Third Annual Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest Drew Enthusiastic Crowds
A family plays the pollinator game offered at the UCCE Master Gardners' Pollinator Team booth.
COSF launched Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest in the fall of 2022 with the goal of producing a free outdoor live event to celebrate and support the Conejo Valley’s rich biodiversity. The community festival’s goal is to educate and inspire attendees about native plants, water-wise gardening and more sustainable living. The festival, which this year featured a beekeeper, pollinator experts, herpetologists, climate activists and other exhibitors committed to the environment, drew a crowd of several hundred adults and children.
Under the umbrella of COSF’s popular Speaker Series, Plantpalooza 3 was held September 28 at the Conejo Creek North Park in Thousand Oaks and was blessed with mild, sunny weather.
A special presentation by Animal Actors of Hollywood introduced both kids and adults to native wildlife ambassadors, including a red-tailed hawk, a fox squirrel and a charming porcupine.
New this year was a roll-off container of clean compost, courtesy of Athens Services. Many attendees came prepared with containers to take advantage of the free nutrient-rich soil amendment. Also new this year was a taco bar with Chendo’s Tacos.
More than 30 exhibitors were on hand, some selling or giving away native plants and other eco-related products, while others offered crafts and other activities for kids.
2024 returning exhibitors included:
- Acorn Design Studios
- Athens Services
- Stacey Ruda Best Nature Art
- Byron’s Bees
- California American Water
- California Wildlife Center
- Calleguas Municipal Water District
- Chumash Indian Museum
- Citizen’s Climate Lobby
- Conejo Climate Coalition
- Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA)
- Conejo Recreation and Parks Department
- Conejo Valley Audubon Society
- Conejo Valley Garden Club
- Forest Needle Wellness
- National Wildlife Federation representing the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing
- Southwestern Herpetologists Society
- Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery
- Thousand Oaks High School Environmental Club
- Thousand Oaks Library
- 350 Conejo
COSF welcomed the following new exhibitors this year:
- Food Forward
- Giant Bicycles
- HAWKs Nature Programming
- REI
- Shulman Dragon Fruit Orchard
- Teranga Ranch
- UCCE Master Gardener Pollinator Team
- Woods Forest School
COSF extends a special thank you to marquee sponsor the Calleguas Water District, returning as a sponsor from last year as well! Plantpalooza is also grateful for a grant from the Coalition for Clean Air.
If your organization would like to exhibit at next year’s event, please email us at info@cosf.org to reserve a free booth.
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