Butterflies Alive! Exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Open May 24 to September 1, 2025

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opens its popular summer exhibit Butterflies Alive! on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

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 is included in admission and 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 $19 for ages 18-64, $17 for 65+ and 13-17, $14 for ages 2-12 and free for toddlers under age 2.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. 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 21 to Aug 27, 2025

The annual Nite Moves - Swimming, Running & Biathlon events take place every Wednesday evening at Leadbetter Beach Park, 801 Shoreline Road, Santa Barbara from May 21 through August 27, 2025. Onsite registration begins at 5:15 pm. Swim starts at 6:25 pm; run at 6:35 pm.

Ocean conditions vary...Many brave this distance without a suit...Great workout for getting swim experience in a crowd as we usually have a 100 swimmers at the starting line...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/nite-moves-2025

39th Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at Santa Barbara Mission May 24-26, 2025

The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will be back over Memorial Day Weekend 2025, May 24-26. 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 26-27, 2025

The 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 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.

This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s theme Our Power, Our Planet, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy. Their Earth Day Action Day encourages all to take action to educate, activate and mobilize.

The 2025 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.

2025 Santa Barbara Fair & Expo April 24-27 and May 2-4

The Annual Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is planned for April 24-27 and May 2-4, 2025 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 24th, 4pm - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday April 25th, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Saturday April 26th, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday April 27th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday May 2nd, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Saturday May 3rd, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday May 4th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

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

28th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake on April 26-27, 2025

The 28th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby at Cachuma Lake begins at 6 am on April 26 until noon on April 27, 2025.

This year’s fishing derby will include prize categories for multiple types of fish such as crappie, catfish, trout, bass, sunfish and carp. The prize pool dollar amount has been increased this year which means everyone has a chance to win great cash prizes, fishing gear, and more!

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

Underwater Parks Day Festival at Sea Center in Santa Barbara on Saturday, January 18, 2025

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center located on Stearns Wharf is offering free admission to its Underwater Parks Day Festival on Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM thanks to support from the Moeller Lab at UC Santa Barbara.

The Underwater Parks Day Festival celebrates Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), or “underwater parks,” that preserve the biodiversity and abundance of ocean life in our coastal waters. Some of the most nutrient rich waters on the planet are located in the Santa Barbara and Channel Islands region. These waters support abundant marine life found in kelp forests, tide pools, and rocky intertidal reef habitats. MPAs restrict fishing and the overharvesting of these incredibly diverse marine ecosystems to promote stable species populations and recreational use for future generations of visitors.

Underwater Parks Day is celebrated in unison with many aquariums and science centers in Southern California.

The Sea Center is located at 211 Stearns Wharf and is open daily from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. For more information, visit sbnature.org or call 805-962-2526.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

Located on historic Stearns Wharf, this highly interactive regional aquarium and marine education facility offers guests close encounters with marine animals, and exploration of the Santa Barbara Channel on the Wet Deck. In addition to permanent exhibits, the Sea Center hosts unique events and special educational programming, including Underwater Parks Day and World Oceans Day.

77th Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show on March 7-9, 2025

The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show returns to Earl Warren Showgrounds March 7-9, 2025. Show hours are 9am to 5pm daily.

This is the longest running and one of the largest annual orchid shows in the United States. General admission to the show is $20 for one day; $30 for a 3-day pass. Children 12 and under are free with paying adult. Tickets are available in advance at www.sborchidshow.com.

The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to share the joy of the orchid world and educates the public about orchids via its annual show.

Sea Center Celebrates World Oceans Day with Free Admission in Santa Barbara on June 8, 2024

Sea Center Celebrates World Oceans Day with Free Admission

Sea Center on Stearns Wharf Celebrates World Oceans Day

Come celebrate World Oceans Day at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf during a festival from 10:00 AM–3:00 PM on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Free admission from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM will be made possible with the generous support of the UCSB Associated Students Coastal Fund and the Stearns Wharf Merchants Association.

During the festival, guests can meet an array of community partners dedicated to ocean conservation and celebration, including Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, California State Parks, UCSB's Caselle Lab, The Fish Reef Project, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps, Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute, Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, Channel Islands Restoration, and Celebration Cruises, who will be raffling off a Lil’ Toot trip package at their table.

The Sea Center features life-size models of a Gray Whale mother and calf, touchpool habitats where guests can touch sea stars and sea anemones, a Wet Deck modeled after a scientific research vessel’s lab, and Shark Cove, where visitors can get up close with small local sharks. In addition to exploring the Sea Center’s interactive exhibits, guests can enjoy storytimes, meeting the Sea Center's very own Toothy the Shark, an announcement of the winners of a marine-themed student art contest, and a display by the Harbor Patrol’s fireboat.

Scheduled activities:

• Storytimes and appearances by Toothy the Shark at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM

• Art contest winners announced at 1:00 PM

• Harbor Patrol Fireboat Display at 3:00 PM

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

2024 Free Concerts in the Park in Santa Barbara, Thursday Nights in June to August

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.

2024 Series Schedule

June 27: The Tearaways

July 11: Brittney & The B-Sides

July 18: Area 51

July 25: Mezcal Martini

August 8: Echoswitch

www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/concerts