Santa Barbara Events

-January-

Hang Gliding Festival on New Year’s day. Festival starts at 12 noon to sunset to Elings Park. Cliff Drive

-January / February-

International Film Festival. Hollywood’s elite & film fanatics flock to the coast. Held in various theaters around the city. Biggest star-studded event. www.sbfilmfestival.org

-March-

International Orchid Show. Features over 70 of the world’s finest growers & thousands of their most-prized plants. Located at Earl Warren Showground's. www.sborchidshow.com (805) 969-5746

Whale Festival at Stearns Wharf. Biologists & naturalists expose land-locked sols to the Pacific’s largest inhabitants. Go to the end of State Street to enjoy music, arts, crafts and food. www.sbwhalefestival.com

-April-

Annual Deep Ellum Art Festival. 3 days of FREE concerts & cutting edge artists. Great Entertainment!

Santa Barbara Kite Festival. Go to City College to compete in stunt flying & exquisite wind-borne decorations. www.sbkitefest.com (805) 963-2964

Presidio Days celebrates the original Spanish fort’s conception in 1782 on Saint Barbara’s birthday, April 21. Festivities culminate when Chumash & Spanish descendants ring the bells of the Presidio’s tower. www.sbthp.org (805) 966-9719

Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival. Held on the third weekend of April, local wineries throughout the vine-striped Santa Ynez Valley. (Firestone Meadow) www.sbcountywines.com (805) 688-0881

Earth Day. Held at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden www.communityenvironmentalcouncil.org

Annual Classic & Hot Rod Show. 400 hot rods and classics from across America will be on display for only one day. Live music & great food!

Santa Barbara Fair & Expo brings games, food, carnival rides, petting zoo and live music to the Earl Warren Showground's (805) 687-0766

-May-

Cinco de Mayo, celebrate Mexico’s defeat of French forces at the town of Puebla, is a multicultural celebration that spreads throughout. Be ready for music, food and dancing. www.cincodemayosb.com

Children’s Festival, bring the kids for a festival of their own to Alamdea Park West. www.fsacares.org

I Madonnari Celebration. Hundreds of chalk paintings color the Mission Courtyard. Across the street is an Italian market with authentic foods & entertainment. www.imadonnarifestival.com(805) 964-4710

-June-

Big Dog Parade & Canine Festival to allow our pooches to put on their best and strut their stuff. Win lots of prizes. Held at Chase Palm Park. www.bigdogs.com (805) 963-8727x1398

Lompoc Flower Festival is one of the best flower shows. Vibrant colors cover the floats but don’t forget to go to the valley to see the flowers roll over the hills. Ryan Park, Lompoc (805) 735-8511

Summer Solstice is one of Santa Barbara’s best events of the summer. Odd floats and weird looking people march down State St. to Alameda Park, where dancing, crafts, food, & much more to keep the party rock in. www.solsticeparade.com (805) 965-3396

-July-

Independence Day Celebration Thousand come to the waterfront for fireworks, music & one big beach party.

National Horse & Flower Show. For two weeks Earl Warren Showground's is graced with some of the finest breads & local blossoms. www.earlwarren.com

Santa Barbara County Fair. Livestock, auctions, food & entertainment makes for a great old time. Fairgrounds in Santa Maria.

French Festival. Go to Oak Park and enjoy the food, wine & entertainment. Free Admission & parking. www.frenchfestival.com

California Outrigger Canoe Championships. Hawaii meets the mainland coast as state teams compete off Leadbetter Beach.

Santa Barbara’s Big Fat—Greek Festival. This celebration is filled with dancing & authentic Greek foods at Oak Park. www.saintbarbara.net

-August-

Fiesta or “Old Spanish Days” is the soul of Santa Barbara. This festival brings the entire city together in the spirit of the old ranchos. Festivities held throughout the city include the largest parade in the States, a rodeo, & a whole heap of food, music, & arts. www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

-September-

Annual Taste of the Town, is a week long feast of more than 50 of the region’s finest restaurants & wineries. (805) 892-5556

Sandcastle & Sculpting Festival, East Beach. Come enjoy the beach & see some spectacular sculptures. www.sandcastlefestival.com

-October-

California Avocado Festival, in Carpinteria. Come try the avocado ice cream. See the largest avocado imagine. www.avofest.com

Santa Barbara Art & Jazz Festival, is fantastic music & entertainment. Dixie, jazz & blues fill the air of Santa Barbara at the courthouse.

Goleta Lemon Festival, is a wild citrus party. Have fun & enter a lemon pie contest, or enjoy the entertainment food & lemonade stands.

Halloween Family Festival, come dressed up in your costume. wwwsantabarbaradowntown.com

-November-

Half Marathon & Cally’s 5K Fun Run Walk, head to Leadbetter Beach to participate in the Santa Barbara News-Press’

-December-

Downtown Holiday Parade, shops remain open late for shoppers to have a chance to finish up their shopping. “It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas.”

Parade of Lights, one of Santa Barbara’s favorite celebrations. From Stearns Wharf watch the boats cruise the waterfront decorated with bright lights and festive decorations.