The end of summer definitely does not signal the end of fun things to do. With all of the amazing fall festivals near Santa Barbara CA, it seems like there are even more activities! We will break it down for you so you don’t miss anything. But don’t wait too long to book your stay at Eagle Inn; you will want a comfortable place to land after a fun day at the festivals.
There are festivals this year to satisfy almost anyone’s interests; from amazing seafood, to film, to wine, and lemons.
Margaritas Y Más Festival
September 10, 1 pm – 4 pm
Elings Park, 1298 Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara
Margaritas Y Más Festival is the place to try tastings of tequila and mezcal either in a signature cocktail or unadorned. There will be multiple purveyors from Mexico and elsewhere, along with food available from food trucks, jumbo lawn games, and live music.
Lemon Festival
September 24 & 25, starting at 10 am
Grish Park, Goleta
You may ask, why a lemon festival? Goleta’s streets and hillsides are lined with lemon trees as a result of the work of Edgar Stow of Rancho La Patera. He realized that the Goleta climate was perfect for this tart citrus fruit. For almost 50 years, the town of Goleta has celebrated its lemons with the Lemon Festival. There are numerous vendors with differing treats, all containing lemon. There is a lemon pie eating contest, and a Classic Car and Street Rod show (no lemons allowed here). Stroll through the arts and crafts vendors, and listen to live music.
Santa Barbara Vintner’s Festival
October 6 – 10, starting at 11 am
Olde Mission Santa Ines, Solvang
The Santa Barbara Vintner’s Festival is the largest wine tasting in Santa Barbara. The main event is on Saturday, October 8 with the Grand Tasting under numerous tents. You may taste wines from over 50 wineries, along with food purveyors and lots of live music. If you purchase the Vintners Visa, participating wineries are hosting tastings and other events during the weekend.
Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
October 15, starting at 10 am
Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
Come to the Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival and see tall ships, Coast Guard cutters, along with fire boat demonstrations. Enjoy the bounty of the sea with lobster, crab, oysters and prawns, sea urchin uni, albacore BBQ, clam chowder, seafood tacos, and gumbo! If for some reason you don’t care for seafood there will be roasted corn, strawberry shortcakes, and hotdogs. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is sponsoring a special wine and seafood pairing created by four local chefs.
Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival
November 3 – 6
New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival is back with four days of films celebrating Jewish filmmakers from the US, Europe, and Israel. There is a mix of documentaries, short films, comedies, and dramas, with awards!
Fall in Santa Barbara has amazing weather, sunny beaches, and all of these fall festivals nearby to enjoy. Make sure you book your stay at the Eagle Inn and save plenty of time to relax in your private casita. Life doesn’t get much better than this!