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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. 23
 ART & WINE TOUR
May 28, 2009, 5:30 - 9:30 PM
If you would like to be added to the mailing list for the 2010 Downtown Art & Wine Tour, please email your mailing address to mharms@sbdo.org.
Eat, drink and be merry at the Downtown Art & Wine Tour on May 28, 2009. 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 d’oeuvres from local restaurants and food purveyors. The gallery tour is followed by a fabulous final party featuring live music from Tommy and the High Pilots, more food and wine, and a silent auction!
2009 participants include: Galleries/Venues: 3D Studio Gallery, Brooks Institute gallery 27, Bryant and Sons Jewelers, Casa de la Guerra, Churchill Jewelers, Contemporary Arts Forum, Eden, The Frameworks & Caruso Woods Contemporary Art Gallery, Patty Look Lewis Gallery, Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro, and Restaurant Roy. Sample delicious food from these participating Restaurants: Bella Dolce Bakery, bouchon santa barbara, Café Shell, Coast, Coffee Cat, Elements Restaurant-Bar, The Greek House Café, Left at Albuquerque, Los Arroyos, The Melting Pot, Neo Chase Restaurant & Bar, Paradise Cafe, Pascucci, Pastavino, Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro, Restaurant Roy, Seagrass Restaurant, Sojourner Café and State & A Bar & Grill. And taste remarkable wines from these participating Wineries: Alma Rosa Winery, Artiste Winery, Brander Vineyard, Buttonwood Farm Winery, Carina Cellars, Consilience, Kalyra Winery, Presidio Winery & Vineyard, Santa Barbara Winery, Summerland Winery, Also tasty beers from Hollister Brewing Company.
Tickets are $55 and will go on sale May 1st, 2009! 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 2009 57th Annual Downtown Children’s Holiday Parade. For more information on the Downtown Art & Wine Tour, please contact (805) 962-2098 ext. 24.
OCTOBER 2009
The Dish:
Calling all locavore’s, foodies and cultural enthusiasts! Coming this October, Santa Barbara will debut a month long foodie festival featuring diverse epicurean offerings sure to sate your appetite!This epicurean adventure will showcase regional cuisine, libations and culture. During the month of October, the promotion builds on existing annual foodie-friendly events including the Harbor & Seafood Festival, California Lemon Festival, California Avocado Festival and Celebration of Harvest. Special midweek menus, educational seminars, mixology demos, farmers' market tours, cooking classes, micro-brew tastings, winemaker dinners and much more will fill the month up with tasty opportunities to sip and savor the uniquely local flavors of Santa Barbara County.
Co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission.
For more information contact Mary Lynn Harms at mharms@sbdo.org or call 805-962-2098 ext. 24.
October 2009
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 to receive a special treat. Don’t forget to bring a Trick-or-Treat bag!
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57th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade
Friday, December 4, 2009, 6:30 PM
2009 Theme is "Unwrap the Magic"
More than 50,000 spectators are expected to line downtown Santa Barbara on Friday evening December 4th, 2009, to cheer on 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 Clause, 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 Street and Sola Street 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 Holiday Tree
Join the Downtown Organization as its gift to the community arrives on Monday, November 23, 2009 to be placed on State Street just in time for the holiday season!
The 45’ Douglas Fir Community Holiday Tree is sponsored by the Downtown Organization and is graciously donated by Southern California Edison. The Downtown Organization would like to thank Southern California Edison for delivering the tree to downtown Santa Barbara and the City of Santa Barbara’s Public Works and Parks Departments for the installation just north of the intersection of Victoria and State Streets.
The tree is expected to arrive on State Street at 8am Monday morning and be installed between 8:30am and 10:00am. The official lighting of the tree will take place on Friday, December 4 at 6:30pm by the Holiday Prince and Fairy at the beginning of the 56th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade. This magnificent tree will shine brightly through the holiday season.
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Holiday Prince and Fairy ContestDeadline: 2009 TBD
 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 2009 Prince & Fairy Contest! As the Holiday Prince or Fairy, you’ll ride in the December 4th Downtown Holiday Parade at 6:30 p.m. with the Grand Marshal.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.
Holiday Prince & Fairy ride in a horse drawn carriage with the Grand Marshal. The Holiday Prince & Fairy are chosen for their creativity and originality in a fairytale writing contest sponsored by 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 150 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 on December1st at 4pm and able to ride in the parade on Friday December 5th.
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
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