2024 Santa Barbara Fair & Expo April 25-28 and May 3-5

The Annual Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is planned for April 25-28 and May 3-5, 2024 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara.

The event will feature carnival rides, farm animals, fair food, great live entertainment and more. There will be over 30 rides and attractions, pony rides, petting zoo, kids' carnival, live entertainment featuring music, illusions, dancing, magic and more, expo showcase of local foods, wine and beer, arts and crafts, horticulture and fine arts displays, free samples of featured desserts, appetizers and other foods at the Fair & Expo Cooking Contest and interactive exhibits. Fair hours as follows:

• Thursday April 25th, 4pm - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday April 26th, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Saturday April 27th, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday April 28th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday May 3rd, 4pm - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Saturday May 4th, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday May 5th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit earlwarren.com/events/santa-barbara-fair-and-expo.

Nite Moves Run, Swim, Duathlon Series in Santa Barbara May 22 to Aug 28, 2024

The annual Nite Moves - Swimming, Running & Biathlon events take place every Wednesday evening at Leadbetter Beach Park, 801 Shoreline Road, Santa Barbara from May 22 through August 28, 2024. Onsite registration begins at 5:15 pm. Swim starts at 6:25 pm; run at 6:35 pm.

Ocean conditions vary...Many brave this distance without a suit...Great workout for getting swim experience in a crowd as we usually have a 100 swimmers at the starting line...5K footraces begin at the east end of Shoreline. Out and back course with majestic views of the Santa Ynez Mountains circling Santa Barbara, race back and view Stearns Wharf, finishing at Leadbetter Beach Park.

More information at www.runsantabarbara.com/nite-moves or sign up directly at www.active.com/santa-barbara-ca/running/nite-moves-2024

Butterflies Alive! Exhibit at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Open May 25 to September 2, 2024

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opens its popular summer exhibit Butterflies Alive! on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Guests are invited to walk through a serene garden while nearly 1,000 live butterflies flutter freely around them. Various butterfly species cycle through the Sprague Butterfly Pavilion during the summer, so no two visits are the same.

The exhibit is included in admission and open Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Last entry into the pavilion is at 4:00 PM. Reservations are recommended at sbnature.org/tickets.

The Museum is also offering volunteer opportunities to guide guests through the unique experience. Adults who are able to commit to one 2.5-hour shift per week are encouraged to apply at sbnature.org/volunteer. Bilingual English/Spanish speakers and those available to volunteer on weekends are especially helpful in sharing this community favorite with the public.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is a private, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

2024 Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival on Saturday, October 19th

When it comes to fresh seafood, you can’t get it any fresher than right off the boat. On October 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival lures seafood lovers of all ages to Santa Barbara’s thriving harbor for one of the community’s most beloved and flavorful events. 

This signature event coincides with lobster season and features local commercial fishermen offering the Santa Barbara Channel’s freshest seafood. Fishermen and seafood vendors will provide thousands of festival-goers with an abundance of live lobster, crab, prawns, BBQ albacore, clam chowder, fish tacos, seafood gumbo and other prepared dishes. Arts and crafts vendors will offer jewelry, clothing, art, photography and other hand-crafted items.

Admission is FREE. Since 2002, the annual Harbor and Seafood Festival has become Santa Barbara’s signature autumn event. It brings people together for a day full of fun and good memories.

For more information, visit harborfestival.org. Location: Harbor Way.

38th Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at Santa Barbara Mission May 25-27, 2024

Madonnari, or street painters, transform the Santa Barbara Mission plaza each year over Memorial Day weekend using pastels on pavement to create 130 vibrant and colorful, large scale images. The event is produced by the Children’s Creative Project.

The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will be back over Memorial Day Weekend 2024, May 25-27. at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2100 Laguna Street. Festival hours are 10am to 6pm.

There will also be live music and food available for purchase.

Pets are not allowed (other than service animals).

Learn more at www.imadonnarifestival.com.

SoCal Museums "Museum Free-for-All" Day on Saturday, March 23, 2024

SoCal Museums announces the Museums Free-for-All on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Over thirty museums—presenting art, cultural heritage, film, natural history, and science—will open their doors and offer free general admission.

Of particular interest to local audiences, the following Santa Barbara and Ventura County museums will be participating in Museums Free-for-All:

• Museum of Ventura County

• Santa Barbara Museum of Art

• Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

More details at socalmuseums.org/annual-free-for-all-2024

The Free-for-All also serves as a reminder that free visitor days are available year-round at museums across Southern California. A calendar of free days can be found at socalmuseums.org/free.

27th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake on April 20-21, 2024

The 27th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake begins at 6 am on April 20 until noon on April 21, 2024.

This year’s fishing derby will include prize categories for multiple types of fish such as crappie, catfish, trout, bass, sunfish and carp. The prize pool dollar amount has been increased this year which means everyone has a chance to win great cash prizes, fishing gear, and more!

Visit www.troutderby.org for more information and to register.

Underwater Parks Day Festival at Sea Center in Santa Barbara on Saturday, January 20, 2024

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center located on Stearns Wharf is offering free admission to its Underwater Parks Day Festival on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 10:00 AM–3:00 PM thanks to support from the Moeller Lab at UC Santa Barbara.

The Underwater Parks Day Festival celebrates Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), or “underwater parks,” that preserve the biodiversity and abundance of ocean life in our coastal waters. Some of the most nutrient rich waters on the planet are located in the Santa Barbara and Channel Islands region. These waters support abundant marine life found in kelp forests, tide pools, and rocky intertidal reef habitats. MPAs restrict fishing and the overharvesting of these incredibly diverse marine ecosystems to promote stable species populations and recreational use for future generations of visitors.

Underwater Parks Day is celebrated in unison with many aquariums and science centers in Southern California.

The Sea Center is located at 211 Stearns Wharf and is open daily from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. For more information, visit sbnature.org or call 805-962-2526.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

Located on historic Stearns Wharf, this highly interactive regional aquarium and marine education facility offers guests close encounters with marine animals, and exploration of the Santa Barbara Channel on the Wet Deck. In addition to permanent exhibits, the Sea Center hosts unique events and special educational programming, including Underwater Parks Day and World Oceans Day.

76th Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show on March 8-10, 2024

The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show returns to Earl Warren Showgrounds March 8-10, 2024. Show hours are 9am to 5pm daily.

This is the longest running and one of the largest annual orchid shows in the United States. General admission to the show is $20 for one day; $30 for a 3-day pass. Children 12 and under are free with paying adult. Tickets are available in advance at www.sborchidshow.com.

The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to share the joy of the orchid world and educates the public about orchids via its annual show.

2023 Free Concerts in the Park in Santa Barbara, Thursday Nights in July

Free concerts at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara on Thursday nights from 6-7:30pm during the month of July! All concerts are free to the public and held in the grassy meadow at Chase Palm Park on Cabrillo Blvd. between Garden and Calle Cesar Chavez Streets.

2023 Series Schedule

July 6 – Paradise Kings (Rock, Blues, and Swing)
July 13 – The Molly Ringwald Project (80’s Dance Hits)
July 20 – Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries (50’s & 60’s Rock n’ Roll)
July 27 – Mezcal Martini (Latin Jazz)

www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/concerts