Living Earth curates live music for Native Plant Festival at California Botanic Garden
Claremont, California (High Desert News Online) – The Native Plant Festival returns to the California Botanic Garden in Claremont on March 28, 2026, featuring Living Earth–curated live music, workshops, tours, and food vendors — free admission for all ages with programming throughout the day.
Key takeaways
- What: Native Plant Festival with live music curated by Living Earth.
- When: March 28, 2026 — check Eventbrite for exact times and updates.
- Where: California Botanic Garden, Claremont — free admission for all ages.
- Programming: Music in the cultivar garden, workshops, tours, and food vendors; artist bios and final schedule forthcoming.
Overview
Claremont, California — The annual Native Plant Festival returns to the California Botanic Garden on March 28, 2026. Curated music programming on the Living Earth stage will sit alongside hands-on workshops, guided tours, and food vendors. Admission is free for all ages, though some sessions may require advance registration via Eventbrite.
Performers and schedule (details forthcoming)
Living Earth has announced the line-up for its Living Earth stage. Announced performers include:
- Paul Livingstone & Alma Cielo
- Diego Gaeta & V Ontiveros
- Alex Wand & Nelle June Anderson
- Two Point: Sharada Shashidhar & Caleb Buchanan
Organizers note that final set times and artist biographies are pending; festival-goers should monitor the Living Earth event page and the Eventbrite listing for updates.
Where the music lives
Performances will take place in the cultivar garden beneath a large oak tree on the Living Earth stage. The setting is intentionally chosen to blend live sound with native habitat — possibly near monarch butterfly activity — so the music becomes part of the outdoor experience rather than a separate spectacle.
“Music is meant to soundtrack the day while visitors attend workshops, tours and talks across the garden,” organizers say.
Food, drink and local vendors
Food and drink will be available for purchase from local vendors including:
- Word of Mouth Vegan Food Truck
- Crepes Bonaparte Food Truck
- Marigold Coffee Collective
These small businesses provide casual, family-friendly dining options while the festival emphasizes native-plant conservation and education.
Workshops, tours and partners
Programming pairs music with practical learning. Known schedule items include:
- 10:30 a.m. — Flowers & Trees Story Time
- 11:15 a.m. — Gardening Workshop
- 11:15 a.m. — Tongva Ethnobotany session with Samantha Morales Johnson Yang, Tribal Ethnobotanist (San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, Gabrieleno/Tongva)
- 11:15 a.m. — Production Nursery Tour in Spanish and English
Partners include the California Native Horticultural Foundation, Santa Monica Mountains Fund, The Xerces Society, and other conservation organizations that support workshops, tours, and educational materials.
Why Living Earth is curating music
Living Earth frames music as an entry point to broader conversations about native ecosystems, pollinators, and restoration. By staging acoustic performances in planted spaces, organizers aim to lower barriers to participation so visitors who come for music or food may stay for workshops or tours.
Implications for The High Desert, California
Economic impact
Local spending: Day visitors from the High Desert may spend on fuel, food, and lodging, benefiting small businesses. Small-vendor support: Food trucks and vendors gain income and exposure that can matter for operations serving High Desert communities.
Political and policy relevance
The festival’s native-plant focus promotes water-wise landscaping, drought resilience, and lower municipal water demand — practical messages relevant to High Desert homeowners and policymakers. Sessions may also touch on wildfire-safe landscaping and restoration, informing local land-management decisions.
Social and cultural effects
Community ties: Music-plus-workshops draw intergenerational audiences. Youth engagement: Tours and partner organizations can spark interest in horticulture and restoration careers. Tribal knowledge: The Tongva ethnobotany session highlights Indigenous plant knowledge and models respect for traditional land care.
Practical applications for residents
- Learn which native species suit Southern California conditions and how to plant for water efficiency and wildlife.
- Find reliable plant sources and restoration practices via the production nursery tour and partner groups.
- Bring lessons home: fire-safe planting, reduced water use, and habitat-focused landscaping.
Open questions and planning notes
What remains uncertain: Exact music times and artist bios have not been published. Accessibility, parking capacity, and transit links are not emphasized on event pages; attendees should plan travel to the California Botanic Garden in advance.
How to follow updates
Bookmark the Living Earth event page and the Eventbrite listing for the full performance schedule and artist biographies when they are released.
Tickets and planning
Admission is free, but some activities may require registration or have limited capacity. Register through Eventbrite for the latest program details and reservation requirements.
Sources and event pages
- Living Earth event page
- Eventbrite listing
- Discover Los Angeles event page
- Inland Empire KidsOutAndAbout summary
For High Desert residents: The festival is an opportunity to observe regional conservation work, learn practical landscaping strategies, and connect with organizations and vendors that support native-plant stewardship.
