EarthFair 2010 will celebrate 20 years in San Diego on April 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Balboa Park, bringing together the green community like never before. Earth Day isn’t just about the children’s parade and yummy food, but a chance for all those small, non-profit, eco-friendly companies to showcase their efforts. “It’s a chance for those huge local groups that deserve support to get the word out and get them more involved,” said longtime Pacific Beach resident Carolyn Chase, one of the Earth Day founders. Ninety percent of the exhibitors on Earth Day are local companies — from the diaper services to green remodelers, organic steam carpet cleaners and the San Diego Ford dealership, which is showcasing its new environmentally-friendly vehicle. “It’s usually their number one recruitment day,” Chase said. “Those involved work toward anything and everything to do with the environment. And in the long run, the event really connects hundreds of people to do projects throughout the county.” This year, new recruits presenting their work include local high school students who are raising money for endangered species. “Every [exhibitor] has to do something for the planet, and this year we’re clamping down” on proposal regulations, Chase added, keeping the green side of things as the focus. EarthFair 2010 will host the eARTh Gallery art show, Cleaner Car Concourse, a children’s activity center and several entertainment shows along with the 350 exhibitors. Besides recruiting more than 400 volunteers for the event, the EarthFair staff is doing everything for the annual project that brings in about 70,000 visitors to San Diego — from advertising to media exposure, recruiting new volunteers and finding new exhibitors. “We do it all!” Chase said. For more information see www.earthdayweb.org.