The Concierge Edit
August & Labor Day Weekend Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of The Concierge Edit — your curated guide for an inspired, not-yet-end of summer in Santa Barbara, with highlights, insider tips, and effortless ideas for making the most of August through Labor Day Weekend.

🪅 Focus on Fiesta: Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days (July 30–August 3)

Santa Barbara’s beloved Old Spanish Days Fiesta fills the city with color, music, and tradition. Here’s a guide to key events:

• Fiesta Pequeña | Wednesday, July 30 at 8:00pm, Old Mission Santa Barbara
  An opening night tradition featuring music and dance on the steps of the historic mission.

• Flor y Canto | Thursday, July 31 at 7:00pm, Old Mission Santa Barbara
  A beautiful evening of traditional songs and poetry celebrating California’s early history.

• El Mercado de la Guerra | Wednesday, July 30 – Sunday, August 3, De La Guerra Plaza
  A vibrant open-air marketplace with food, crafts, and live entertainment.

• El Mercado del Norte | Wednesday, July 30 – Sunday, August 3, MacKenzie Park
  Family-friendly market with rides, games, food, and local vendors.

• Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado | Wednesday, July 30 – Saturday, August 2, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church 11:00am – 9:00pm
  A community mercado with delicious Mexican food, music, and cultural celebration.

• Fiesta Rodeo and Stock Horse Show | Thursday, July 31 – Sunday, August 3, Earl Warren Showgrounds
  Traditional rodeo events celebrating California’s equestrian heritage.

• El Desfile Histórico (Historical Parade) | Friday, August 2 at 12:00pm, along Cabrillo Boulevard
  One of the nation’s largest equestrian parades, showcasing colorful costumes and historic reenactments.

• El Desfile de los Niños (Children’s Parade) — Saturday, August 3 at 10:00am, State Street
  A joyful parade featuring local children in festive attire and themed floats.

• Fiesta Arts & Crafts Show — Sunday, August 3, Cabrillo Boulevard
  Local artisans display handmade creations along the waterfront.

• Celebrations and live entertainment — Daily at mercados and venues throughout Santa Barbara
  Music, dance, and cultural performances enrich the Fiesta atmosphere.

Full Fiesta Schedule »

🌈 Additional Highlights

• Pacific Pride Festival — August 23 at Chase Palm Park
  Music, food, art, and community celebration.
  Festival Details »

• Ongoing Summer Favorites
  Enjoy these beloved local traditions through summer’s end:
  • Polo Sundays at SB Polo Club
  • Movies at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens | Movie Schedule »
  • Concerts at the Santa Barbara Bowl | SB Bowl Calendar »

📆 Dates to Remember

• Labor Day — Monday, September 1

🍷 Alfresco Wine Tasting: Where to Sip in the Sun

Tasting rooms with convivial outdoor spaces, in no particular order:

• Tyler x Lieu Dit — Downtown
  Collaborative tasting room offering Santa Barbara County wines, Tyler focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Lieu Dit on Loire-style varietals.

• Frequency Wine Company — Downtown
  Known for expressive Rhône-style varietals and bold red blends, Frequency offers a relaxed, art-filled tasting space with a welcoming patio.

• Deep Sea Tasting Room — Stearns Wharf
  Oceanfront sipping with a focus on coastal-influenced varietals and blends.

• Margerum Tasting Room — Funk Zone
  Small-production Rhône varietals and Sauvignon Blanc from local vineyards.

• Grassini Family Vineyards — Presidio Neighborhood
  Focus on estate-grown Bordeaux varietals, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

• La Lieff — Funk Zone
  Small-batch wines with a focus on Grenache Rosé and Rhône-style reds.

• Longoria Wines on State — Downtown / State Street
  Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Tempranillo from Santa Barbara and Sta. Rita Hills.

• Barbieri & Kempe Wines — Downtown
  Rhône-style reds and small-lot Syrah blends.

• Carr Winery — Midtown
  Handcrafted small-batch wines: Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc.

• Jamie Slone Wines — Presidio Neighborhood
  Elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and red blends sourced from premium Santa Barbara vineyards.

•  Paradise Springs Santa Barbara — Funk Zone
  First bi-coastal winery; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah with West Coast character.

• Brass Bear — Funk Zone / Waterfront
  Not strictly a winery, but offers wine alongside craft beer; casual patio great for groups.

  🍷 Let me assist with tastings, transportation, or private group bookings.

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  ☀️ Hosting & Entertaining Ideas

  • End of Summer Pool Party — Splashy fun, casual bites, tropical drinks, and relaxed vibes to soak up the last days before homework begins again.

  • Fiesta Garden Gathering — A more intimate take on Old Spanish Days at home with tapas, sangria, and flamenco music under the stars.

  😎 Need help coordinating rentals, catering, or entertainment? Let me organize while you enjoy.

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  ✈️ Wanderlust: Labor Day Weekend Getaways

  Looking for a quick escape for the long weekend?

  • Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles — Wine country luxury and artful ambiance.
    Explore Allegretto »

  • Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe — Mountain air, hiking trails, and elevated relaxation.
    Explore Ritz-Carlton »

  🏨 Let me take care of your booking details, from accommodations to dining to spa treatments.
  
  

  🌍 I’m delighted to be sharing this month's newsletter with you from Cape Town, South Africa. This dynamic city has been the perfect stop for exploring, specifically the V&A Waterfront and Green Point neighborhood. Adventures this week have included a catamaran SEAfari in False Bay (cage diving with bronze whaler sharks!), celebrating multiple birthdays at Nobu in the gorgeous One&Only Cape Town, and sampling the exceptional wines of Stellenbosch. Before this, I spent a remarkable week at LUX Le Morne » in Mauritius — breathtakingly beautiful and well worth the 30-hour journey from Santa Barbara, especially aboard Emirates’ A380 with its onboard lounge. Next, I’m heading to Paris, then Versailles, and lastly a weekend in Aix-en-Provence. Every stop has been wonderful, and finds me gathering fresh inspiration to plan your next unforgettable journey.

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  💌 I'd Love to Hear From You

  What’s on your late-summer agenda?
  Are you planning a getaway or a local celebration?
  Let me know how I can help make it seamless.

  —

  Best,
  Harrison
  Your private, trusted resource on the American Riviera

  Harrison Lifestyle Concierge
  📞 +1 805 245 7007
  📧 harrison@harrisonlifestyleconcierge.com
  🌐 www.harrisonlifestyleconcierge.com