Dec 11, 20242 min read

Parades on State Street:

Re-posted with Permission from the VOICE Magazine

THE PANDEMIC WAS BLAMED FIRST AND THEN PARKLETS AND THE FIRE

DEPARTMENT for halting Santa Barbara’s State Street Parades. When protests

emerged, soon other routes were suggested and tried - Santa Barbara Street for

Solstice and Cabrillo Blvd for Fiesta. But the in the changed locations parades have

lacked the enthusiasm and financial viability of State Street. And, some of our favorite

parades never came back. Remember the joy of the Children’s Holiday Parade? And the

pride of the Fourth of July Parade?

In the meantime Goleta, Milpas Street, and Montecito all recovered their street

festivals and parades. What happened to Downtown’s big events? Was it perhaps the cost of reapplying with changed location plans? Why not allow them to return to their original locations? COVID is no longer the issue, and besides,being outside was one of the main corrections to address COVID transmission concerns.

It is time to bring city festivals and parades back to Santa Barbara's Grand Paseo -

State Street. If the City of Santa Barbara waits any longer, residents may lose these special

times when residents come together on our main thoroughfare.

Citywide celebrations enrich community life by bringing together children, abuelas,

moms, dads, uncles, and tias to sing, dance, and shout "Santa Barbara is a wonderful

place to live together!"

Festivals hold up culture at its best — in a social way — honoring viable traditions

that make us smile about our similarities and differences.Santa Barbara has several festivals that hold unique places in the hearts of residents and also have earned national recognition. Fiesta, which formerly was the largest equestrian parade in the nation; Music Academy of the West Summer Festival, with its internationally recognized performances, students, and faculty; Solstice, which hascaptured the imagination of many parades and celebrations; and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, with amazing international star power and programming. Intergenerational, diverse by nature, and all-inclusive — they are a powerful mix with the central focus of participating in a community event. All of our parades and events, at their heart, hold high human worth and mutual respect.

Parades are a chance to be face to face with neighbors and family members, to watch

and perform for other like-minded people that live in our beautiful home with its very

rich cultural mix.

If you think that it is important for parades to return to State Street, or have an

opinion about that return, please let your local representatives know.

To assist with that, below is some contact information for some of our

representatives:

Mayor Randy Rowse: RRowse@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

City Councilmembers:

Mike Jordan: Mjordan@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Oscar Gutierrez: Ogutierrez@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Meagan Harmon: MHarmon@SantaBarbaraCA.gov