Earth Day Festivities Arriving Early in Poway

Earth Day, usually celebrated April 20 on most of the planet, arrives in Poway 12 days early with an open-air street party Sunday.

Poway’s official second annual Earth Day Festival, sponsored by the Poway Chamber of Commerce, will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Midland Road and will feature more than 150 booths, including 10 food booths to keep the crowds full of good fare and thirst-free.

Last year’s event attracted 15,000 visitors and 140 booths, so the chamber is seeing a bit of growth in the popular gathering, said Luanne Hulsizer, chamber president and CEO.

She said she and her organizing team are expecting hundreds of visitors from well beyond the city limits of Poway, but noted that the emphasis is on local businesses and activities.

“It’s not like some of the other street fairs in that it is really focused on the community,” she said. “It gives a chance to showcase our local businesses and increases their visibility.”

So, what can attendees expect, and what’s different?

So far, multiple solar panel vendors have signed up to participate, which will give homeowners a chance to shop and compare prices on solar panel installations.

It’s all in keeping with the green theme that was established last year when the chamber merged the Spring Day festival with a green theme, said Hulsizer.

“What’s great about this event, which is a bragging point for Poway,” said Hulsizer, “is that the community has survived some of the economic challenges of the past two years, so many of our homeowners are still able to spend on home improvement projects.

“So, if anyone is shopping for a solar system, they should be able to get lots of competitive bids,” she added.

Other booths will be selling a variety of green products.

She said the San Diego Zoo plans an educational exhibit about protecting wild life, while SDG&E will offer residents plenty of information about energy conservation, as well as the utility’s role in a promoting a greener society.

Toyota of Poway will bring in a couple of hybrid vehicles for display.

The area for kids—designed to make children aware of the environment—will be fun as well as educational, Hulsizer said.

The chamber looked for variety when picking vendors for the food court, Hulsizer said, and limited the number to about 10 to ensure that the vendors generate sales and profits.

She said one vendor told her that he attended a much larger street festival in North County but didn’t make as much as money as he does participating in the Poway street fair events.

One of the booths will feature Egyptian fare, while another will feature Jamaican cuisine with a vegetarian twist. Other vendors will be selling smoothies, deep-fried candy bars, and teas and coffees.

“We try to have variety,” she said, noting that a number of Poway mainstream restaurants will also participate to balance out the offerings.

Two bands will perform, and the San Diego Zoo's Dr. Zoolittle will appear at 11 a.m., according to the chamber’s website.

The Earth Day event is one of two big outdoor events sponsored by the chamber, the other being Poway Days, held in September.

Hulsizer said the two outdoor events, plus the Business Expo held at Barona Resort & Casino, generate close to half of the chamber’s annual operating budget.

“Not many people are aware, but membership dues only account for 51 percent of our annual operating budget,” she said. “The rest comes from our special events.”

The extra income helps the chamber provide outreach to the community about Poway’s businesses and what they offer local residents.

More information about the Earth Day Festival can be found at poway.com.