There will be an Amplified Earth event with 3 teen bands playing from 1-3:00 in the Ceremonial Gardens. Some of the vendors at Earth Day include Black Hat Bread, Snow Cone Popup, Vista Irrigation District, City of Vista, Encina Wastewater, I Love a Clean San Diego, Vista Garden Club, Vista Silver Star Foundation, Farm Fresh to You, West Coast Arborists, Children’s Choice Academy, United Plant Growers, Progressive Growers, Women’s Club of Vista and many more.
The vendor application for the Earth Day Festival is now available on the altavistabotanicalgardens.org website under Events/Earth Day Festival, applications are due April 1st. We will welcome your crafts, arts, jewelry, sweets, and business sales booths. Questions? Contact: farmerjonesavbg@gmail.com or info@altavistabotanicalgardens.org – 760-945-3954
EARTH DAY FESTIVAL
at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens
April 18, 2026
ALL DAY
FOOD available for purchase – courtesy Amigos de Vista Lions
PLANT SALE and Garden Advice from GrowGetters
GARDEN SHOP is Open – come check out our crafts and snacks!
VENDOR BOOTHS for Sweets, Shopping, and Conversation
10am – 1:30pm
DOOR PRIZES – sign up with email + phone for prizes
Children’s Garden – winners 1:30 pm at Tailspin Kite Plaza – 10am – 2pm
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES IN THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN
• * Macaroni necklaces
• * Earth Day ROCKS!
• * Clouds and Rainbows
• * Bubble baskets
• * Origami Butterflies
• * Worms
• * Trash Sorting
11am – 1:30pm
MUSIC – song and guitar with Vic Moraga
Children’s Garden, Tailspin Kite Plaza – 1:30pm
Announce Door Prize winners for gift cards and plants
Children’s Garden, Tailspin Kite Plaza
3pm EARTH DAY FESTIVAL CLOSES
EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY!
