2025 Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival on Saturday, October 18th

When it comes to fresh seafood, you can’t get it any fresher than right off the boat. On October 18, 2025, 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. There will also be vessel tours, harbor boat rides, and live music.

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.

Butterflies Alive! Exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Open May 24 to September 1, 2025

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opens its popular summer exhibit Butterflies Alive! on Saturday, May 24, 2025 and will be open until September 1st.

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 requires $3 tickets in addition to regular admission and is open daily, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Last entry into the pavilion is at 4:30 PM. Reservations are recommended at sbnature.org/tickets. Admission to the museum is $19 for ages 18-64, $17 for 65+ and 13-17, $14 for ages 2-12 and free for toddlers under age 2.

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.

2025 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.

2025 Series Schedule

July 3 – The Molly Ringwald Project
July 10 – Captain Cardiac and The Coronaries 
July 17 – The Academy 
July 24 – Soul Majestic

www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/concerts

2025 Independence Day Fireworks Display in Santa Barbara on Friday, July 4th

The City of Santa Barbara is hosting its annual Independence Day fireworks display beginning at 9pm on Friday, July 4, 2025 off West Beach.

From noon to 8:50pm there will be live music at the West Beach bandstand. From 11am to 9pm, enjoy food and vendor booths on the Cabrillo Boulevard Sidewalk at West Beach.

Radio simulcast on 92.9 KjEE (92.9 FM) or watch a livestream of the fireworks show at KEYT.com. The show is about 20 minutes long.

More details at www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/waterfront/events/july4.asp.

2025 She.Is.Beautiful 5K and 10K in Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 6th

The 2025 She.Is.Beautiful 5K and 10K will take place in Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 6th.

This women's only race is known for it's sass, inspirational quotes, fun, and course flair. She.is.beautiful welcomes women of all ages and encourages everyone to strut their sassiest pinkest outfits! In addition to promoting self-esteem, camaraderie and health among women, our proceeds benefit Girls Incorporated in Santa Barbara.

Visit runsheisbeautiful.com to learn more and to register.

Nite Moves Run, Swim, Duathlon Series in Santa Barbara May 21 to Aug 27, 2025

The annual Nite Moves - Swimming, Running & Biathlon events take place every Wednesday evening at Leadbetter Beach Park, 801 Shoreline Road, Santa Barbara from May 21 through August 27, 2025. 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-2025

39th Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at Santa Barbara Mission May 24-26, 2025

The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will be back over Memorial Day Weekend 2025, May 24-26. at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2100 Laguna Street. Festival hours are 10am to 6pm.

Madonnari, or street painters, transform the Santa Barbara Mission plaza each year over Memorial Day weekend using pastels on pavement to create over 100 vibrant and colorful, large scale images. The event is produced by the Children’s Creative Project.

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.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Planned for April 26-27, 2025

The 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Now in its 55th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and is one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and co-produced with longtime festival partner, CarpEvents, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival continues to serve as a beacon for environmental advocacy and education.

This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s theme Our Power, Our Planet, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy. Their Earth Day Action Day encourages all to take action to educate, activate and mobilize.

The 2025 festival — which is free to attend — anticipates all of the fun of past years. Highlights of this year’s event include a plant-forward Food Court, a Green Car show featuring free “Ride & Drive'' experiences, over 200 eco-friendly exhibitors, Beer & Wine Garden, Kids Zone filled with activities, two full days of live music, and so much more.

Learn more at www.SBEarthDay.org.

2025 Santa Barbara Fair & Expo April 24-27 and May 2-4

The Annual Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is planned for April 24-27 and May 2-4, 2025 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 24th, 4pm - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday April 25th, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Saturday April 26th, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday April 27th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday May 2nd, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Saturday May 3rd, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday May 4th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

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

28th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake on April 26-27, 2025

The 28th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake begins at 6 am on April 26 until noon on April 27, 2025.

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.