Santa Barbara Memorial Day Weekend Guide 2026
Kick off the Summer with our ultimate local guide to Memorial Day Weekend in Santa Barbara! Featuring several family friendly events, delicious dining, and thoughtful recommendations, our guide rounds up the best Santa Barbara experiences to help you plan the perfect long week. Read on to get started!
EVENTS
Check out the vibrant local festivals and community gatherings happening all across town this weekend.
I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival: This iconic Santa Barbara event returns this weekend, showcasing stunning chalk art by artists of all ages at the historic Santa Barbara Mission Plaza. Also enjoy delicious food & drink + great live music while you browse and take in the vibrant murals.
May 23 - 25 | Old Mission Santa Barbara | Free event
Gem Faire: This shiny expo offers gems, crystals, beads, jewelry and artisan treasures from around the world. Plus enter to win cool prizes, with drawings every hour.
May 22 – 24 | Earl Warren Showgrounds | Admission $7 weekend pass
EVERWILD Earth/Water/Air/Fire: A free student fashion show representing the culmination of the SBCC Fashion Club’s year of student creativity. A great way to support local student designers, view beautifully designed clothing, and enjoy live music.
May 23 | 4 - 4:40pm | Santa Barbara Museum of Art | Free event
Butterflies Alive: Walk among 1,000 live tropical butterflies representing over two dozen Costa Rican species. Great for families, Butterflies Alive guests can observe the natural beauty of butterflies up close, amongst a lovely garden setting.
May 23 – September 7 | Sprague Butterfly Pavilion at the SB Museum of Natural History | Museum admission + additional $3 fee
WHERE TO EAT
Savor the holiday weekend with delicious outdoor dining, sweet bites, and wine tasting.
Nana Thai Pop-Up: Buellton favorite, Nana Thai, is hosting a pop-up at SB Wine Collective, serving spicy Thai bites, local wine tasting, and live music from DJ Donny Bru.
May 24 | 3 - 6pm | SB Wine Collective
No Sad Sundaes: Stop by this weekly ice cream social featuring a rotating menu of specialty ice cream flavors and sundae concoctions, served on the corner of Your Choice Restaurant.
May 24 | 8pm | Creaminal at Your Choice Restaurant
Lucky Penny: Delicious wood-fire pizzas served in a lovely outdoor location in the heart of the Funk Zone. Also serving refreshing frozés and frozen margaritas to compliment your pie.
Open all weekend | 11:30am - 8pm | The Funk Zone
Corazon Comedor: Sit down for a special holiday brunch featuring nostalgic Mexican dishes like chilaquiles, tres leches french toast, a variety of tasty tacos, and more. Plus, a kid's menu with great choices for the kiddos.
May 25 | 8am - 3pm | 29 E Victoria Street
BEACHES
Enjoy the weekend weather by spending some time at one of Santa Barbara's stunning beaches.
Butterfly Beach, Montecito: A picturesque beach along Channel Drive. It's unique East-West orientation makes it one of the only beaches in Santa Barbara where you can see both the sunrise and the sunset.
Hendry’s Beach, The Mesa: A popular, dog-friendly beach by the cliffs. Also home of The Boathouse, a highly-rated beachfront restaurant, perfect for ocean view brunches.
East Beach, Downtown: Lined with palm trees and famous for its pristine sands, East Beach offers several amenities including beach volley courts, a skate park, paved walking/biking paths, playgrounds, and Stearns Wharf.
Rincon Point, Carpinteria: Known as the "Queen of the Coast", this beach is a popular surf spot, perfect for those looking to catch some waves this weekend. Also great for picnics and bird-watching.
MEMORIAL DAY
Honor and remember those who've passed while serving with a beautiful, free, open-air ceremony.
Memorial Day Ceremony: The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 will be hosting their annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Santa Barbara Cemetery. The ceremony will have guest speakers, presentations, and live performances, concluding with a spectacular flyover by The Condor Squadron.
May 25 | 11am | Santa Barbara Cemetery | Free event
