The Fourth of July is almost here, and communities across Santa Barbara County are preparing for the county’s 250th anniversary with music, parades, and more.
Here are some of the big events that residents and their guests can enjoy over the holiday weekend.
Santa Barbara
The city’s annual celebration returns with live music, dancing, and family friendly activities along the waterfront.
The event starts at noon, located at the West Beach Bandstand, and will be capped off with a 20-minute fireworks display over the waterfront.
There will also be a sidewalk fair along Cabrillo Boulevard, with food vendors between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
This year’s event will feature Tink’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs, Lidos Philly Cheese Steaks, Timbers Roadhouse, G Brothers Kettle Corn, Elubia’s Kitchen, and Oakberry Acai.
Road closures for the event include Cabrillo Boulevard between Castillo Street and Calle Cesar Chavez beginning at 6 p.m. State Street will be closed to cars beginning at 6 p.m. from Gutierrez Street to Cabrillo Boulevard.
Stearns Wharf will also be closed to cars beginning at 3:30 p.m.
For more event information, including parking and road closures, visit Fourth of July Celebration (SantaBarbaraCA.gov/July4).
Before the fireworks start, residents can head over to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, where the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation will celebrate Independence Day with a free, family friendly outdoor concert in the Sunken Gardens.
“Each year we look forward to gathering with the community to celebrate 4th of July and also reflect on those who have bravely fought and continue to fight for our cherished freedom,” said VFW lifetime member and PCVF co-founder Lt. John Blankenship (USN, former).
Music will be performed by the Prime Time Band under the direction of Paul Mori. The band will play classic songs such as “Captain America March,” “Armed Services Medley,” “America the Beautiful,” and Summer of ’69: Music of Woodstock.
Emmy-nominated vocalist Anikka Abbott will also join the band for several songs, including “Over the Rainbow,” “What a Wonderful World,” and “America the Beautiful.”
The event will begin at 5 p.m. with the presentation of colors by the Vandenberg Air Force Base Honor Guard.
Attendees are invited to bring picnics, blankets, and low-back beach chairs to the garden. They are also asked to bring non-synthetic blankets to protect the lawn.
Guest can set out blankets and chairs to reserve their spots any time after 12 p.m.
Montecito
The Montecito Association will host a parade on San Ysidro Road on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. This will mark the 30th year the group has hosted the celebration.
After the parade, residents and guests can head to Manning Park to enjoy live music, barbecue, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, and other activities.
Ahead of the holiday, the Montecito Fire Department is also reminding residents and visitors that fireworks and bonfires are illegal in the city. The fire department encourages everyone to enjoy one of the many other options throughout the county.
On Saturday morning, the Montecito Fire Department will host its annual Montecito Firefighters’ Association’s Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The cost for entry is $15, but is free for anyone under 10 years old. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Montecito Firefighters Charitable Foundation.
Goleta
After a strong debut last year, Goleta is hosting its second-ever drone show for the Fourth of July.
The event will take place at Dos Pueblos High School and begin around 9:15 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m., and the event will feature entertainment for kids, including games, activities, face painting and more.
Attendees will also be able to purchase food at a variety of food trucks. This year’s selection includes Don Pepe’s, Kona Ice, Lobo Butcher Shop, Pancho’s Tacos, Santa Barbara Food Connection, Santa Barbara Hives, and Sassafrass.
A live stage will also feature music by DJ Darla Bea alongside saxophonist Gerry Smith Jr. The event will also feature line-dancing led by instructor Tin Le, and Teen Star 2026 winner Brynn Wood will sing the national anthem before the drone show.
Reserve seating is also available for purchase this year, but attendees can still sit in bleachers or set up blankets and beach chairs on the track and field.
Camping chairs, large coolers or ice chests, and pets are not permitted at the event.
The event will also feature free shuttle rides by the Santa Barbara Airbus from Costco at the Camino Real Marketplace to Dos Pueblos High School.
There is also parking on campus under the solar array on a first-come basis.
For additional event information including details on parking, seating and more, please visit www.CityofGoleta.org/July4.
For daytime activities, residents can head over to Stow House for the annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July, hosted by the Goleta Valley Historical Society.
The event is located at Rancho La Patera and Stow House at 304 N. Los Carneros Road.
Attendees will be able to enjoy tractor rides, animals, face painting, food trucks and games. The Americana Cats and The Paradise Kings will also perform live on the main stage.
This year will also feature pony rides.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Guests can purchase the tickets at the event or online.
Santa Maria
Santa Maria will celebrate Independence Day a day early with an event Friday in the heart of downtown.
The city and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber will host a celebration of the Fourth of July featuring live entertainment from local bands and a drone show.
Organizers will also announce the winners of a nonprofit giveaway, sponsored by the Santa Barbara Foundation. Local nonprofit organizations will be granted a $250 community contribution, which will be awarded live at the event.
Local organizations can still submit an entry for the giveaway by Wednesday, July 1. The entry form and full criteria are located on the official community page at www.santamaria.com/our-community/america-250/.
Organizers recommend that attendees park at the library parking structure or the courthouse parking lot.
For more information regarding the event, visit the official America 250 community page.
Solvang
Solvang will present its annual July 4 Parade hosted by the Solvang Rotary Club.
The event will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Downtown Solvang, starting at Mission Drive and Alisal Road. The parade will feature classic cars, horse troupes, dance groups, and a high school marching band.
Local businesses and organizations will also drive floats honoring the spirit of the Santa Ynez Valley.
This year’s theme for the parade is “Salute to America 250” to celebrate America’s upcoming anniversary.
Residents are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to the event early. The city asked residents and visitors to wait until 6 p.m. on Friday to begin placing chairs, blankets, coolers, and other personal items along the parade route.
After the parade, attendees can attend the city’s Fireworks Festival at Old Mission Santa Inés, 1760 Mission Drive. The event will feature live music, a food court, vendors, and a kid’s zone.
Live fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
The entry fee is $15 for adults and free for kids under 12 years old. Active military members and up to four immediate family members receive free entry with a valid military ID.
Tickets can be purchased at https://tickets.enfuegoevents.com/e/fourth-of-july-26/tickets.
Lompoc
Lompoc will be hosting a “Family Fun Day” on Saturday in honor of the Fourth of July.
The event will be held in Ryon Park beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a bike parade, which will start at the Lompoc Veterans’ Memorial Building, 100 E. Locust Ave.
The bicyclists will ride over to Ryon Park for a “Picnic in the Park.” The picnic will begin at noon and end at 4 p.m. The event will feature live music and food trucks.
Kids will be able to enjoy bounce houses, face painting, activities, and more.
Fireworks, smoking, vaping, and outside alcohol are not allowed at the event. Pets are welcome but must be leashed.
