2026 Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival on Saturday, October 17th

When it comes to fresh seafood, you can’t get it any fresher than right off the boat. On October 17, 2026, 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.

2026 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.

2026 Series Schedule

July 2 – The New Vibe (Funk with a hip hop twist)
July 9 – Jason Libs and the Liberation (Rock from the ‘70s to today)
July 16 – The Mighty Cash Cats (Johnny Cash hits and country classics)
July 23 – Spencer the Gardener (Eclectic mix of pop and surf rock)

www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/concerts

2026 Independence Day Fireworks Display in Santa Barbara on Saturday, July 4th

The City of Santa Barbara is hosting its annual Independence Day fireworks display beginning at 9pm on Saturday, July 4, 2026 off West Beach.

From noon to 8:45pm 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.

Sea Center Celebrates World Oceans Day with Free Admission in Santa Barbara on June 6, 2026

Sea Center Celebrates World Oceans Day with Free Admission

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center on Stearns Wharf invites the community to celebrate World Oceans Day with free admission and a full day of ocean-themed activities from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Guests of all ages can meet animals from the Santa Barbara Channel, explore interactive exhibits, and connect with local organizations working to protect and study our ocean.

Community partners include The Nature Conservancy California, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, UCSB Marine Science Institute and Long-Term Ecological Research, Santa Barbara Surfrider Foundation, The Cultured Abalone Farm, Celebration Cruises (Lil’ Toot!), Sunflower Star Lab, Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, CSU Long Beach Shark Lab, and the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara. Each partner will offer unique insights into ocean research, conservation, and maritime culture.

The celebration extends across Stearns Wharf. Guests can pick up a World Oceans Day passport at the Sea Center and collect stamps at participating Wharf businesses, including Lil’ Toot Santa Barbara, Moby Dick Restaurant, Deep Sea Tasting Room, Nature’s Own Gallery, and Mother Stearns Candy Company, with special offers available June 6 and 7. Adventurous folks who get their entire passport filled with stamps can enter into a drawing to win a special gift basket by returning their full passport back to the Sea Center.  

No reservations required. For more information and upcoming events, visit sbnature.org/calendar. 

Butterflies Alive! Exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Open May 23 to September 7, 2026

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opens its popular summer exhibit Butterflies Alive! on Saturday, May 23, 2026 and will be open until September 7th.

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 $20 for ages 18-64, $17 for 65+ and 13-17, $15 for ages 2-12 and free for toddlers under age 2.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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.

Nite Moves Run, Swim, Duathlon Series in Santa Barbara May 20 to Aug 26, 2026

The annual Nite Moves - Swimming, Running & Biathlon events take place every Wednesday evening at Leadbetter Beach Park, 801 Shoreline Road, Santa Barbara from May 20 through August 26, 2026. Onsite registration begins at 5:15 pm. Swim starts at 6:25 pm; run at 6:35 pm.

Ocean conditions vary. 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/distance-running-races/nite-moves-2026

40th Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at Santa Barbara Mission May 23-25, 2026

The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will be back over Memorial Day Weekend 2026, May 23-25. 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 25-26, 2026

The 2026 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 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.

The 2026 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.

2026 Santa Barbara Fair & Expo April 23-26 and May 1-3

The Annual Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is planned for April 23-26 and May 1-3, 2026 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 23, 4pm - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday April 24, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Saturday April 25, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday April 26, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday May 1, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Saturday May 2, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday May 3, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

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

29th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fish Derby at Cachuma Lake on April 18-19, 2026

The 29th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake begins at 6 am on April 18 until noon on April 19, 2026.

This year’s fishing derby will include prize categories for multiple types of fish such as crappie, catfish, trout, bass, sunfish and carp for all ages. Registration fees range from $15 for ages 4-15 to $35 for 16+ by February 28th. (Fees for 16+ increase after that date.)

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