DavisToday

DAVIS HISTORY

How the Whole Earth Festival began

The Whole Earth Festival grew from a UC Davis art-class “Art Happening” begun in 1969, using art to engage people with activism, wellness and the environment.

The Whole Earth Festival started small: a UC Davis art class led by José Argüelles staged an “Art Happening” in 1969. The project used art as an interactive way to teach about activism, wellness and the environment. The idea evolved through Earth Week and Whole Earth events into the spring festival Davis knows today.

1969A UC Davis art class holds an interactive “Art Happening.”
1971A second event is renamed Whole Earth.
1970sThe campus gathering develops into the recurring spring festival.
Period1969–present
EvidenceDocumented
Last checked2026-08-18
SourceUC Davis Library / Online Archive of California — Whole Earth Festival Collection
View source ↗

More arts, culture & history in davis →

Keep exploring Davis history

Why Village Homes became famousCompleted in 1975, Village Homes was an unusually ecological neighborhood built around solar orientation, greenbelts, shared spaces and natural drainage.Why UC Davis has the Domes at Baggins EndBaggins End began as an experimental low-cost housing project; construction of 15 two-person fiberglass dome units started in 1972 with student volunteers.Why Picnic Day existsPicnic Day began in 1909 when the University Farm invited the surrounding community to visit its new dairy barn; about 2,000 people came with picnics.How the Davis Farmers Market beganThe modern Davis Farmers Market came together in 1975–76 through farmers, students and local-food advocates and became one of California’s early certified farmers markets.Davis public art mapThe City publishes public-art resources and a pocket map organized by area, with public art listings plus bike paths, parks and art institutions.Follies2025 student-designed gathering structures celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Davis Farmers Market. Installations include downtown locations near Hunt-Boyer and the Amtrak station.