Santa Barbara Events
A little west of the wharf, the Santa Barbara Harbor and Breakwater provide shelter for pleasure craft as well as the city's commercial fishing fleet. At the end of the day, visitors can often watch the fishing boats unload their catches-a panoply of seafood from local waters that may include urchins, halibut, thresher shark, and salmon.
On Saturday mornings, the harbor becomes a fresh fish market where early risers can buy seafood right off the boats. Saturday mornings are also the occasion for the city's long-running Certified Farmers Market. Held in a city parking to at Santa Barbara and Cota Streets, the market is a weekly gathering at which one is as likely to find political activists and street musicians as fresh vegetables. Many residents wouldn't think of missing it. Organic fruits, honey, nuts, and other locally grown produce and fresh flowers are available from
8:30 A.M. until noon. A second farmers market occupies several blocks of Lower State Street every Tuesday from late afternoon till dusk.
Santa Barbara's natural beauty makes the city an ideal setting for a wide variety of festivals and celebrations throughout the year.
In March, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival draws visitors from all over the world to view the best new and unusual films of the year. The festival has frown in reputation and offerings and is a major highlight of the winter season.
From April through October, the city sponsors a series of cultural and ethnic festivals at Oak Park. The Jewish Festival kicks off these weekend-long events. Over the summer , other festivals celebrate Chinese, Irish, French, Greek, Italian, Mexican, and German cultures.
One festival is dedicated exclusively to the city's children. Over Memorial Day weekend, I Madonnari is held at the old mission. An Italian sidewalk chalk-painting festival and arts and crafts show, this annual event benefits a nonprofit arts organization called the Children's Creative Project.
In June, the city puts on a most unusual celebration: the Summer Solstice Parade. It was begun by a few friends who decided to celebrate the solstice one year by dancing down State Street. The parade, which draws more than 80,000 people each June, is unique in that no mechanical contraptions or marching bands are allowed, and there are no equestrians or floats in the traditional sense. Rather, the "floats" consist of costumes and getups created by the parade participants and, depending on the theme of the day, can range from giant papier-m�ch� zoo animals to a seascape featuring a 12-foot inflatable squid. The result is pure artistic whimsy.
For 10 days in early July, the city hosts the annual Semana Nautica Sports Festival. Amateur athletes come from all over the world to compete in events such as lifeguard championships, a triathlon, jet-ski races, and a three-mile ocean swim.
In the first week of August, the city celebrates its heritage with the annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta. It is essentially a four-day party, during which residents enjoy parades, nightly shows of dance and music, two marketplaces, where one can find every imaginable example of Mexican cuisine, and parties galore.
Over Labor Day weekend, the International Jazz Festival puts the city in a musical mood. The festival is held on the beach at the base of Stearns Wharf and features the best of the region's jazz musicians, as well as well-known bands from New Orleans and other major jazz venues.