No matter the month, you can expect a flurry of fun for all ages when visiting Santa Barbara. From wine tasting, film debuts, musical performances, outdoor adventures food festivals and art exhibitions, Santa Barbara has an event or festival for every palate. Plan the perfect getaway to our seaside haven with the use of this helpful guide and explore the thrill of festivals in Santa Barbara!
APRIL
Tucked against a hillside within walking distance of downtown, the near 5,000-seat Santa Barbara Bowl is a stunning and historic open-air venue for musical performances, April through October. Headliners of every genre of music—from rock, pop and jazz to mariachi and classical—take the stage of the intimate amphitheater. From April 7-10, Lucidity Festival: The Great Synthesis, a transformational arts and music festival built on community and self-expression, takes place at Live Oak Campground for its tenth year.
Few know that Santa Barbara is the birthplace of the very first Earth Day, and what better way to honor the planet than by hosting one of the largest Earth Day celebrations on the west coast. This year, between April 29-30, join the like-minded eco-conscious community of Santa Barbara for its annual Earth Day Festival, slated to feature live music, sustainable food and beverage options and over 200 exhibitors.
MAY
Celebrate Santa Barbara’s storied culinary past with the Taste of Santa Barbara presented by Santa Barbara Culinary Experience. Happening this year on May 15-21, food aficionados travel from near and far for this weeklong, county-wide celebration of all things food and drink. The festival will feature insightful panel discussions, creative pop-ups, film screenings, farm tours, tasting events, tributes to Julia Child and more ways to connect and celebrate the best of Santa Barbara County. Santa Barbara Culinary Experience is designed to celebrate the bounty of Santa Barbara’s local farms, ranches, vineyards and fisheries.
Be dazzled by incredible artwork at the I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival this year on Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, at Old Mission Santa Barbara. Each day, street painters (Madonnari in Italian) will transform the Mission Plaza into an art gallery of awe-inspiring, large-scale images. Using pastels, artists design more than 150 vibrant scenes showcased on the pavement throughout the weekend. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
June
Drawing visitors from all around the world, The Summer Solstice Parade and Festival is one of the largest art events in Santa Barbara County. Spectators can expect to see vibrant displays of artwork, costumes, performances and more. The festival will be held on June 23-24 with a parade (June 24), special concert event, delicious food and local merchants.
Brand-new to the Santa Barbara South Coast this year is the Santa Barbara Lavender Festival, happening on June 24 at Old Mission Santa Barbara. This unique arts and crafts festival will celebrate creativity through the artistic expression of lavender and/or lavender themes, featuring works from over 75 local artisans, lavender farms and small business owners.
JULY
Wineries large and small will show off their wares at the outdoor California Wine Festival, July 14-15. This two-day event kicks off on Friday evening with an educational seminar that compliments a reserve and rare wine tasting. On Saturday, the festivities move beach-side for a showcase of some 250 wines from 70 wineries, and the offerings of noted chefs, food purveyors and wine-related vendors. Enjoy tri-tip from top Santa Barbara-based restaurants as local chefs compete for best barbecue! As the cool ocean breeze wafts the sweet tang of barbecue through the beer tents, grab a plate and browse the various pop-up shops throughout the festival.
AUGUST
Santa Barbara’s rich heritage comes alive between Aug. 2-6 with the music, dance and pageantry of Old Spanish Days Fiesta, the granddaddy of city celebrations, reaching back to 1925. Mark your calendars for the first week of August and heed this guide for the ultimate Fiesta experience.
SEPTEMBER
Santa Barbara Studio Artists’ Open Studios Tour returns in 2023 (check back soon for exact dates!), and you won’t want to miss this renowned and highly anticipated opportunity to meet the area’s incredibly talented artists and get a glimpse into their creative process. Santa Barbara is a haven for artisans, makers, designers and those who are passionate about local craftsmanship, and what better than to celebrate the art that can be created using the natural gifts from the ocean? The Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival, to be held in September 2023, is the perfect place to shop gorgeous sea glass jewelry for loved ones and explore ocean-themed art inspired by our seaside paradise. Artists from all over gather to display their oceanic wares, so don’t forget to mark your calendar next year for this incredible event.
OCTOBER
Santa Barbara Vintners hosts the Vintners Festival, in beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. More than one hundred wineries pour alongside many of Santa Barbara’s best chefs as live tunes fill the air. The festival is flanked by open houses, dinners and seminars that always inspire a long weekend visit to wine country. Santa Barbara’s waterfront is the ideal setting for the Harbor & Seafood Festival—a tribute to hardworking local fisheries—each October. Fresh seafood is on the menu (of course!), while the roster of activities focuses on all things marine, including boat tours, rides and dockside demonstrations, as well as live music and arts and crafts vendors.
NOVEMBER
If your travels to Santa Barbara are during November, make sure to plan ahead to attend the Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival, happening this year between Nov. 1-5. Held at the New Vic Theatre, this annual film festival will include five days of exceptional films from around the world on themes of Jewish culture and identity, including a wide range of documentaries, dramas, comedies and shorts by American, European and Israeli filmmakers.
Looking for a way to work out and see the coastal sights of Santa Barbara? The Santa Barbara Half Marathon on Nov. 5 is a fantastic opportunity to get your sweat on and explore the area on your own two feet. The athletic event is open to all ages and skill levels, and brings together runners and joggers from all walks of life before the craziness of the holiday season sets in. On top of the killer views, you’ll love the post-run endorphins!
DECEMBER
Bring the whole family and ring in the holiday season at the Annual Goleta Holiday Parade. Witness high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday-themed floats, spectacular performance groups and more. Another festive parade to keep on your radar: The Annual Milpas Holiday Parade, with this year’s theme being “Surfin’ Santa.”
Celebrate the end of the year with holiday cheer at Santa Barbara’s annual Parade of Lights on Dec. 10 Bring the entire family to the waterfront, as more than 30 boats adorned with thousands of lights and festive decorations will illuminate the waterfront as they navigate through the Santa Barbara Harbor and around Stearns Wharf.
February 2024
Get out on the town in glittering fashion with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Every February/March there’s a morning-to-night cinematic feast: films from around the globe, new releases, classics, avant-garde entries, documentaries and both animated and live shorts. Panels of directors, writers and producers offer behind-the-scenes stories and industry information, while evening tributes to actors and filmmakers highlight the stellar, often Oscar-worthy work of veteran and emerging artists.
MARCH 2024
World of Pinot Noir is a savory celebration that brings Pinot Noir producers from the most exceptional and unique regions around the world together with enthusiasts to celebrate this notable grape variety. The World of Pinot Noir highlights this stellar varietal through seminars, lunches, dinners and the sought-after grand tasting event held at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.
Mid-March each year, Santa Barbara blooms with orchids in every imaginable shape, color, pattern and texture at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. This three-day event, noted as one of the country’s largest and oldest celebrations of orchids, brings together more than 50 orchid exhibitors and vendors from around the world.
