Love Our Earth Festival returns on April 13

The 3rd annual Love Our Earth Festival invites Peninsula residents of all ages to learn how to live sustainably and do their part to fight climate change. The festival will take place Saturday, April 13, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Bloomhouse, a community-gathering spot at 2555 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto. Admission is free, and organizers ask attendees to register through Eventbrite.

The festival theme, Go Electric to Build Healthy and Resilient Communities, emphasizes that electrifying homes and vehicles is one of the highest-impact behavior changes residents can make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the Peninsula (where approximately 41% of emissions come from methane gas) and create a livable, equitable future for everyone in our communities.

“The Love Our Earth Festival is an example of the neighborly collaboration that we need to take effective climate action. Menlo Park is excited to partner with the City of East Palo Alto, Acterra, Menlo Spark, Peninsula Clean Energy, Stanford, Sutter Health and 350 Silicon Valley to raise awareness about resiliency, promote the benefits of an all-electric life for everyone, and enjoy some plant-based foods,” said Menlo Park Mayor Cecilia Taylor.

The Love Our Earth Festival will include several different zones, in which attendees can ask questions and learn about different ways to take action:

Home Electrification Showcase: Attendees can find out how to switch to clean, safer, heat pump water and home heaters, electric clothes dryers and induction stoves, as well as learn about stackable rebates and incentives to convert to electric appliances now.

Ask an Expert Booth: Area residents can ask specific questions—about electrifying a home, upgrading an electrical panel and installing solar and battery storage—of people who have completed the work already.

Clean Vehicle Expo: In one place, attendees can browse dozens of new and used EVs, electric motorcycles, e-bikes and manual bikes and learn details about performance, price and stackable rebates available today.

Resilient Communities: Residents can learn from experts who work to prepare individuals and towns for increased air pollution, more intense heat and wildfires, mega droughts, life-threatening storms and floods and other dangerous consequences of climate change.

Plant-based Market: Everyone can try some healthy and nutritious, plant-based lunch and snack items, and watch an induction-cooking demonstration by a professional chef.

Engaging Activities for Everyone: Attendees will enjoy encounters with the Lizard Lady’s live reptiles, story times, live music and performances, crafts using beautiful natural materials, art displays by local students and sharing what one loves about our planet.

Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike and take public transportation to the event. In addition, two all-electric shuttles will transport attendees to the Festival. The Menlo Park City School District all-electric school bus shuttle will make stops at the Menlo Park Main Library, Belle Haven Branch Library and East Palo Alto Library.

The 2024 Love Our Earth Festival is produced by the cities of Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, Peninsula Clean Energy, 350 Silicon Valley’s Menlo Park Climate Team, Acterra, Menlo Spark, Sutter Health, Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service and Office of External Relations, and VinFast Auto.

Photos of 2023 Love Our Earth Festival by Rachel Podlishevsky/ProBono Photos