Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Eleven days of film in downtown's historic theatres, with red-carpet tributes to major stars, hundreds of screenings and filmmaker panels.
Signature Events
Santa Barbara is home to some world-class events.
Santa Barbara International Orchid Show
Growers from around the world bring huge displays of rare orchids, plus orchid art, arrangements and plants for sale.
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
One of the country's biggest and longest-running Earth Day festivals, with a green car show, eco marketplace, live music, family activities and plant-forward food.
Polo Season at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club
Professional and amateur polo on the fields by the coast, with Friday evening matches and Sunday polo through the season.
I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival
Artists chalk huge, colorful street paintings across the Mission plaza over three days, 10 am–6 pm. It's the Children's Creative Project's main fundraiser for arts education in county schools.
Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration
Santa Barbara's biggest and most eccentric arts party: a non-commercial, people-powered parade of giant puppets, handmade costumes and music, then a weekend festival in Alameda Park.
Pacific Pride Festival
The Pacific Pride Foundation's LGBTQ+ celebration by the beach, with performances, drag, music, art and community booths.
Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
A free day on the waterfront to open lobster season: buy fresh local crab, prawns, urchin and lobster straight from the fishermen, with live music and boat rides.