Santa Monica celebrates Sustainable September 2025!

August 26, 2025 1:54 PM
by Shannon Parry

*Updated Sept. 19, 2025*

Santa Monica celebrates more than three decades of environmental leadership with Sustainable September 2025, a citywide opportunity to learn, connect and take action on sustainability, to protect our natural resources, grow our local economy, and create a safe and equitable community for all.

“The Office of Sustainability and the Environment welcomes the opportunity to share with our city the many ways to enjoy the benefits of a sustainable community,” Chief Sustainability Officer Shannon Parry said. “We invite you to join us for one of the many events in Santa Monica that demonstrate the importance of environmental protection, economic vitality and social equity.”

Since implementing the Sustainable City Plan in 1994, Santa Monica's commitment to sustainability has guided our planning, infrastructure and policy.

In Santa Monica, sustainability is not just an initiative but part of our identity. Just a few examples of our work:

And every Sustainable September program — compost giveaways, community garden volunteering, free Big Blue Bus rides, the Sustainable Landscape Expo, Circularity SoCal Summit, Coastal Cleanup Day with Heal the Bay — highlights how small local actions tie into global climate solutions.

Together, these efforts remind us that sustainability is not just about policy or infrastructure, but about people coming together to shape a thriving, resilient and green future.

Join us to celebrate, take action and enjoy what our beautiful city has to offer.

“Spogomi” International Team Beach Clean Up
Saturday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Crescent Bay Park
In this international beach cleanup competition, teams of three compete for points based on the amount and types of garbage collected. The prize for the winning team is a trip to Japan!

Orchard Care Crew
Saturday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Ishihara Park Learning Garden
Interested in some tips on caring for your citrus trees? Join our monthly Orchard Care Crew at the Ishihara Park Learning Garden! The orchard and learning garden are at the far Eastern end of the park, just past the small playground. The crew meets at 9 a.m. and works in the orchard tending to our 18 citrus trees. Work includes mulching, pest management, feeding and pruning.

Sustainable Landscape Expo & Rain Barrel Distribution
Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. – noon, Reed Park Community Garden
Join the city of Santa Monica and Sustainable Works for a fun-filled morning of exciting giveaways, light snacks and valuable landscape resources.

Americana in the Park
Sunday, Sept. 14, 1:30 – 6:30 p.m., Gandara Park
Enjoy this beloved free music festival and check out Rediscover Center’s kids' activities and sustainable giveaways from the city’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment!

Circular SoCal: A Catalyst for a Regenerative Future
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Annenberg Community Beach House
Join the city of Santa Monica, Carbon Leadership Forum – Los Angeles, and AIA Los Angeles for an expert-level conversation on circularity in the built environment.

Compost Giveaway
Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., City Yards
Join the Resource Recovery and Recycling team for their quarterly compost giveaway! This is a self-service event so please bring gloves and containers and be prepared to load your own compost.

Dosas, Waffles & A Workday
Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 – 11 a.m., Ishihara Park Learning Garden
Head to Ishihara Learning Garden to enjoy a community breakfast with homemade dosas and waffles. Volunteers are welcome to help work on preparing an area that will be an expansion of the Community Orchard.

Heal the Bay Annual Coastal Cleanup
Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Santa Monica Beach
Coastal Cleanup Day is the world’s largest volunteer-driven environmental event, mobilizing millions of people across the world! In Los Angeles County, Heal the Bay proudly leads this monumental effort, organizing over 50 cleanup sites spanning our coasts, rivers, parks, and dive and kayak sites. 

Douglas Day 2025
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Santa Monica Airport
Participate in Douglas Day 2025, a community celebration honoring the legacy of innovation at Santa Monica Airport and the heroic first responders of the 2025 LA wildfires, presented by the Spirit of Santa Monica! From thrilling aircraft and STEAM-powered discovery zones to live music, tasty bites, and hands-on fun for all ages, this event is your ticket to a day of inspiration, imagination, and aviation magic!

Santa Monica Yoga Morning of Mindfulness and Dune Restoration with The Bay Foundation!
Saturday, Sept. 27, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., Lot 9
Come join Santa Monica Yoga for a special Morning of Mindfulness and volunteer with The Bay Foundation to enhance native dune habitat in the Santa Monica Beach Dune project! Participants will help remove invasive plant species, water recently installed plants and learn about the importance of coastal dunes. Meet on the sand in front of Parking Lot 9N, 530 PCH, at 8:15 a.m.

DIY Raised Garden Bed Demonstration
Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 – 11 a.m., Marine Park Community Garden
Putting in raised garden beds is easier than you think! Volunteers will demonstrate how to use simple materials to make no-frills raised beds – and hopefully inspire you to put in some of your own.

Montana Art Walk
Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 – 6 p.m.
The city's Office of Sustainability and the Environment and partner Rediscover Center will host kids' activities, a raffle and sustainable giveaways at the Montana Art Walk, where creativity meets community! This festive, car-free celebration features art, live music, and kids’ activities.

Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) Tour for the Public (20 spots only)
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 10 - 11 a.m., meet in small parking lot at Main Street and Civic Center Drive
Join the Office of Sustainability and the Environment and Water Utilities Manager Sunny Wang for a dynamic and fascinating tour of the city of Santa Monica’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project, or SWIP, a first of its kind project that provides a drought resilient water supply for the city. SWIP reduces the city’s traditional reliance on costly imported freshwater resources from Northern California and the Colorado River by creating new, local water supplies. It is one of only four international projects nominated for a Global Water Award, a recognition of excellence across the entire international water industry. Learn about the first underground water treatment facility in the country and the steps Santa Monica is taking toward water self-sufficiency.

And while the month of September ends, the city's dedication to sustainability never does! Every day is Earth Day. Here are a few events to look forward to in October:

CA Clean Air Day
Wednesday, Oct. 1
The city is celebrating California Clean Air Day with free rides for all on Big Blue Bus!

Bike it! Walk it! Bus it! Week
Oct. 6 - 10
K-12 students attending school in Santa Monica can ride Big Blue Bus for free during Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Week, and families are encouraged to forgo driving in favor of eco-friendly modes of transportation such as walking, biking or taking transit.

Main Street Block Party *PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE*
Sunday, Oct. 19, Noon - 7 p.m., Main Street
Come to Main Street for live music, outdoor art displays and free activities for all ages. The city's Office of Sustainability and the Environment will host kids' activities and sustainable giveaways!

Off the Hook Sustainable Seafood Festival
Sunday, Oct. 19, 4 - 7 p.m., Santa Monica Pier
A (sea) foodie’s dream, this beloved festival features the city’s best chefs and restaurants showcasing their favorite underwater ingredients. Enjoy seafood, drinks, live music and games in this celebration to benefit Heal the Bay.

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Authored By

Shannon Parry
Chief Sustainability Officer

Categories

Programs, Sustainable and Connected