It’s the spring and summer seasons in Santa Barbara and the social calendar is warming up! From weekly fun runs to concerts in the park, colorful parades and wine tastings, there’s an array of enticing festivals and events to lure you out and about.
Businesses, organizations and the local community gather to promote and celebrate a “greener” and more sustainable world. Enjoy live music, a food court, wine and beer garden, Kids’ Corner, activities, Eco Village booths, demonstrations and more. Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. Alameda Park, 1400 Santa Barbara Street. 805.963.0583, sbearthday.org
Street painters cover the Santa Barbara Mission plaza pavement with vibrant chalk pastel paintings, created over the course of a few days. The adjacent Mission lawn is filled with live music, Italian cuisine, coffee, desserts and an authentic Italian market. Admission is free and the festival benefits the Children's Creative Project, a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, which serves 50,000 children in more than 100 schools with visual and performing arts workshops and performances. Santa Barbara Mission, 805.964.4710, imadonnarifestival.com
Celebrate the longest day of the year with a colorful parade, filled with floats, costumed revelers, dancers, giant puppets, musicians, drummers and more! The celebration in the park kicks off on Friday at 4pm with live entertainment, fine art & crafts booths, food booths and beer/wine garden. It also runs Saturday from noon – 8pm and Sunday noon to 6pm. The Summer Solstice Parade starts at noon on Saturday, going on State Street from Cota to Micheltorena. Alameda Park , 805.965.3396
The City of Santa Barbara host a spectacular 18-20 minute fireworks display at West Beach starting at 9pm. Come down early as there will be food vendors lining the boulevard from 11am – 9pm. 805.564.5418, santabarbaraca.gov
A two-day celebration of Bastille Day and all the things that make the French cultural history so rich. Great food, wine, mimosas, crepes, delicious pastries, music, dance and of course the infamous Poodle& Pals Parade! Oak Park - 805.963.8198, frenchfestival.com
Experience the sights, sounds and tastes that define the traditional Greek way of life at this colorful two day celebration. Enjoy Greek food, music, dancing and a Greek marketplace. Oak Park, 502-598 W. Alamar Ave., 805.683.4492, saintbarbara.net
This 3 day festival culminates with the signature wine tasting event (one of the largest in the state) and is held beachside at Chase Palm Park. Sample California wines, micro brews, gourmet food from local chefs and enjoy live music. This is one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state. 800.936.3126, californiawinefestival.com
3-7: Old Spanish Days Fiesta: Join in the biggest party of the season, as Santa Barbara’s rich cultural history and traditions are honored and celebrated with a variety of events and performances, including traditional Spanish Classical and Flamenco dancing, Mexican Folklórico music, the Fiesta Historical Parade, colorful open-air “mercados”, cantinas, and carnivals, Mexican and Spanish delicacies, drink and so much more. For more details go to oldspanishdays-fiesta.org
