Things to do in Santa Barbara: Food & Wine Festivals
I just came to realize just how many festivals Santa Barbara really has. Which is why, I’ve created at least 3 posts dedicated to different types of festivals and parades. The below post focuses on Food & Wine Festivals all over Santa Barbara County!
Let’s kick if off with April 2024 Events
The NEW Saunters & Sips event is put on by the Santa Rita Hills Wine Alliance’s and the newest Spring happening on April 13th from 2:30 – 5:30. It takes place at the beautiful Carousel-less Carousel House, across the street from the ocean. Read below for a little more info about the event. If you aren’t intrigued, then do not read below.
“Saunter & Sip your way through the Carousel House, Santa Barbara’s stunning oceanfront venue. Our members will be pouring Rosés and delicious Sparkling wines just add to the tasting fun as over 25 Sta. Rita Hills wineries showcase their current and new release wines. Lite bites will include a Thai station, an empanada station, and a BBQ slider station, by High on the Hog and Buena Onda. Music by The Down Yonders round out our event for a lovely Spring afternoon at the beach.”
Santa Barbara Local Weekly Wednesday Wine Event
Not exactly a festival, but a weekly wine event at Carr Winery. Every Wednesday night from 5:30-7:30 they offer wine, empanadas and local music. This event is at at the Santa Barbara Location. Please note, events may sometimes be postponed or cancelled, please check in with Carr to be safe. Also, say that top title 10 times fast. I dare you.
On June 15, 2024 head to Ojai for the 36th The Annual Ojai Wine Festival from 12-4pm. There are over 30 wineries all in all. For more info about the event click HERE.
The Annual Natural History Museum‘s Wine & Food festival fundraiser happens every year. This year it is June 29, 2024 and is already sold out and already suggesting people check back for the 2025 wine and food festival! For more information about this one, click here. There are still sponsorship opportunities available. For more info about some of their other fun fundraising events, check them out here.
Don’t be fooled by the name: The California Wine Festival has food!
The California Wine Festival is a two day event staring on July 19, 2024 with the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting at the Santa Barbara Hilton from 6:30-9:00. The next day, The Beachside Wine Festival is at Chase Palm Park from 1-4pm (July 20, 2024) 1-4 (VIP’s can enter at noon). Click HERE for more Info about both events. Get tickets for both events HERE. Wanna check out the wine and food peeps? Yeah, you do. Wine. Food.
Santa Barbara’s Vintner’s Festival, considered to be truly the first wine festival in it’s 40th year! It is a big one and happens on October 14, 2024 at Vega Winery from 1-4pm.
These festival and wine event posts have proven to be one that may never end! So, stay tuned for more.
In the meantime, some websites that I have found to be great wine resources in the Santa Barbara Area are:
Santa Barbara Wine Country Event Page because it is AWESOME. I love the website AND you can search wineries by the winery or the AVA you are interested in.
Check it out here. The Urban Wine Trail, is a great resource for downtown wineries.
Samsara’s website has a ton of info about the history of wine country, wine, AVA’s and more. So, take a sip & get ready to read some cool info.
If you have an idea, we want to help bring it to life!
Taste Santa Barbara started off as offering just one walking food tour and has grown and grown, we offer our original downtown walking food & wine tour as well as our awesome Original downtown taco tour and a lot more. We also offer customized walking tours both in downtown Santa Barbara and the Funk Zone. If you have an idea, we want to help bring it to life! Book your tours and events right this second.
Thanks for reading and taste with you soon!