Tim Economu is always surprised by how well electric vehicles blend in with their gas-fueled counterparts.

Recently, the Clinton resident visited Langley and happened to park next to two other electric vehicles. He took a picture of the moment because he said he rarely sees multiple eco-friendly vehicles in such a small vicinity.

Perhaps after April 23, he’ll see more electric vehicles cruising through South Whidbey.

Economu and dozens of other electric vehicle owners will put their green-friendly cars and motorcycles on display at the Earth Day Festival from 12-4 p.m. on April 23. The show, which will be held at the Bayview Cash Store, will be just one cog in a wheel of activities and events under the umbrella of Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month, a month-long celebration of the planet.

Put on by a host of Whidbey organizations and community members, Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month is a means of fostering environmentally-conscious practices while appealing to a wide range of interests and backgrounds. Activities include all-day festivals, lectures, an art show, work parties, field trips and a half-day of activities at South Whidbey High School for students. Member churches of the Greening Congregations of Whidbey Island also have non-denominational activities planned, including pub talks and a religious procession.

The festival kicks off with a keynote speech by Kate Davies, who authored a book, “The Rise of the U.S. Environmental Health Movement, released in 2013. It was selected as one of Booklist’s top-10 books on sustainability published that year.

Representatives of Goosefoot, Greening Congregations of Whidbey Island, Island County Public Health Department, Offgrid Systems LLC, Orca Network, Service, Education & Adventure, South Whidbey Tilth and Whidbey Custom Events have all organized their own events.

Economu, who put together the electric vehicle show, hopes that by giving attendees a chance to get behind the wheel of the eco-friendly vehicles, they’ll see the positives of making the transition from fossil fuel-consuming automobiles.

“I’m hoping, naively so, when they get in the car, they go nuts,” Economu said. “All of a sudden you take yourself out of the realm of having to rely on large suppliers, who aren’t necessarily worried about our planet but profit.”

Economu is a member of the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association. He said he’s invited all 97 members of the association to the show, as well as a few dozen others. Economu said a couple of car dealers will be in attendance as well, including Everett KIA. Participants will park their electric cars and motorcycles in a lot near the Bayview Cash Store, where they will have free rein to converse and interact amongst one another as well as with attendees. Entry and exit lanes will be kept open so interested parties can take test drives.

Elizabeth Guss, a representative of Greening Congregation member St. Hubert Catholic Church, will lead a pub talk at 5:30 p.m. on April 14 at Blooms Winery Tasting Room in the Bayview Cash Store. Her topic of discussion, which will last around 15 minutes then followed by a discussion and questions and answers, will revolve around faith and the environment.

“People are interested in a values discussion with our relationship with the Earth,” Guss said. “There are certainly economic reasons on how we are treating the earth; people are also interested in thinking about it from a standpoint of values.”

At the Earth Day festival, the procession led by the Greening Congregations of Whidbey Island, begins at 1 p.m., starting at the Cash Store then moving to the nearby Bayview Farm and Garden.

South Whidbey Tilth and Whidbey Camano Land Trust officials will lead field trips and work parties; activities will be split between learning about native plants and forest soil ecology to cleaning trails and clearing invasive plants.

Mixed media, jewelry, works on paper and canvas will be among works of art created by students from South Whidbey, Coupeville and Oak Harbor High Schools. Their productions will be on display at the Bayview Cash Store from April 8-May 31. The theme for the exhibition is the youth perspective on climate change, and organizers say it will perhaps garner an understanding of how youths on Whidbey Island are faring with the declining state of the global environment while also ensuring they are included in the conversation.

Julie Glover, a youth development professional, organized the event alongside Ann Linnea and Susie Richards.

“It’s really empowering kids with the tools to address the situation and the world they’re living in,” Glover said.

Richards and the South Whidbey High School Green Team are also helping organize an Environmental Career and College Fair from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on April 20 at the high school. Richards said the fair will feature a keynote speaker, opening assembly, workshops with local community members sharing about their environmentally-focused careers, and displays/booths from a variety of colleges and trade schools.

Marian Myszkowski, Goosefoot director of program & fund development, has been responsible for outreach and publicity for the month-long event. She said Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month speaks to what’s possible through collaboration. She also said activities are different every year, that interested collaborators can help shape and mold what’s included year in and year out.

“It couldn’t work without everybody doing their part,” Myszkowski said. “It’s loosely organized in that if someone wants to step in and do something, it happens.”

“It’s kind of at the will of the people in terms of the events and what the month is going to be,” she added.

For more details on events and activities happening throughout the month, visit whidbeyearthday.org.

What’s happening, when and where

Dozens of interactive activities will occur throughout Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month. Visit whidbeyearthday.org for full details on all the events happening.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island will host film showings on April 8, 15 and 22, starting at 7 p.m. The films revolve around environmental issues and topics.

St. Augstine’s Episcopal Church will host a three-part PBS series, Earth’s Natural Wonders, on April 24, May 1 and 8 from 9:15-10:15 a.m. Discussion will follow.

Bird watching tours are scheduled for April 9, 16 and 30 with Whidbey Audubon.

South Whidbey Tilth is hosting a work party from 1-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 17 to learn about native plants and forest soil ecology while helping clean trails and clear invasive plants.

Two lectures examining the geological climate forces shaping Whidbey Island by Dr. Joseph K. Sheldon and Dr. Robert K. Pelant are scheduled for 7 p.m., April 7 and April 12 at the Pacific Rim Institute.

Another lecture featuring Rick Baker of Whidbey Watershed Stewards is happening at 7 p.m., April 21 at Clinton Community Hall.

An interfaith prayer service sponsored by the Greening Congregations Collaborative of Whidbey Island will be held at 7 p.m., April 13 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island.

A vegan Earth Day potluck is scheduled from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on April 22 at Whidbey Institute’s Storyhouse Meadow. Questions/RSVP should be sent to marnie@whidbeyinstitute.org.