Viva La Fiesta & the Ocean:
Keep Your Celebrations Eco-Friendly!

This message is in partnership with Downtown Santa Barbara, the City of Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.

**For more information, click on the photo.**

Dear Santa Barbara Community,

The use of confetti at our beloved parades and festivals is growing. While confetti eggs, or cascarones, have long been a cherished tradition during Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days, we are now seeing large bags of confetti, including shiny metallic confetti, sequins, glitter, and silly string, being tossed on our sidewalks, streets, and parks. These plastic items can easily wash or blow into our storm drains, creeks, and ocean, endangering aquatic life. This poses a significant threat to our environment, as birds and other animals can mistake them for food.

This year for Fiesta we encourage you to:

Choose paper confetti and use it sparingly.
Remember that storm drains lead directly to our creeks and ocean without treatment.
Be aware that confetti can be mistaken for food by birds, fish, and other wildlife.
Avoid using shiny metallic confetti, sequins, glitter, and silly string, as they are plastic and not biodegradable.

**Joe (left) and Andrew (right) of** **Earthcomb** **Cleaning up After Fiesta 2022**

Together, let’s make a conscious effort to keep our beaches, parks, and streets clean and safe for all wildlife. Thank you for helping Heal the Ocean and preserving the natural beauty of Santa Barbara.

From all of us at HTO to all of you, thank you. Please stay safe.