With parades, fireworks and family-friendly activities in abundance, Santa Barbara County has plenty of events planned for this year’s Fourth of July holiday.
On the South Coast, there are multiple Independence Day fireworks shows and festivals from which to choose.
Downtown Santa Barbara
The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation is hosting the 56th Annual Fourth of July Parade at 1 p.m. Thursday and a 5 p.m. Fourth of July Concert at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden.
The parade begins at 1 p.m. at Micheltorena and State streets and continues down State to Cota Street. It feature entries from the Santa Barbara Fire Department, Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 218, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Pipe & Drum Corps, La Boheme Dance Group, elected officials and more.
Spectators are asked to wear red, white and blue for the event, and to bring American flags to wave. Click here for more information.
The concert at the Courthouse Sunken Garden is presented by the West Coast Symphony Orchestra and features patriotic favorites and pieces from Ellis Island: The Dream of America and the world premiere preview of David Stern’s finale to his “Neo Romantic Violin Concerto.”
Both the parade and the concert are free.
Santa Barbara Waterfront
There will be Fourth of July activities at the Santa Barbara waterfront all day Thursday, with live music on Stearns Wharf starting at 11 a.m. and entertainment on West Beach starting at noon. There also will be food vendors, arts and crafts booths, and more.
Both festivals will conclude with a 9 p.m. fireworks show on West Beach, a simulcast of which will be broadcast on 92.9 KjEE.
The City of Santa Barbara is closing the Stearns Wharf parking lots between 3 and 9:30 p.m., although its bike racks will still be available throughout the day. Waterfront shuttles and local buses will run as normal until 3 p.m., when they will start following an altered schedule available on the MTD website.
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College, 721 Cliff Drive, will host its annual fireworks viewing at the Great Meadow on its West Campus as well as the Winslow Maxwell Overlook on the East Campus. The campus, from which the West Beach fireworks are visible, is a family-friendly option for Independence Day, with live music entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m. and food trucks from 4 to 8 p.m.
Campus rules will be enforced throughout the viewing, meaning no fireworks, alcohol or barbecues are allowed. Proceeds from the $10 parking fee will support SBCC’s athletics program.
Goleta
The Rotary Clubs of Goleta are hosting their annual Independence Day fireworks festival at Girsh Park, 7050 Phelps Road adjacent to Camino Real Marketplace, starting at 5 p.m. Adult entry is $10 per person with children 12 and under free. Parking for vehicles and bicycles also is free. The festival will offer a variety of activities for all ages, including bounce houses, face painting, raffles and games.
The Santa Barbara-based band Area 51 will perform throughout the day until the fireworks show, which begins at 9 p.m. As a family-friendly event, no alcohol or pets are permitted on festival premises.
The Goleta Valley Historical Society is hosting its annual Old Fashioned 4th of July event at Stow House and Rancho La Patera, 304 N. Los Carneros Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. This family-friendly event includes lives music, barbecue, games, local artists, classic cars and hayrides. Adult tickets are $7, and admission is free for children and members of the Goleta Valley Historical Society.
Montecito
Montecito’s annual Village 4th of July Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Upper Manning Park, 449 San Ysidro Road, and ends at Lower Manning Park, where the celebration will continue with lunch and live music.
Elings Park
Santa Barbara Running Company is hosting a race day at Elings Park, 1298 Las Positas Road, with a 15K race at 8 a.m. and a 5K race at 8:30 a.m. Runners can celebrate finishing with a pancake breakfast, courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Barbara. The first 300 runners to register will receive a free hat, in honor of America’s 243rd birthday. Santa Barbara Running Company will accept registration packets at 1046 Coast Village Road from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday.
North County
Santa Ynez Valley
The annual Solvang Independence Day Festival & Fireworks Show will take place from 2 to 9:30 p.m. at Old Mission Santa Inés, 1760 Mission Drive. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Santa Ynez Valley, the festival offers activities throughout the day, including face painting, food booths and a beer garden. Steve Ochoa, Jineanne Coderre and other local performers will be providing live music during the day until the fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults, and free for active duty members of the military and children under 7. Admission proceeds are intended to help nonprofit organizations in the Santa Ynez Valley, and tickets are available at the festival gates or can be purchased in advance at the Solvang Friendship House, 880 Friendship Lane.
Santa Maria
Santa Maria’s Red, White and Boom! Fireworks Show and Family Festival starts at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sierra Vista Park, 809 Panther Drive. Arts and crafts, outdoor games and live music are a few of the many festivities held throughout the day. Local food trucks and a beer garden will be selling refreshments throughout the day.
The Santa Maria-based band, The Molly Ringwald Project, will perform until the community fireworks show at 9 p.m. The show is sponsored by donations from the local community, and no personal fireworks are allowed at the event.
General parking will be made available beginning at 4:30 p.m., and cars are also permitted to park on Panther Drive for $5.
Lompoc
The City of Lompoc will host its annual 4th of July Spectacular Fireworks Show at Lompoc High School’s Huyck Stadium, 515 W. College Ave., with gates opening at 5 p.m. and the fireworks show beginning at dusk. Food, games and other entertainment will be provided. No glass containers, ice chests or pets are allowed into the event, and a policy of no smoking and no alcohol will be enforced.
Tickets are available now at the Anderson Recreation Center, 125 W. Walnut Ave., for $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Prices will increase $3 on Thursday.
The city is also offering block party applications for nearby locations in the community, and there will be street closures in the area.
— Noozhawk intern Jennifer Sor can be reached at news@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.