The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce will host the Goleta Lemon Festival Sept. 28-29 at Girsh Park.
The 31st annual Goleta Lemon Festival, presented by Rusty’s Pizza, will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29.
The Goleta Lemon Festival celebrates the history and role lemon harvesting has played in the region’s history, dating back to around 1875, when Sherman Patterson Stow of Goleta’s Rancho La Patera planted the first known commercial lemon orchard in California.
The Goleta Lemon Festival has grown to attract more than 40,000 residents, visitors, and nonprofits and local leaders, celebrating the Good Land’s zest.
The festival is Goleta’s largest community event of the year, hosting some 80 booths featuring local nonprofits, crafts, lemony foods and beverages, and lemon-themed souvenirs.
Applications for vendors are now open; visit LemonFestival.com/vendorapplications.
At the festival, the Community West Bank Food Court will offer lemonade, lemon bars, and Rusty’s pizza. For adult beverages, attendees can go to the Signature Aviation Lemon Lounge for a lemon ale, cider, and local wines.
Live music will be played on the American Riviera Bank Main Stage, featuring a variety of genres, including rock, country, blues, and funk.
Saturday afternoon’s onstage headliner will be Area 51.
“The Goleta Lemon Festival is a chance to squeeze the most out of our community spirit and celebrate the bright history of lemons in Goleta,” said Kristen Miller, president/CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.
“We are thrilled to bring together residents, businesses, and visitors for a weekend filled with fun, flavor, and fantastic memories,” she said.
The Goleta Lemon Festival is a family-friendly event. An all-inclusive activity wristband will be good for endless rides and games, like archery tag, inflatable bubbles, and mini golf at the Santa Barbara Airport Kids Zone. Save $5 pre-purchasing an activity wristband at LemonFestival.com.
The festival also features an interactive display of fire, police, and emergency services in the Safety Street area, presented by ExxonMobil. Visitors can get an up-close look at state-of-the-art emergency vehicles and technologies, as well as meet the Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit.
On Saturday only, the festival will feature the 17th Annual Goleta Fall Classic Car Show, presented by Ruth Ann Bowe Village Properties. On display will be cool classic cars ranging from Corvettes and Camaros to trucks and pick-upsm along with motorcycles and bicycles.
If you have a classic you would like to enter, registration is now open at LemonFestival.com/goleta-fall-classic.
New this year is The Point Market Community Stage featuring entertainment and performances by local troops, groups and organizations. Also added the Polar Seltzer Cool Down Zone, and attendees can bike to the festival and park at the Rad Power Bikes Bike Valet.
The festival could not happen without volunteers ages 14 and up who spend time planning the festival and lending a hand over the weekend. Visit LemonFestival.com to sign up.
The Goleta Lemon Festival is organized by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce from Goleta to Carpinteria.
Sponsors are:
Presenting Sponsor: Rusty’s Pizza
Main Squeeze Sponsors: American Riviera Bank, Community West Bank, Cox Communications, Doordash, ExxonMobil, GoGoleta, MarBorg Industries, Polar Seltzer, Rad Power Bikes, Rincon Broadcasting, Ruth Ann Bowe – Village Properties, Sable Offshore, Santa Barbara Airport, Scale Microgrids, Signature Aviation, Spectrum Reach, The Point Market, Visit Santa Barbara.
Lemon Slice Sponsors: Blue Star Parking, Courtyard by Marriott, Goleta West Sanitary District, Ice in Paradise, Residence Inn by Marriott, The Berry Man.
Lemon Zest Sponsors: American Medical Response, Chevron, Complete Care at Home, edhat, Goleta Sanitary District, Goleta Water District, Good Land Wine Shop & Bar, Limoneira, Majestic Asset Management, Noozhawk, Ramada by Wyndham, Santa Barbara Independent, Southern California Edison, SpaceX, Team Solutions Group, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA Health, UCLA Health, Ventura Rental Party & Events.
Event Supporters: 92.9 KJEE, Anna’s Bakery, Bright Event Rentals, Camino Real Marketplace, Cumulus Radio Station, Foundation for Girsh Park, Granite Construction, JANO Printing & Mailworks, Jay Farbman Photography, KEYT, KRAZy Country, Lucidity Collaborative Events, Lure Digital, M.Special Brewing Co., Por La Mar Nursery, Santa Barbara Cider Co., Santa Barbara MTD, Tri-Valley Trophies & Specialties, Univision.
For more about the Lemon Festival, visit LemonFestival.com.
Learn about the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, from Goleta to Carpinteria, at sbscchamber.com.