The Downtown Organization of Santa Barbara is dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the business, cultural, community, and environmental vitality of downtown Santa Barbara for the benefit of its members, Santa Barbara residents, and visitors. Throughout the year, the Downtown Organization sponsors events which bring together businesses and the community.
For more information on any Downtown Organization event, please call 962-2098 ext. 24
56th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade
Friday, December 5, 2008, 6:30 PM
More than 50,000 spectators are expected to line downtown Santa Barbara on Friday evening December 5, 2008, to cheer a colossal contingent of high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and of course, the most anticipated appearance of the evening… the annual arrival of Santa Claus, dispensing holiday cheer from atop his festive sleigh. The Holiday Prince & Fairy officially light up the night with the lighting of the large Christmas tree at State & Victoria Streets.
Participant applications will be available in September by contacting the Downtown Organization at info@sbdo.org or by calling the number below.
The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at State and Sola Streets and concludes at Cota Street. For more information, call (805) 962-2098 ext. 23
Parade History 
In the early 1950’s, a tradition began to decorate State Street with 40 foot tall Douglas fir Christmas trees during the holidays. These trees actually lined the center divider lines of what used to be a four lane street. Sponsored then by the Retail Merchant’s Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Parks and Recreation Department, the trees were officially dedicated and lit during the Children’s Christmas Parade by the Christmas Fairy. The Children’s Christmas Parade is now known as the Downtown Holiday Parade and is held annually, one week after Thanksgiving.
The parade, in its 56th year, has since evolved into Santa Barbara’s only nighttime street parade. After 31 years of Saturday morning debuts, the parade returned to the Friday evening tradition in 1998. This year’s tradition takes place on Friday, December 5th officially welcoming the holiday season downtown with the lighting of the 45’ Community Christmas Tree located at the corner of State and Victoria Streets.
Community Christmas Tree
The placing of the Community Christmas Tree at Victoria Street returned in 1997 when the Downtown Organization (DO), parade sponsor, decided to bring back a little bit of the old State Street tradition. Since the street is narrower now, only one large tree returned to State Street. In an attempt to carry on with the true Christmas Tree Lane of the 1950’s, the DO decided to place smaller Christmas trees in each intersection of the parade route for the Prince & Fairy to officially light during the parade.
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Holiday Prince and Fairy ContestDeadline: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Prince & Fairy Contest entry form
Hey kids….want to light the trees along State Street and ride in a horse drawn carriage in the Downtown Holiday Parade? Then enter the 2008 Prince & Fairy Contest! As the Holiday Prince or Fairy, you’ll ride in the December 5th Downtown Holiday Parade at 6:30 p.m. with the Grand Marshal and light the trees along the parade route with a magic wand! The runners-up will ride in Santa’s sleigh.
The tradition of the Christmas Fairy, now the Holiday Prince & Fairy, began with the first parade in 1953. The Christmas Fairy rode with Santa on a 35-foot float and officially lit Santa Barbara’s Christmas Tree Lane with her magic wand. To pay tribute to the original Christmas Tree Lane, the Downtown Organization places smaller Christmas trees in each intersection of the parade route for the Prince & Fairy to light during the parade.
Riding in a horse drawn carriage with the Grand Marshal, the Holiday Prince & Fairy still light the trees along the parade route. The Holiday Prince & Fairy are chosen for their creativity and originality in a fairytale writing contest co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara News-Press and the Downtown Organization. Santa still reigns over the celebration, only now he’s the last parade entry and his ‘reindeer’ pull him down State Street in an authentic, hand-built sleigh!
To enter, please follow these guidelines: Open to children ages 6-10; one entry per child; in 100 words or less, write a Holiday Fairytale on a separate piece of paper beginning with the words: “Once upon a time in Santa Barbara…”
Entries MUST include child’s name and age, and parent or guardian’s name, address, and daytime and evening phone numbers.
Children selected must be available for a photo shoot.
Entries may be emailed to info@sbdo.org Please write “Prince and Fairy" in the subject line.
Entries may also be faxed to 805-962-3286 or mailed to:
Downtown Organization
Attn: Prince and Fairy
Post Office Box 240
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Deadline for entries is November 18, 2008 by 5:00 p.m.
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 ART & WINE TOUR
Thursday, May 22, 2008, 5:30 - 9:30 PM
Eat, drink and be merry at the Downtown Art & Wine Tour on Thursday, May 22, 2008. The tour offers participants an opportunity for leisurely strolling between downtown art galleries to see the latest exhibits, taste dishes from downtown restaurants and sample wines from leading Santa Barbara County vintners.
This popular downtown event is a community favorite and a complete sell-out each year! Participants receive a logo wine glass for tasting at downtown galleries/venues and a sampling of delicious hors doeuvres from local restaurants and food purveyors. The gallery tour is followed by a fabulous final party featuring live music, more food and wine, and an amazing raffle!
2008 participants include: Galleries/Venues: Artamo Gallery, The Book Den, Channing Peake Gallery, Dianna Bottoms Fine Art, Edward Cella Art + Architecture, Fast Frame, Gallery 113, Gallery Ocho, Gallery Ten-Twenty-Nine, Indigo Interiors, Oliver & Espig Jewelers, Santa Barbara Frame Shop & Gallery, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Sullivan Goss- An American Gallery, Waterhouse Gallery. Sample delicious food from these participating Restaurants: Aldo's Italian Restaurant, Andersen's Danish Restaurant & Bakery, Arts & Letter Cafe, Barcliff & Bair Cafe,Bella Dolce Bakery, bouchon santa barbara, Cafe Buenos Aires,China Pavilion, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Coffee Cat,Elements Restaurant-Bar,Left at Albuquerque, Los Arroyos, Marmalade Cafe & Cate, Opal Restaurant & Bar,Paradise Cafe, Pascucci, Pierre Lafond Bistro, Quantum Kitchen & Cocktails, Roblar Cooking School, SeagrassRestaurant, State & A Bar & Grill, Stateside Restaurant & Lounge, Wine Cask.And taste remarkable wines from these participating Wineries: Alma Rosa Winery,Babcock WineryVineyard, Brander Vineyard, Buttonwood Farm Winery, Carina Cellars, Casa Cassara Winery, Consilience, Kalyra Winery, Presidio Winery & Vineyard, Roblar Winery & Vineyards, Santa Barbara Winery, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Summerland Winery, Also tasty beers from Hollister Brewing Company.
Tickets are $55 for the tour and final party, $35 for the final party (7:30-9:30 PM) only. Tickets will go on sale May 1st, 2008! Tickets are available by cash or check at the Downtown Organization Offices at 27-B East De la Guerra Street or at the Arlington Theatre Box Office, 1317 State Street, by cash or credit ($1 surcharge per ticket). Proceeds benefit the 2008 56th Annual Downtown Children’s Holiday Parade. For more information on the Downtown Art & Wine Tour, please contact (805) 962-2098 ext. 23. Back to Top
Downtown Trick-or-Treat
Friday, October 31, 2008, 3:00-6:00 PM
For a fun, safe Halloween event, children and their parents are invited to Trick-or-Treat along State Street and the Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center. All participating businesses will display an “orange ghost” and balloons in their window. Please come in costume between 3 and 6 p.m. to receive a special treat. Don’t forget to bring a Trick-or-Treat bag!
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