Every year, Santa Barbara hosts a multitude of festivals and celebrations, from Earth Day and the annual Summer Solstice Parade, I Madonnari chalk paintings,to our famous Fiesta – Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days, featuring great food and music, colorful costumes and elaborate floats, and fun for all ages.
Santa Barbara contains numerous performing art venues, including the 2,000 seat Arlington Theatre, the largest indoor performance venue in Santa Barbara; the Lobero Theatre, a historic building and favorite venue for small concerns; the Granada Theater, the tallest building downtown, recently remodeled and reopened in March 2008; and the Santa Barbara Bowl, a 4,562 seat amphitheatre used for outdoor concerts, nestled in a picturesque canon northwest of Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art features an impressive collection of permanent and special exhibits. Catch the Santa Barbara Symphony at the newly restored Granada Theater, or watch your favorite stars walk the red carpet outside the Arlington at the annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Distinctive Architecture, History and Charm.
The colorful history of Santa Barbara is captured in the distinctive architecture and Mediterranean-style red tile roofs throughout the city. Visit many of our historic Spanish style buildings like Santa Barbara’s distinctive Courthouse. Built in 1926, it is famous for its mural rooms, beautiful sunken gardens, and breathtaking views of the entire city from the building’sMission roof top. Sights of Santa Barbara’s Spanish colonial past can be found at the Old Spanish Mission, the tenth of 21 Franciscan Missions of California. This architectural masterpiece was founded in 1786 and is known as the “Queen of Missions” for its graceful beauty, colorful rose gardens and lovely vistas.
Looking for more charm?
Montecito has it all! Quaint, quiet, and beautiful. Many call it the “crown jewel” of Santa Barbara. Both the upper and lower villages of Montecito have lovely shops, outdoor cafes, salons and fine dining. Another appealing aspect of Montecito is its pristine beaches where visitors can take a stroll down Butterfly Beach to Fernald’s Point. With its lavish estate homes and cozy bungalows,
this small community is home to many celebrities and visitors alike.