UPCOMING EVENTS
Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Festival
The Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest – expands throughout the Valley’s five towns – so the humorous, good-natured feelings that the scarecrows impart can not only be seen in Solvang, but also in Santa Ynez, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Buellton, and even Ballard.
Santa Barbara Vintners Festival
The Annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival is the largest tasting of Santa Barbara County and your chance to try more of that Santa Barbara County wine you love, get to know the people who make it and where they make it from.
Throughout the weekend select wineries host their own events from Thursday until Monday, ranging from winemaker dinners to barrel tastings in addition to the signature Santa Barbara Vintners events.
Solvang Haunted House
Dare to enter the haunted maze at Solvang Festival Theater! This year’s theme, Nightmares, brings a mix of eerie surprises, spooky scenes, and just the right amount of fright to keep everyone on their toes. Whether you come for the chills, the thrills, or the Halloween fun, it’s an experience you won’t forget!
Island View Endurance Run
Join us for the Island View Endurance Run, a premier event hosted by the Santa Barbara County Trails Council that attracts trail runners from across the nation. Experience breathtaking island and ocean views while challenging yourself on the stunning Gaviota Coast.
This remarkable course, located between Santa Barbara and Buellton, California, offers diverse terrain through the Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Choose from 12-kilometer, 25-kilometer, 50-kilometer, 100-kilometer, or 100-mile ultra distances. With routes to Gaviota Peak, panoramic ridgelines, and enchanting canyons, the Island View Endurance Run promises an unforgettable running experience in a truly spectacular setting. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your trail running game!
Buellton Fall Festival
The Buellton Fall Festival is a 3-day event on November 6th - 8th, 2026 on Avenue of the Flags in Buellton! This is a free admission event, that the entire family can enjoy.
Carnival rides and games, live music from over 40 bands on 2 stages, merchandise and foods vendors, craft beer, wine and cocktails. See you there!
Buellton Winterfest at River View Park
Buellton Winterfest at River View Park. This one-of-a-kind experience is fun for the whole family and a perfect way to kick off the winter holidays! Start the day at Breakfast with Santa in the Buellton Rec Center. There are 2 sittings for this special ticketed event, and reservations are required. First seating is from 9-10:00 a.m. and the second seating is from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
NEW THIS YEAR: The City of Buellton will host a Holiday Drone Show at Winter Fest. Watch the sky light up with fun, festive designs as we get in the holiday spirit. The afternoon brings the Holiday Village at River View Park, 151 Sycamore Drive. This is a FREE event! Come enjoy 20 Tons of Snow, vendors, music, beer & wine, and the lighting of the Christmas Tree at 5:30 p.m.
The Santa Ynez Valley Holiday Lights Festival will be taking place at River View Park the same evening, as a separate ticketed event benefiting the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden. You may purchase tickets to enter the garden at the event, or in advance at: syvholidaylights.com.
8th Annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day
Join Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) for its 8th Annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day. Over 15 farms, ranches, wineries and agricultural organizations from Santa Maria to Carpinteria welcome the public on Farm Day. Guests can expect a variety of activities, including behind-the-scenes tours, tractor rides, product tastings and giveaways, and plenty of kid-friendly exhibits, all while learning about the farms that feed our communities and the world.
For more information about Farm Day, to register, and to view a list of participating farms on an interactive map, go to https://sbcfarmday.org. Visitors select the locations they want to visit and travel at their own pace.
Farm Day is free and open to all ages. No pets allowed.
Solvang Danish Days
California’s premier Danish heritage festival, Solvang Danish Days returns this year with three-day event line-up, Friday, September 18 – Sunday, September 20, 2026. This year’s theme – “Solen over dalen” (something to the effect of “Sun over the Valley” in Danish) – will be celebrated, honoring the 1911 establishment of Solvang by Danish-Americans. The 2026 edition of Solvang Danish Days marks the 89th return of the beloved, annual cultural affair.
Enjoy a total Danish immersion experience while helping to preserve Solvang’s authentic Danish heritage. Danish Days guests looking to “live like Vikings” throughout the event will have the opportunity to purchase a “Dane For A Day” VIP ticket bundle (only available online), while those looking to gain quicker entrance to Saturday’s or Sunday’s Æbleskiver Breakfasts may purchase tickets for the Breakfasts online, in advance.
The weekend’s numerous offerings, encompassing activities for all ages, range from fan-favorite food events surrounding Aebleskiver, the iconic Danish pastry rounds; to a Danish-style beer and wine garden serving Danish import, Carlsberg beer, alongside local brews, wines and festival eats; to interactive history lessons at the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art; to an axe-throwing arena where guests can “unleash their inner Viking;” to free, live concerts and an artisanal crafts marketplace.
Admission to Solvang Danish Days is free and entertainment options abound during the weekend with multiple parades, plus folk dancers and Danish musicians performing in locations scattered about the town. Solvang Danish Days also aims to please the next generation of Danish Days fans with varied pastimes, including Hans Christian Andersen story-telling sessions and activities featuring LEGO®.
Old Spanish Days
Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara is a five-day celebration of culture, tradition, historic parades, music, dance, and community rooted in California’s Spanish and Mexican heritage.
California Wine Festival
The California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara features rare wine tastings, local food, live music, and a beachside festival with hundreds of wines and craft brews.
West Coast Cub Fly In Lompoc
The West Coast Cub and Antique Aircraft Fly-In is a summer aviation gathering at the Lompoc Airport. Guests explore restored aircraft on display and meet pilots, but the main event is pilot proficiency games held Saturday afternoon. With free admission, it’s a family-friendly experience for aviation enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
Lompoc Old Town Market
Lompoc Old Town Market brings the heart of downtown to life with an evening of local flavor, live entertainment, and community spirit. Stroll through historic Old Town Lompoc as vendors offer fresh produce, handcrafted goods, delicious food, and unique finds, while live music and family-friendly activities create a vibrant atmosphere for visitors of all ages. It's the perfect way to experience the charm, creativity, and welcoming spirit of Lompoc.
Solvang 4th of July Parade and Fireworks Festival
Summer in Solvang heats up with one of the city’s most popular parades, Solvang Rotary’s annual July 4th Parade. Dozens upon dozens of parade entrants such as classic cars, prancing horses, dance troupes, drum lines, and brass sections travel along the July 4th Parade route as it winds its way through town.
High school marching bands, motorcycle and car clubs, floats crafted by local businesses, and animated farm animal and pet entries put on their best patriotic display. As night falls, Santa Ynez Valley Rotary’s fireworks festival lights up the Solvang sky in a show based next to historic Old Mission Santa Inés.
The Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
The Lompoc Valley Flower Festival at Ryon Memorial Park is a long standing community celebration honoring the region’s deep roots in the flower-growing industry. With the event’s origin dating back to the 1950s, the Flower Festival acknowledges the area’s agricultural heritage while bringing community members together.
Organized by the nonprofit Lompoc Valley Festival Association, this beloved event offers a mix of activities including a parade featuring flower-adorned floats, carnival attractions, arts and crafts vendors, food booths, and live entertainment.
SYV Pride Parade and Festival
Produced by Santa Ynez Valley nonprofit, SYV Pride, the 2026 edition of SYV Pride month begins May 23, with an event line-up to include multiple winery- and saloon-hosted happenings plus the month’s main attraction: the Saturday, June 13, SYV Pride Parade and Festival in downtown Solvang.
The fifth annual SYV Pride Parade starts at 11:00 AM, and will roll through Solvang with floats, music, and more, ending with a colorful, family-friendly Pride Festival (12:00 PM) in and around Solvang Park. Open to adults and kids of all ages, the festival will feature a live DJ set, food vendors, a beer and wine garden, face painting, rock climbing, and more.
SYV Pride updates and event schedule details may be found at: www.SYVPride.org
“Farm Day Every Day” tour at Rancho Olivos
Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is hosting a free “Farm Day Every Day” tour at Rancho Olivos on Saturday, May 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Visitors will tour the olive orchard and learn how different varieties of olive oil are made, including Rancho Olivos’ Blood Orange, basil, jalapeno, rosemary-garlic, and Meyer lemon flavored olive oils. The tour will end with an olive oil tasting.
Tours are free, but space is limited. Registration is required. Ticket registration opens on May 22 at 10:00 a.m. To register and learn more about the tour and future Farm Day Every Day events, visit https://www.seeag.org/farm-day-every-day.
Buellton Brew Fest
Buellton Brew Fest is a 21+ event featuring 55+ breweries, wineries and spirits purveyors for your enjoyment! There are plenty of food trucks and restrooms on site, plus mega sized beer pong, mechanical bull, cornhole, and live entertainment. Designated Driver passes and local shuttles available for this event!
Bust out those Cowboy Hats and boots and join us at the 13th annual Buellton Brew Fest on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 at River View Park. It features 55+ craft breweries, wineries, kombucha, ciders, seltzers and spirit companies!