Santa Barbara’s Chase Palm Park will be the site for the annual Dolphin Derby Festival, where spectators can watch thousands of miniature toy dolphins race down a giant inflatable water racecourse, noon-5 p.m., Sunday, July 13. The event is free to attend.
Each dolphin represents a $10 donation, or adoption fee, to the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity, and gives the donor a chance to win cash prizes up to $2,500, if their adopted dolphin is among the first across the finish line in one of the day’s four races.
Event emcee DJ Darla Bea will be joined by Gerry Smith Jr., a wedding band director and saxophone instructor, who has shared the stage with Michael McDonald, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Tower of Power, and Postmodern Jukebox.
Cousins Maine Lobster, Connie’s Hot Dogs, and Kona Ice will have food available for sale.
Adults over age 21 are invited to the beer and wine garden. The dog-friendly event will also host a Yappy Hour in the beer and wine garden starting at 4 p.m.
“This event invites our community to come out and frolic in the park and, if they want to adopt dolphins, to enjoy the thrill of the race,” said Liz Alves, Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise president.
“This day of play raises funds to support the good work we do in the community through signature Rotary programs and in partnership with local nonprofits,” she said.
Dolphin adoptions are available online through July 12 at www.dolphinderby.com. Participants do not have to be present at the event to win.
Dolphin adoptions will also be available at Chase Palm Park starting at noon July 13, while supplies last.
Those who “adopt” dolphins for the race will not be able to keep the rubber derby racers, the Rotary Club said. As part of the event’s commitment to being environmentally responsible, the dolphins are reused each year, and even the race water is recycled for each event and then used to irrigate the park grass.
The 2025 Dolphin Derby Festival Island sponsors include Cox and Minno Rugged Tablets. Other sponsors are Alpha Fire Unlimited, American Riviera Bank, Arlington Financial Advisors, Benchmark Portal, EdHat, Karen Y. Kawaguchi, Kathy Scroggs, Kirk & Jann Greene, Lily Carey, Montecito Bank & Trust, Nasif, Hicks, Harris & Co, The Point Market, Paul & Judith McCaffrey, SAMsARA Wine Co., Santa Barbara Sailing Center, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Smith & Ortiz Insurance.
During the past several years, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation has donated more than $400,000 to humanitarian and community service projects in Santa Barbara and around the world.