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Santa Barbara Festivals
Santa Barbara International Film Festival (http://www.sbfilmfestival.org)
Celebrating its 22nd year, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) continues to impress with an excellent lineup of films, informative panels, and celebrity tributes featuring the best and brightest in the industry. This year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival began January 25th and included the honoring of Will Smith with the prestigious Modern Master Award for his career accomplishments, including this year's The Pursuit of Happyness.
Former Vice-President Al Gore and Director Davis Guggenheim received the Attenborough Award for excellence in nature filmmaking for their acclaimed film, An Inconvenient Truth.
In addition to the tributes, the 2007 Festival presented over 200 feature films, over 50 short films, 6 Sidebar programs, 5 Panel discussions, several "Conversations with..." interviews, the 10-10-10 Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Competitions, and free "3rd Weekend" screenings after the festival.
Summer Solstice Celebration & Parade (http://www.solsticeparade.com)
Today, the Summer Solstice Celebration has evolved into a street carnival of more than 1,000 parade participants, of all ethnic backgrounds, complete with extravagant floats, whimsical costumes and creatively choreographed dancing ensembles. Also included is an annual artistic competition for the Solstice T-shirt and Poster design to be sold as the main fundraising vehicle for the event. Visit our Solstice Store or Poster Gallery today to purchase T-shirts or posters from year's past. The Festival in Alameda Park grew from the earlier gatherings at the following in the sunken gardens of the County Courthouse. When the number of people outgrew the size of the courthouse the event was moved to Alameda Park. The Alameda Park is where everyone can enjoy music, food, arts and crafts, a drum circle, a special free children’s festival and more.
Avocado Festival (http://www.avofest.com)
This annual event takes place in the first week of October and has grown into one of the largest festivals in California. The city of Carpinteria (just south of Santa Barbara) hosts the South-Coast’s largest free festival with three days of food, entertainment, and fun. Many acts, vendors, and, of course, guacamole, make this a must-visit event.
The Santa Barbara area hosts many more festivals (over 15) throughout the year, proof that Santa Barbara’s arts and culture are visible in the life of the community.
