Year after year, they just get better.
Santa Barbara was settled about 13,000 years ago by the Chumash, a Native American tribe who also inhabited the nearby Channel Islands. Spanish colonists arrived in the area in the late 1700s and founded the famed Mission Santa Barbara in 1786. The Mission had to be rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1812. This structure still stands today, one of the major tourist destinations in the city. Set in the Santa Barbara hills, it is a wonderful example of the Spanish Colonial-style architecture that continues to characterize the area.
Santa Barbara celebrates its Spanish heritage every August with Fiesta, “Old Spanish Days”. A five day long celebration featuring traditional dancing, foods, crafts and a parade. Each year this signature Santa Barbara event draws thousands of visitors and keeps locals entertained all day, and night long.
The downtown area is a wonderful setting for such a celebration of heritage, as it is also home to numerous beautiful Spanish Colonial Adobe buildings. The red-tiled, white washed Santa Barbara Courthouse and Lobero Theater are perfect examples of how Santa Barbara embraces its rich cultural history everyday.
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) mascot, “The Gaucho” is also meant to pay homage to the region’s Latin heritage. Cries of “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole” can be heard for miles around as students cheer their soccer team to victory. Students are also often found flinging tortillas and and sporting sombreros at the university’s sporting events.
Like many other California cities, once incorporated into the US Santa Barbara became a wild west oasis of outlaws, gamblers and gold rushers. Since then more respectful business trades have sprung up in this city nicknamed, “The American Riviera”.
Agriculture has been a prime industry in the Santa Barbara area from the region’s very first settlements. It continues to be a popular livelihood thanks to the town’s mild, Mediterranean climate. Vineyards proved to be an especially successful investment. In fact, the neighboring Santa Ynez Valley hosts some of the most enchanting and popular wine tours in the United States.
One popular wine tour that has emerged in recent years, is the Sideways tour. During this excursion tourists visit wineries and other locations featured in the 2004 award winning movie. The popular film was based in Santa Barbara’s Wine Country and also filmed areas of downtown Santa Barbara and nearby Solvang.
Located just over an hour north of Hollywood, it’s not surprising that Santa Barbara played the setting for many notable films. The classic 50s flick, Sunset Boulevard used the Mission in several of its scenes while thriller, The Pelican Brief (1993) filmed right downtown. To the south of Santa Barbara, Montecito’s fine homes were featured in the 1983 blockbuster, Scarface.
The quiet, charming streets and white sand beaches of Montecito attract off-camera celebrities as well. Stars like Oprah, Rob Lowe, Christopher Lloyd and Paul Walker have all owned homes in the Santa Barbara area.
It’s true, old Hollywood glamour is alive and well in this central coast town, especially during the annual Santa Barbara Film Festival; which is held each winter. The international festival draws stars from around the globe and offers prestigious and sought-after awards to those in the film industry.
From celebrating local Spanish heritage, to throwing glitzy red carpet galas, Santa Barbara’s traditions are diverse and plentiful. They provide locals with a sense of pride and continuity and offer tourists a sunny paradise of entertainment and adventure.
Of course some of the greatest Santa Barbara traditions are ones that can be reenacted every day. Surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean, watching the sunset from Campus Point, hiking Seven Falls, and just taking a stroll down State Street are all activities that locals and tourists alike have enjoyed for years and continue to partake in today.