Fiesta Celebrations Inspires New Ideas & Events to Revive Downtown Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The economic boost for many businesses and big crowds in downtown Santa Barbara were part of the annual Old Spanish Days surge of foot traffic, but now the challenge is to keep the area interesting enough to snap out of the issues its been facing.
Many people watching the streets come alive during Fiesta, realized it was mainly for the celebrations taking place throughout the area that bring in thousands of people every day, many from out of town.
Now to recharge the streets while a master plan is created for the future, events, activities, music and creative gatherings could be the answer.
Local residents asked about what brings them to downtown streets said it was not always shopping or dining out. A sense of vibrancy and a gathering place with their friends made it special. It was also a place to bring visitors coming to Santa Barbara to see the city with them.
Suggestions included more outside performances, music, street theatre, petting zoos, cultural fairs and even a movie night in De la Guerra Plaza, which is unused by the public most of the year.
A downtown worker, Catherine Chapple said pop-up events would be attractive to her. “Infrastructure your wouldn’t have to change,” she said compared to a complete rebuilding of the streets for millions of dollars per block. She said some of the blocks are “kind of quiet.” She looked forward to more activities at the new library plaza in the future.
“Live music and vendors and performances,” she said would be welcomed. “And all the dance schools, programs I think that would be such an awesome opportunity for kids.”
Michael Schmidt sells art in downtown and says, “music and maybe some busking. Some performance or something. I would rather have them spend money to get people like that in here than new sidewalks and stuff.”
“There are so many that tell me that the live music changes it. It gives them a great feeling. It changes their day. I am happy to do it,” said trumpet player Miles Julian.
“I think one of the most important things you can do for a small town like this is certainly is increase the aspect of festive communion. Any sort of music for people walking by and people need humanity in this world right now especially a place like Santa Barbara.,” said Cainan Birchim.
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