Life in Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara is a lively town with activities and events for everyone. Below are some recommendations for what to do around town from the NCEAS community.
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Pro Tip: One of the best things to do as a newbie to Santa Barbara is purchase an Axxess Card! It's only $40 but can get you discounts and 2-for-1 specials at hotspots around the city including restaurants, wineries, breweries, even dry cleaning and auto shop deals. We usually have at least one local NCEAS resident that sells them each year.
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Local Events
Festivals
The Earth Day festival was started shortly after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill which catalyzed the establishment of Earth Day. Right around June 21 the Summer Solstice Celebration begins, which includes a lively and colorful parade and a summer kick off in Alameda Park.
Santa Barbara has festivals year round. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a 2 week long festival in February that brings hundreds of movies to theaters around the city and also attracts some A-list celebrities each year (Leo!). Pro tip - the best way to see the films is to volunteer.
Other festivals include the Strawberry Festival, Avocado Festival, Lemon Festival, California Wine Festival, Sol Food Festival, Harbor & Seafood festival and more.
Art events
First Thursday
On the first Thursday of every month local retail shops and art galleries keep their doors open late for a community art walk. This usually goes from 5 - 8 and some shops provide light appetizers and drinks for patrons. For more information click here.
Sunday Art Walk
Every Sunday from 10am to dusk local artisans set up tents along Cabrillo boulevard showcasing their artwork. Click here for more info.
Funk Zone Art Walks
The Funk Zone has art galleries interspersed among the wine tasting rooms and about once a month there is an Art Walk in this area. Local galleries usually open their doors for patrons and sometimes provide some food or drink at no cost.
Music
There are plenty of venues around town to catch small to large acts. The Santa Barbara Bowl sits on the lower riviera with views of the ocean and the city from the upper bar (pro tip: always go to the upper bar!). This venue seats 4,500 making it the largest venue in town. It also receives the biggest acts including Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Florence & The Machine, Alabama Shakes and more.
Other venues in town include SoHo, the Lobero Theater, the Granada Theater and the Arlington Theater.
Events on Campus and Beyond
The Earth Day festival was started shortly after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill which catalyzed the establishment of Earth Day. Right around June 21 the Summer Solstice Celebration begins, which includes a lively and colorful parade and a summer kick off in Alameda Park.
Santa Barbara has festivals year round. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a 2 week long festival in February that brings hundreds of movies to theaters around the city and also attracts some A-list celebrities each year (Leo!). Pro tip - the best way to see the films is to volunteer.
Other festivals include the Strawberry Festival, Avocado Festival, Lemon Festival, California Wine Festival, Sol Food Festival, Harbor & Seafood festival and more.
Art events
First Thursday
On the first Thursday of every month local retail shops and art galleries keep their doors open late for a community art walk. This usually goes from 5 - 8 and some shops provide light appetizers and drinks for patrons. For more information click here.
Sunday Art Walk
Every Sunday from 10am to dusk local artisans set up tents along Cabrillo boulevard showcasing their artwork. Click here for more info.
Funk Zone Art Walks
The Funk Zone has art galleries interspersed among the wine tasting rooms and about once a month there is an Art Walk in this area. Local galleries usually open their doors for patrons and sometimes provide some food or drink at no cost.
Music
There are plenty of venues around town to catch small to large acts. The Santa Barbara Bowl sits on the lower riviera with views of the ocean and the city from the upper bar (pro tip: always go to the upper bar!). This venue seats 4,500 making it the largest venue in town. It also receives the biggest acts including Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Florence & The Machine, Alabama Shakes and more.
Other venues in town include SoHo, the Lobero Theater, the Granada Theater and the Arlington Theater.
Events on Campus and Beyond
- UCSB Arts and Lectures - includes lectures, films, and other events, including many that center diversity and justice (e.g., recent “Race to Justice” series)
- Carsey Wolf Center supports research, teaching, and public programming about media and has great events/screenings.
- Coffee with a Black Guy - “a time to share stories, have conversations, impart perspective or just listen and learn from fellow citizens of the world”
- UCSB Multicultural Center normally holds many community-building events, but has gone 100% virtual under COVID
- Summer Courthouse Movie Series - Each summer the Arts & Lectures series shows movies in the sunken garden of the Courthouse every Friday around 8pm. This years theme is "Animated movies'. Movie-goers save spots with blankets and chairs and bring food and drinks to enjoy during the movie. For the schedule check here.
Getting Active
Hiking
The Santa Barbara foothills and back country provide ample miles of hiking trails for all ages and abilities. For tons of great local hikes, walks, and biking routes check out:
Fitness classes
Equipment
Community sports
Santa Barbara has many community sport activities. One of the most popular is beach volleyball but there is also soccer, sailing and ultimate frisbee among others.
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands sit just off Santa Barbara and are full of opportunity to hike, dive, kayak and explore. If you don't have a boat, the easiest way to get to the islands is to use Island Packers out of Ventura. Local dive operators in Santa Barbara and Ventura offer single and multiple day diving excursions on the islands.
The Santa Barbara foothills and back country provide ample miles of hiking trails for all ages and abilities. For tons of great local hikes, walks, and biking routes check out:
- Santa Barbara Hikes
- Hikespeak
- alltrails.com
- Plus a few suggested trails/spaces for those new to the area:
- Popular front country hiking (many of which allow mountain bikes as well) in Santa Barbara: Inspiration Point, Spyglass Ridge Rd. & Tunnel Trail, Seven Falls, Rattlesnake Canyon Trail, Jesusita and Montecito: Cold Spring, Hot Springs, Saddle Rock, San Ysidro, McMenemy, Romero Canyon
- Open spaces: San Marcos Foothill Preserve, More Mesa, Elings Park (parking fee on weekends; dogs must have a membership), Arroyo Burro Beach (aka Hendry’s), Douglas Family Preserve (aka Wilcox), Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (requires entry fee)
- Paved walking/biking routes:
- Obern Bike Trail: a paved trail that runs from Modoc Rd. (Santa Barbara) to Goleta Beach; used largely by bike commuters but also a beautiful place to ride/run/walk for fun
Fitness classes
- Zumba with Josette Tkacik (the biggest Zumba class in the country!!) -- classes held every day
- Parks and Recreation offers lots of low-cost classes
- UCSB Department of Recreation offers classes and exercise facilities for staff and students
- Santa Barbara City College School of Extended Learning offers low-cost fitness classes
Equipment
- Gear rentals through UCSB Adventure Programs via the Adventure Rental Center
- Play it Again Sports for used gear purchase
Community sports
Santa Barbara has many community sport activities. One of the most popular is beach volleyball but there is also soccer, sailing and ultimate frisbee among others.
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands sit just off Santa Barbara and are full of opportunity to hike, dive, kayak and explore. If you don't have a boat, the easiest way to get to the islands is to use Island Packers out of Ventura. Local dive operators in Santa Barbara and Ventura offer single and multiple day diving excursions on the islands.
Transportation
- While cars are certainly the fastest way to get around town, biking and the Santa Barbara MTD (bus) are both popular alternative modes of transportation
Connecting with Community Groups
- Meetup Santa Barbara
- Juneteenth Santa Barbara: https://twitter.com/JuneteenthSB
- Pacific Pride Foundation
- Casa de la Raza: local nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the Latino community in Santa Barbara
- Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
- Healing Justice Santa Barbara: a Black-led and Black-centered organizing collective that aspires to uplift all Black/African-Americans to affirm that they are deserving of safety, love, equity, respect, and joy.
- Showing up for Racial Justice SB: Santa Barbara Chapter of a national organization committed to drawing white people into the multiracial movement for racial justice in ways that are effective and accountable.
Resources for Families
UCSB has compiled an extensive list of child care providers, summer camps, lactation support, child fitness and sports programs, elder care resources, and other family resources in Santa Barbara, as well as relevant university policies. Check it out here!
Dining
NCEAS location in downtown Santa Barbara provides visitors and residents access to some great dining options.
You can also check out this list of Black-owned businesses in Santa Barbara
*NCEAS residents favorites
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Lunch favorites
Blue Owl* Three Pickles Kanaloa Seafood* South Coast Deli Panino Pickles & Swiss |
Coffee
Handlebar Coffee* French Press Cajé Coffee |
Wine + Beer + Cocktails
Crush Bar & Tap The Draftsman Figueroa Mtn. Brewery* Elsie's* The Good Lion The Pickle Room |
Farmers Markets
Santa Barbara has a farmer's market almost every day of the week. On Tuesday from 3-7 the market is held on State Street just a couple block south of NCEAS. On Saturday mornings it is held just off State street downtown from 8 - 12;30. Check locations and times here.
Santa Barbara has a farmer's market almost every day of the week. On Tuesday from 3-7 the market is held on State Street just a couple block south of NCEAS. On Saturday mornings it is held just off State street downtown from 8 - 12;30. Check locations and times here.
