Sustainapalooza is a companion event to Iowa State's Symposium on Sustainability. A different green theme is explored every year, including 2026's “Acting Today, Impacting Tomorrow, Sustaining Forever”. A highlight of Sustainapalooza is our unique GIY "Green-It-Yourself" Centers that provide creative opportunities to make products such as green health and beauty items, upcycled sustainability-minded and green living items and jarred meal and snack kits. The event also features local food and food ingredient refreshments, a clothing swap, sustainability-inspired artwork, as well as poster and tabling displays. The event offers a great way to network with other sustainability leaders from campus and the Ames community, and when you go, do not forget to walk down the Green Carpet, add a sustainability pledge to the Green Wall and snap a selfie at the Cy-lebrity Photo Booth!
This annual celebration was founded by The Green Umbrella student organization in 2012, and for many years served as the club’s signature event. Founded in 2009 by undergraduates Chandra Peterson and Clayton Severton, The Green Umbrella not only offers connection and networking opportunities to ISU’s student sustainability organizations, members also focus on educating the campus community on how to live green. In honor of the group's ongoing work to better our campus, Sustainapalooza has been named as a Student Event of the Year by the ISU Student Engagement Center.
The 2027 Symposium on Sustainability and Sustainapalooza will be held February 22-23, 2027 in Memorial Union.
To view photos from last year's event visit our photo gallery.