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French Festival July 14-15
July 14, 2018 @ 11:00 am - July 15, 2018 @ 7:00 am PDT
Bienvenue from The Santa Barbara French Festival to you! Celebrate Bastille Day at the 30th Annual French Festival, July 14th & 15th at Oak Park in Santa Barbara.
Join us for one of Santa Barbara’s favorite festivals and celebrate the resilient, rich and entertaining French culture. Get ready to enjoy great food, wine, mimosas, crepes, delicious pastries, music, dance and, of course, the infamous Canine Cavalcade. The Festival is fun & free for the entire family!
The Santa Barbara French Festival is a community event that draws people from corners near and far. It’s a Dance Festival, a Music Festival, an Arts & Crafts Festival and, of course, a Food Festival. This community celebration is produced by Center Stage Theater and Speaking of Stories, two wonderful non-profit organizations fostering the arts in Santa Barbara.
For two days Santa Barbara celebrates its nickname “the American Riviera,” as the French Festivities transform Oak Park. Our little French village comes to life at 11:00 am when the entertainment kicks off on three different stages and continues non-stop until7:00 pm, both days. The stages will be filled with dance and music from more than 30 different acts including performances, audience participation and instruction. The favorites return every year: Tango, Django Reinhardt tributes, and of course, the Femme Fatales Drag Revue! You will see Can-Can and French Polynesian dancers, West African Belly dancing, French arias and every minute of entertainment is free! You’ll be amazed at the scope of music that Accordions can provide as we dedicate an entire stage to The Accordion International Music Society of Santa Barbara. There is even a dance floor for those who would like to take a spin to the accordion melodies. We encourage you to join the fun and BE THE FUN!
The entertainment doesn’t stop at the stage. Fun flows throughout the festival. Indulge in the fabulous cuisine, engage your friends or the King’s Court in a game of Pétanque. Relax with some delicious French wine, soda or beer while you enjoy a demonstration of period armored combat. Join the French Conversation Booth, or shop for French tablecloths. The youngsters will delight in the droid scavenger hunt, having their faces painted, or meeting the Grand Marshalette of the Canine Cavalcade, Jellie Beanz.
Speaking of the Canine Cavalcade . . . When we say fun for the “entire family,” we mean the ENTIRE FAMILY. Don’t forget to bring along your dog-&-people-friendly canine family members. The Festival is on-leash dog-friendly and features The Annual Canine Cavalcade ~ a parade for you and your four-legged friends on Saturday & Sunday. The Canine Cavalcade begins at the base of the Eiffel Tower on Saturday and Sunday at 6:00, and culminates on the Eiffel Stage where each participant enjoys their moment in the spotlight. There is even a costume contest, complete with prizes! So frost your visual Flaugnarde and join the cavalcade of pups and their faithful humans as they strut their stuff.
With mimosas in hand, fans return every year to peruse more than 60 booths that offer everything from delicious crepes, to phenomenal art and photography, fairy wings, fashion and jewelry and everyone’s favorite: The official French Festival booth that sells T-shirts and Berets!
We feel your pain at the thought of Sunday evening being the end — so we have our “Adventure CPR,” Santa Barbara Travel Bureau booth, to save you! Stop by and they will help you plan a great French excursion to continue the fun.
Center Stage Theatre and Speaking of Stories are pleased to present this great community event, that helps fund these two important groups year-round. Sponsors for the event include Santa Barbara Travel, Kronenbourg 1664, Perrier, The Santa Barbara Independent, Paseo Nuevo Shops & Restaurants, Diabolo French Soda, HiddenProvence.com, Tent Merchants, DSR Audio, EdHat and more.
For complete details on the performers, food, crafts, shopping and activities visit FrenchFestival.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.