Events

Aside from participating in America-wide favorites such as Independence Day (4 July), and Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November) Santa Barbara holds many special events of its own. Favorites include the Paragliding and Hang-Gliding Festival in January; the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January-February; the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival in May, where artists create chalk masterpieces in front of the Mission Santa Barbara, with accompanying Italian food and music; and the Lompoc Flower Festival in June. The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) Theaterfest runs all through June to October, with classical and contemporary theater performances in Santa Barbara and Solvang.

In August the Old Spanish Days Fiesta is held for five days all around Santa Barbara, with mariachi music, two parades, a carnival, Spanish dancing and many, many margaritas. September sees the Danish Days celebration in Solvang, with Danish folk dancing, singing and many, many clogs. The Santa Barbara International Jazz Festival, also held in September, attracts jazz, Latin and world music artists to a three-day party on Leadbetter Beach.