EcoFest Encinitas will move to Encinitas Community Park for a one-day environmental festival on Sunday, June 1, organizers told the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 20.

Leah Strelle, creative director of EcoFest Encinitas, said the free, family-friendly event will feature more than 70 exhibitors, a bike valet, electric vehicle demonstrations with test drives, children’s climate displays, a scavenger hunt, live music and a “libations lounge.” Strelle said the festival is “hosted by the city of Encinitas, sponsored by San Diego Community Power, EDCO, and Blue Eddy.”

The presentation matters because organizers asked the commission to increase its visibility at the event, and commissioners discussed whether Parks & Rec should staff a booth or encourage commissioners to volunteer as ambassadors.

Strelle said EcoFest aims to “showcase ongoing, friendly solutions by promoting healthy, green living practices,” and highlighted features planned for the Encinitas Community Park site, including a solar-powered stage and a shuttle for overflow parking. She also described a short ceremonial program at 1 p.m. featuring a traditional eagle dance.

Commissioners asked for logistical details. One commissioner asked where the fair will be positioned inside the park; Strelle described the layout as “more toward the ball fields” with the stage at the south end. Commissioners also asked about volunteer sign-up and whether Parks & Rec would have a staffed booth. Staff explained that EcoFest uses its own volunteer sign-up system (a sign-up genius) and that the event is not run through the city’s volunteer portal, though the city’s environmental department often coordinates with EcoFest and could potentially share space.

Commissioners and staff discussed practical items if the commission helps at the festival — wearing commission shirts as visibility, sign-up logistics and whether a Parks & Rec booth would be budgeted (staff said historically the department has not budgeted to pay booth fees). Strelle invited commissioners to volunteer and noted organizers remain concerned about volunteer staffing post-pandemic.

Strelle closed by asking the commission to consider placing EcoFest on the city calendar and in the recreation guide and said the festival strives to be zero waste.

Looking ahead, staff and interested commissioners said they will follow up offline to determine whether the commission will staff a booth or provide volunteer ambassadors at EcoFest.