Calendar of Events
Whatever time of year you visit Santa Barbara, you might want to make your to-do lists in pencil rather than pen. Year-round sunshine, ocean views and laid-back luxury set the stage for an abundance of festivals, concerts and special events.
Starting with the star-studded Santa Barbara International Film Festival (January/February), the calendar of The American Riviera® overflows with culture, color, food and fun. Signature events include Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Summer Solstice Parade, Harbor & Seafood Festival, Vintners' Festival, epicure.sb: a month to savor santa barbara, Earth Day Festival and more.
And those are just the special events (though Santa Barbara does have a way of making almost any event special). Live music fills the air above the Santa Barbara Bowl from spring to fall. Local artisans share their work at arts and crafts shows every Sunday and 1st Thursday celebrations every month. Farmers markets, writing conferences, art exhibits, theater performances, lectures - whatever your passion, you'll find something wonderful during your stay. In fact, many somethings. So do bring you planner - just remember that pencil.
Featured Partner
Monday May 21, 2012
- May 21, 2012 - July 31, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: Mon-Sat 6AM-7PM; Sun 6AM-6PM
- Location: Anna's Bakery
- Address: 7018 Marketplace Drive, Goleta, CA 93117
- Phone: 805-898-1419
In 1998, upon discovering Santa Barbara as a tourist, Maine-resident Nancy Rinn quickly packed up her family and moved here, never looking back. Parts of her ten-year stay in the rock-bound, blueberry-growing state of Maine have crept back into her consciousness and are explored in this colorful show of her newest works: cats from Maine shelters, rocks that make Maine's coast uniquely beautiful yet forbidding, and more.
- May 21, 2012 - September 03, 2013
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: 10:30AM-4:30PM
- Address: 27 W Anapamu, Suite #226, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-705-0562
- Venue: Adventure Hummer and Backroads Wine Tours
Nestled between lakes, forest and the ocean are over 150 vineyards that beckon to travelers to taste some of the finest wines in the country. Our daily tour is aboard a fleet of open air and enclosed luxury Hummers. Tours include tasting fees, souvenir wine glass and a delicious lunch.
- May 21, 2012 - May 31, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: Varying event times. See website for details.
- Location: Varying event locations. See website for details.
A month-long celebration reaching thousands of Santa Barbara cyclists and community members with wide-ranging bike events for all, CycleMAYnia is a collaboration of community members and organizations.
- May 21, 2012
- Times: 5:30PM
- Location: Santa Barbara Contractors Association
- Address: 914 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-568-3514
Enjoy a FREE BBQ & Workshop with your fellow community members, learn how you can be more comfortable in your home AND save money with home energy improvements! Attend and enter to win a FREE HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT (Courtesy of Allen Associates)
- May 21, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: 2PM on Sunday, 7:30PM on Monday
- Address: 751 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-963-0408
- Venue: Center Stage Theater
Great stories, by wonderful authors, do you need anything more?
- May 21, 2012 - June 03, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: Opening Reception on 1st Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 5-8PM
- Address: 7 E. Anapamu, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-730-1460
- Venue: Sullivan-Goss Books/Arts & Letters Cafe
Since 1984, Sullivan Goss has represented Fisher's work, and upon her death in 1995, the gallery purchased her estate. This marks her sixth solo show with the gallery. Anya Fisher: Kaleidoscope will be on view in the contemporary gallery across from Howard Warshaw: New Forms.
- May 21, 2012 - July 01, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: Opening Reception: 4/5 during 1st Thursday from 5-8PM
- Address: 7 E. Anapamu, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-730-1460
- Venue: Sullivan-Goss Books/Arts & Letters Cafe
Sullivan Goss - An American Gallery is proud to present JOSEPH GOLDYNE: WATERFALLS, the international debut of a breathtaking new body of paintings by critically acclaimed artist, Joseph Goldyne.
- May 21, 2012 - July 01, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: Daily Gallery Hours
- Address: 7 E. Anapamu, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 1.805.730.1460
- Venue: Sullivan-Goss Books/Arts & Letters Cafe
Anders Aldrin (1899-1970) moved to Los Angeles in 1923 with a passion for painting that had been suppressed for most of his life. Aldrin succeeded in preserving a historic record of this shift in industrialization through his expressive and boldly colored paintings.
- May 21, 2012 - June 11, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Monday
- Times: 8-10PM
- Location: The Santa Barbara Housing Co-Op
- Address: 777 Camino Pescadero, Isla Vista, CA 93117
The Lindy Circle is a student-run organization dedicated to teaching Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. We welcome everyone with an interest in swing dancing to come check us out! Our lessons are free! 8 to 9pm: Beginner lesson 8 to 9pm: Intermediate lesson 9 to 10pm: Open dancing to DJ music
- May 21, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Monday
- Times: 9-11AM
- Address: 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Phone: 805-682-4711
- Venue: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Join naturalist and expert birder Fred Emerson to study and observe Spring bird life at local creeks, sloughs and beaches. We will emphasize in migrating birds.
- May 21, 2012 - June 01, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: 1st Thursday Reception: 5/3, 5-8PM; Exhibit on view M-F 9AM-5PM
- Location: CASA Gallery
- Address: 23 E. Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-965-6448
Lenore Tolegian Hughes launches her coming of age novel, Cups of Fortune, which fills each reader with the longing to eat well, laugh out loud and predict the future in their coffee cup like an Armenian fortune-teller.
- May 21, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: Daily Departures to Accommodate Guests
- Location: Visitors Center - 1 Garden Street or hotel pick-up
- Address: P.O. Box 90251, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
- Phone: 805-448-8425
1-hour, 15 min narrated city tour of Santa Barbara and Montecito. Highlights include the Mission, El Presidio, Wharf/Harbor, Courthouse, family fun spots, celebrity trivia and a breathtaking view from the Riviera. Small lap dogs welcome. The wine tour takes you to 4 vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley. Included are your tasting fees and an organic picnic lunch. Visit Solvang (Danish Community), do some olive oil tasting and stop by the 125 year old Cold Springs Tavern (optional... Details
- May 21, 2012 - January 01, 2013
- Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
- Times: 10:30AM and 2PM
- Address: 1100 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Phone: 805-962-6464
- Venue: Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Learn the history behind the architecture and explore the Sunken Gardens! Call to make reservations.
- May 21, 2012 - June 29, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Times: 1st Thursday Reception; 4/5 5-8PM
- Location: Gallery 113
- Address: La Arcadia Court - 1100 Block of State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Photographic art show at Gallery 113
- May 21, 2012
- Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Monday
- Times: 5:30-7PM
- Location: Arnoldi's Restaurant
- Address: 600 Olive St (at Cota St), Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Buon giorno! Practice your Italian. Meet new friends. Free! All levels welcome. Drinks and Italian food available for purchase if you'd like.
