Fall in Santa Barbara: Now is the Perfect Moment
- Hendricks Commercial Properties
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
There’s something quietly radiant about Santa Barbara in the fall. The light is softer, the crowds thinner, and with our newly-renovated Hotel Santa Barbara glowing in its coastal-modern warmth, there’s never been a better time to come back or discover us for the first time.
Here are some not-to-miss events and experiences that’ll make your stay feel well worth it.
What’s Happening
When: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Santa Barbara Harbor
What to Expect: A beloved local festival celebrating the bounty of the Pacific. Expect fresh seafood, live music, a chance to meet commercial fishermen, and beautiful harbor views. It’s free.
When: October 17-18, 2025, 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. both days
Where: Santa Barbara (Cabrillo Boulevard / city-center venues; check specific venue announcements)
Details: Local artisans, crafts, home goods, candles, wellness items, seasonal treats. A lovely chance to wander, shop small, soak in autumn vibes.
When: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM (early entry at noon)
Where: Vega Vineyard & Farm, 9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton
What to Expect: Over 80 wineries, live music, local food, tasting under the vines, chance to meet winemakers.
When: November 29-30, 2025
Where: Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara
Details: Roughly 150 artists and makers display original art,
sculpture, photography, jewelry, crafts. Perfect for early holiday gift hunting (or something special just for you).
When: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2025
Where: The run starts at Magnolia Shopping Center, proceeds through local neighborhoods and ends near Thunderbird Park
What to Expect: A chance to move, breathe, and enjoy crisp air before the big feast. Many runners treat it as tradition, ending with pumpkin pie or coffee.
One of the things that makes fall in Santa Barbara feel so alive is the concert season at the Santa Barbara Bowl. It’s the kind of place where the salt-air, twinkling hills, and open sky turn every show into something a little magical. Since you’ll already be stepping into a freshly renovated Hotel Santa Barbara, catching a live show adds the perfect soundtrack to your stay. Here are some upcoming concerts you might want to build a weekend around.
Harvest Season + Downtown Tastings
Through September & October, harvest festivities ramp up: vineyard tours, barrel tastings, dinners in Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Sta. Rita Hills etc.
If you’re in town, the Urban Wine Trail downtown (Funk Zone, Presidio, Goleta, Summerland) gives you dozens of tasting rooms to explore without leaving the city.
Why Stay with Us
Since our renovation, Hotel Santa Barbara is bringing together the old and the new in comfort. Plush bedding, refined design, preserved historic tilework, fresh communal spaces—everything has been refreshed so your stay feels like retreat and reawakening. Pair that with fall’s unfolding beauty (golden light, cooler breezes, outdoor dining still possible) and these events, and you’ve got more than a getaway—you’ve got a season to remember.
Tips & Extras
Book early. With events like the Seafood Festival and Makers Market, rooms tend to fill up fast.
Layer your itinerary. Maybe show up a day early or stay a day later to let the city unwind into you.
Explore locally. The Funk Zone, State Street, the beach at sunrise—Santa Barbara’s beauty isn’t just in the big events. It’s in the small magic.
Plan your stay and enjoy every bit of Santa Barbara this fall.
