Events

Santa Barbara likes a party.  More than that, we really do love a parade. Here’s a brief summary of some of our biggest local events.

Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Downtown Santa Barbara, late January to early February

It’s a little known fact that Santa Barbara used to be one of the early hubs of film. As a result of that early Hollywood heritage, the American Riviera has participated in the international film festival scene for the past 35 years, boasting over 200 films each year as well as tribute events to some of western film’s brightest and most prolific filmmakers.  Drop in for a panel featuring Oscar-award-winning directors or buy a week-long pass and participate in the buzz!

I Madonnari – Italian Street Painting Festival
Santa Barbara Mission, late spring

A time-honored spring tradition, every year the I Madonnari festival features well over 120 chalk drawing squares filled in by over 200 local artists at the foot of the Mission. Inspired by the Italian tradition of street-painting, the festival began over 30 years ago as a fundraiser for the Children’s Creative Project, a non-profit arts education venture.  A family-oriented event, the festival includes a section for children’s squares, live music, and a Italian market.

Summer Solstice
State Street parade, late June

A vivacious arts celebration unique to Santa Barbara, the Summer Solstice parade brings out the brightest (and weirdest) of Santa Barbara arts culture. A celebration of life and the vitality of amateur art, the parade boasts an amalgamation of floats, larger-than-life puppets, belly dancing troupes, marching bands, roller-derby demonstrations, and more! Afterwards, the festivities continue at Alameda Park where you can shop local artists and take a piece of the weekend home with you!

Old Spanish Days Fiesta
State Street parade, first week of August

Originally begun in the mid-twenties as a marketing ploy to celebrate the opening of the historic Lobero Theatre, Old Spanish Days has grown to be the largest and most celebrated festival in Santa Barbara. A celebration of both Spanish-American and Mexican culture, a robust parade features miles of flamenco and traditional folklorico dancers, dozens of ornamented equestrian troupes, marching bands, mariachi groups, vaqueros, horse-drawn carriages, all led by the Spirit of Fiesta dancer.  The fiesta kicks off at the Mission and continues with cultural performances and demonstrations all weekend. Be sure to buy a handful of cascarones (confetti eggs) from a street vendor to crack over your loved ones and enjoy Santa Barbara’s liveliest weekend!

For more information or exact dates, please visit
https://santabarbaraca.com/