Santa Cruz, CA — The Water Fair welcomed the community to dive into discovery and play, a free public event celebrating water our most vital resource. Held at the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center, the fair inspired awareness, stewardship, and joy around water.

Created by Layla Scott, Water Fair Executive Director, and two OpenLab interns with support from Jennifer Parker, Faculty Director of UCSC’s OpenLab. The event brought together local city agencies, UCSC researchers, artists, and community organizations to explore the science, culture, and future of water. Visitors enjoyed Interactive poster sessions highlighting UCSC student water research, educational games and water-themed challenges for all ages, hands-on art activities connecting creativity with climate action, and community booths featuring local organizations and city partners working on water sustainability. From the breathtaking view of an orange sunset ocean to the clarity of a mountain lake, water proved both fragile and essential. The Water Fair showcased Santa Cruz’s unique coastal and forest ecosystems, encouraging residents to learn how we can all protect and sustain the natural resources that make our community thrive.

Support for the Water Fair was made possible by SEED Spoon Science and the Center for Coastal Climate and Resilience at UC Santa Cruz