AUGUST 5, 2026

This Week Downtown

Whether you're planning a perfect mid-week happy hour, looking for live entertainment, or staying informed on local civic updates, we've got you covered. Here is what's happening around Downtown Santa Barbara this week. 

District News & City Council Updates

Old Spanish Days Fiesta is Here!

This year, the El Mercado De La Guerra will expand onto the 700 and 800 blocks of State Street between Ortega Street and Canon Perdido Street, bringing even more festive energy to the heart of downtown.

Please note that Mercado setup will begin early Wednesday, August 5, and the event will conclude at midnight on Saturday, August 8.

View the full Fiesta schedule here.

1st Thursday Art Walk: August 6, 5:00 PM

1st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and venues offer free access to visual and performing arts in a fun and social environment. Venues feature attractions such as art openings, live music, artists' receptions, lectures, wine tastings, and hands-on activities. We hope you will join us to enjoy our beautiful downtown and all that it has to offer!  

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Old Spanish Days Fiesta Events

• Santa Barbara Courthouse Docent Tours: August 5-9, SB County Courthouse

• El Mercado De La Guerra: August 5-8, 11:00 AM, De La Guerra Plaza

• Las Noches de Ronda: August 6-8, 8:00 PM, SB County Courthouse Sunken Gardens

• Flor y Canto: August 7, 7:00 PM, SB County Courthouse Sunken Gardens

VIEW FULL CALENDAR

UCSB Arts & Lectures Free Summer Cinema: "Mixtapes & Misfits" 

The Summer Film Series brings classic and contemporary films to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden each Friday evening at 8:30 PM in July and August. Presented in partnership with UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture, the series offers free outdoor screenings in one of Santa Barbara's most iconic public spaces. 

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Post-Fiesta Beach Cleanup at East Beach

Help keep Santa Barbara's coastline beautiful after Fiesta by joining Tidy Seas for a community beach cleanup at East Beach on Sunday, August 9, at 10:00 AM. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and all cleanup supplies will be provided. Meet at the west end of the Cabrillo Pavilion parking lot, just south of Milpas Street, and help make a positive impact on our beaches and marine environment.  

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Flamenco Arts Festival GALA

Lobero Theatre | Friday, August 7, 7:30 PM

Fiesta Performances at Paseo Nuevo

Paseo Nuevo (651 Paseo Nuevo) | August 4-8, 12:00 PM | Learn More

Jazz Night

The Good Lion (1212 State St.) | Thursday, August 6, 6:00 PM | Learn More

Lois Mahalia

The Grand On State (1218 State St.) | Thursday, August 6, 7:00 PM | Get Tickets

Live Jazz Piano

Beau (1129A State St.) | Thursdays, 7:00 PM | Learn More

Teaching Artist Showcase: Shostakovich & Hahn

Lobero Theatre (33 E. Canon Perdido St.) | Thursday, August 6, 7:30 PM | Get Tickets

Colin Richardson and The Grand Band

The Grand On State (1218 State St.) | Friday, August 7, 7:30 PM | Get Tickets

Live Music: The Brasscals

Night Lizard Brewing Co. (607 State St.) | Every third Friday, 8:00 PM | Learn More

Sounds on State Live Music

Paseo Nuevo Center Court (651 Paseo Nuevo) | Saturdays, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Learn More

Ernie Watts Quintet

The Grand On State (1218 State St.) | Saturday, August 8, 7:00 PM | Get Tickets

Academy Festival Orchestra: Mozart & Rachmaninoff

The Granada Theatre (1214 State St.) | Saturday, August 8, 7:30 PM | Get Tickets

Summer Dance Fest 2026

Center Stage Theater (751 Paseo Nuevo) | Saturday, August 8, 7:30 PM - Sunday, August 9, 2:00 PM | Get Tickets

Live Music in the Beer Garden

Institution Ale Co. (516 State St.) | Thursdays (Evening) & Saturdays (Afternoon) | Learn More

Santa Barbara Jazz Society Presents: Fiesta Summer Jazz Jam

SOhO (1221 State St.) | Sunday, August 9, 1:00 PM | Get Tickets

Live Music: Cliff & Susan

The Red Piano (519 State St.) | Through August 9 | Learn More

Live Music Sundays (Local Singer-Songwriters)

Longoria Wines (732 State St.) | Sundays, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Learn More

(((folkYEAH!))) Presents: Angelo de Augustine with Elanor Moss

SOhO (1221 State St.) | Tuesday, August 11, 8:00 PM | Get Tickets

Dearest,

Center Stage Theater (751 Paseo Nuevo) | Wednesday, August 12, 7:30 PM | Get Tickets

Summer Dance on the Steps: "As if in a Dream"

Santa Barbara Museum of Art | Sunday, August 9, 5:00 PM

Architectural Walking Tour

Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara (229 E. Victoria St.) | Saturdays, 10:00 AM | Learn More

Area Meeting: August Panel Discussion with Slingshot

The Community Arts Workshop (631 Garden St.) | Tuesday, August 11, 6:00 PM | Get Tickets

Cosas de la Vida Exhibition

Art & Soul (1323 State St.) | On Display until August 30 | Learn More

"YEAR ONE" Exhibition

Seimandi & Leprieur Gallery (33 W. Anapamu St.) | On Display until August 30 | Learn More

Old Town Tour

City Hall (15 E. De La Guerra St.) | Daily, 10:00 AM | Learn More

Celebrate 25 years of Open Studio Tours with the Santa Barbara Studio Artists 

The Community Arts Workshop (631 Garden St.) | Friday, September 4, 5:00 PM | Learn More

The Red Piano's 10th Anniversary

The Red Piano | Wednesday, August 5

Board Games + Brews

Night Lizard Brewing Co. (607 State St.) | Tuesdays, 6:00 PM | Learn More

Trivia Night

Institution Ale Co. (516 State St.) | Tuesdays, 7:00 PM | Learn More

Celebrating 4 Years with the Grand Opening of Their New Rage Room

State Street Axe Club (427 State St.) | Wednesday, August 5 | Learn More

Trivia Night

M. Special Brewing (634 State St.) | Wednesdays, 6:30 PM | Learn More

Loteria Night

Institution Ale Co. (516 State St.) | Every other Wednesday, 7:00 PM | Learn More

Fiesta Rooftop Party!

Kimpton Canary Hotel (31 W. Carrillo St.) | Thursday, August 6, 6:00 PM | Get Tickets

HR Santa Barbara Human Resources Comedy Show

Speakeasy Comedy Bar (409 State St.) | Thursday, August 6, 7:00 PM | Get Tickets

Backstage Comedy Club

The Red Piano (519 State St.) | Thursdays, 7:30 PM | Learn More

Santa Barbara Comedy Club - Comedy Nights 

Speakeasy Comedy Bar (409 State St.) | Thursdays & Fridays, 7:00 PM | Learn More

Magic on State

Satellite (1117 State St.) | Fridays, 6:00 PM | Learn More

Dance Hive: Ecstatic Dance

Yoga Soup (28 Parker Way) | Sundays, 12:30 PM | Learn More

Mujeres Makers Market

El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park | August 8-9, 10:00 AM

Weekly Free Guided Meditation and Live Music

Yoga Soup (28 Parker Way) | Mondays, 7:00 PM | Learn More

What's Your Posture Saying about Your Health?

Rilascio Chiropractic (1221 State St) | Tuesdays | Learn More

Pet Loss and Grief Support Group

SB Public Library (40 E. Anapamu St.) | Wednesday, August 5, 5:30 PM | Learn More

Radiance Ritual: Facial Sculpting + Infrared Sauna

Soul Care Studio + Sauna (1101 Anacapa St.) | Thursday, August 6, 3:00 PM | Get Tickets

Paint at Paseo

Paseo Nuevo (651 Paseo Nuevo) | Thursday, August 6, 5:00 PM | Learn More

Crochet Club

The Crafter's Library (9 E. Figueroa St.) | Thursdays, 5:00 PM | Learn More

Fiesta Workshop Crown Crafting

SuperMoss (922 State St.) | Thursday, August 6, 5:30 PM - Saturday, August 8, 10:00 AM | Learn More

Weekly's Men Group

Yoga Soup (28 Parker Way) | Thursdays, 6:00 PM | Learn More

Climate Fridays Santa Barbara: Better Buildings for a Better Future

CEC's Environmental Hub (1219 State St.) | Friday, August 7, 4:00 PM | Learn More

Embroidery 101

The Crafter's Library (9 E. Figueroa St.) | Saturday, August 8, 11:00 AM | Get Tickets

Saturday Please Breathe Breathwork Series

Yoga Soup (28 Parker Way) | Saturdays, 3:00 PM | Learn More

Celebrate Fiesta

The Painted Cabernet (1229 State St.) | Saturday, August 8, 6:00 PM | Learn More

Try Coworking Free During International Coworking Week!

Workzones (351 Paseo Nuevo) | August 10-14 | Learn More

Fiesta at the Market

28 Vic | August 6-8

Happy Month

Pascucci (1230A State St.) | Every Day in August | Learn More

Locals Only - Daily Bar Specials

Paloma (702 Anacapa St.) | Mondays-Sundays | Learn More

Locals Night (20% off)

Finch & Fork (31 W. Carrillo St.) | Mondays, 5:00 PM | Learn More

Wine Wednesdays (50% off bottles of wine)

Paloma (702 Anacapa St.) | Wednesdays | Learn More

Fiesta at Dusk

Dusk Bar (524 State St.) | August 5-9, 3:00 PM | Learn More

Happy Hour

Paloma (702 Anacapa St.) | Wednesdays-Sundays, 4:00 PM | Learn More

Fiesta Party

Loquita (202 State St.) | Friday, August 7, 11:00 AM | Get Tickets

Fiesta Featuring Tacos El Bachas

Frequency Wines (804 Anacapa St.) | Friday, August 7, 3:00 PM | Learn More

Kids Eat Free

Paloma (702 Anacapa St.) | Sundays, 10:30 AM | Learn More

Sparkling Wine Tasting Flight 

SB Bubbly Lounge (23 E. De La Guerra St. Suite 100) | August 1-31, 12:00 PM | Learn More

Red Wine Tasting Flight

Jamie Slone Wines (23 E. De La Guerra St.) | August 1-31, 12:00 PM | Learn More

Flag Program

This Week's Flag

Old Spanish Days Fiesta is a beloved Santa Barbara tradition that has continued for nearly 100 years. It fosters a unique spirit among locals as an important coming together which encourages community cooperation, celebration, and growth. The festival has grown due to the overwhelming interest of many different organizations to develop and maintain it as an extension and expression of their place in the community. 

Clean & Safe Program

JUNE STATS

Our Clean & Safe Program continues to make a visible impact downtown. Our team is out daily, keeping the streets clean, welcoming, and well-maintained, to help create clearly defined, comfortable, and safe spaces for the community. These efforts not only improve the appearance of our public spaces but also enhance overall safety and the experience for everyone who visits, works, or lives downtown. 

District Maintenance Hotline: (805) 242-1311