Please make a conscious choice to reduce your environmental impact by traveling to Juneteenth SB by bike, bus, or train. We encourage you to check out Amtrak if you are traveling from out of town. Alternatively, consider using Santa Barbara MTD if you are coming from within Goleta to Carpinteria, or consider biking. Bikers, please note that we have self-biking provided through MOVE Santa Barbara County!
Read MoreJuneteenth Santa Barbara welcomes the community to the ninth annual Juneteenth celebration in South Santa Barbara County!
Bring a lawn chair, blankets, and the family to enjoy a free celebration on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Plaza Del Mar/Band Shell Park at Castillo Street and Cabrillo/Shoreline Streets. Join us for a day of joy, community, and celebration!
The celebration includes local live performances, the return of the Black Artisan Market showcasing handmade goods and artwork, the Indy Parenting kids zone with 805 Body Art face painting, nonprofit and government resources, the beer and wine garden, and so much more! Juneteenth SB has partnered with Leticia Resch for event logistics to plan a safe, fun, and successful event.
Read MoreJuneteenth Santa Barbara Announces 2026 “Love for The People” Celebration at Plaza Del Mar
Community invited to participate as artists, vendors, volunteers, and sponsors
Santa Barbara, CA — Juneteenth Santa Barbara is proud to announce the 2026 “Love for The People” Juneteenth Celebration that will take place on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Plaza Del Mar in Santa Barbara from 11 am - 6 pm. The annual event commemorates the historic day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States learned of their freedom, and it continues to serve as a powerful celebration of Black history, culture, resilience, and community. Juneteenth Santa Barbara honors this tradition, especially at the local level.
Read MoreLooking for Santa Barbara’s
Black Community
A Culture and History Displaced
and Almost Forgotten
By Maya Johnson | Credit: February 12, 2026
Tanya Spears Guiliacci was the first Black Santa Barbara native I ever met, five years into living in this city.
We met through my job at the Independent, the only two Black people working in our office. This experience of isolation in Santa Barbara is something I, and many other Black folks, have long been accustomed to.
Being Black in Santa Barbara, it is not uncommon to find oneself as the “only” in the room. When we Black Santa Barbarans do see each other around town, we throw a wave or a smile, compliment each other’s hair, and maybe even swap numbers and promise to connect, but community — a real sense of Black community — is difficult to find here.
Yet, surprisingly, Santa Barbara’s Black population has a lengthy history. Read More
Read MoreSpecial thanks to Rex Bridgeforth II and The Sure Shot Media for the video!
Juneteenth Santa Barbara is an annual event, where we bring community members together to celebrate the freedom of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas were informed of their freedom and immediately danced in the streets. Today we honor our ancestors and celebrate our freedom, showcasing black joy and culture in Santa Barbara, California. Our 2024 community event themed ‘Hope for The People’ also honored local Black artists & artisans, performers, and organizations as well as provided free food, dancing, and singing.
On Saturday, June 15 we celebrated at Plaza Del Mar park utilizing the upgraded Band Shell for our joyous event. Learn more at: https://juneteenthsb.org/
Read MoreFive Days Left to Complete the State of the Black Santa Barbara County Community Survey
After a year of being open since our 2024 Juneteenth event, the survey will close on Monday, June 30! This comprehensive survey helps gather data about the Black community across Santa Barbara County. UCSB Center for Evaluation is facilitating the survey, and the Santa Barbara Foundation and NAACP Santa Maria—Lompoc are sponsors.
KCSB | Juneteenth SB + The Local Black Experience | Thur. June 19, 2025
EdHat | Juneteenth Celebration in Santa Barbara Brings Community Together | Thur. Jun 19, 2025
Santa Barbara Independent | Juneteenth Santa Barbara Celebrates Joy | Mon. Jun 16, 2025
Noozhawk | Juneteenth SB Draws Hundreds to Event | Sat. June 15, 2025
Read MoreThe Black Artisan Market includes Carrie’s Daughter BUnique, Dawn Carlson, Gypsy Moon House, Healing & Feel Good Candles, Healing Justice SB, Howeventful, Kadence Naturals, Kat Lincoln & Sin Palabras, Moore on Health, Planet Protectors Santa Barbara, Reyna, Riah Safari, Shirely Girl Boutique, Sweet Haul, Tracy, To Live A Colorful Life, Warrior Mother Essential Oils & Blends, The Whole 9, and The Wisdom Center.
Our community nonprofits that will be tabling include Community Environmental Council, MLK Jr. SB, Moms Demand Action Santa Barbara, NAACP Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Public Library/Library on the Go, and Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.
Read MoreJoining us on stage for this event are local talent DJ PTRK LMR, Pastor David Moore, Poet Yutopia Essex, Poet Ariel Phoenix, Dirtydom & The Vibe, EvoLucians, P$ Experience, Kat Lincoln & Sin Palabras, and The Knew Vibe. Come check out their performances!
Read MorePlease make a conscious choice to have a lower environmental impact by traveling to Juneteenth SB by walking, bike, bus, or train. This weekend will be busy with UCSB graduation, the No Kings Protest, and more!We encourage you to check out Amtrak if you are traveling from out of town - the station is walking distance. Alternatively, consider using Santa Barbara MTD if you are coming from within Goleta to Carpinteria, or consider biking, if you are able. Bcycle_bikeshare bikes are available for rent!
Parking is available in the Pershing Park parking lot, ocean front parking lots, and SBCC parking lots.
See y’all tomorrow!!
Joining us on stage for this event are local talent DJ PTRK LMR, Pastor David Moore, Poet Yutopia Essex, Poet Ariel Phoenix, Dirtydom & The Vibe, EvoLucians, P$ Experience, Kat Lincoln & Sin Palabras, and The Knew Vibe.
Read MoreSANTA BARBARA, CA — Juneteenth Santa Barbara welcomes the community to the eighth annual Juneteenth celebration in South Santa Barbara County!
Bring a lawn chair, blankets, and the family to enjoy a free celebration on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Plaza Del Mar/Band Shell Park at Castillo Street and Cabrillo/Shoreline Streets. Come stay a while and enjoy the day!
The celebration includes local live performances, the return of the Black Artisan Market, the Indy Parenting kids zone with 805 Body Art face painting, the Santa Barbara Public Library on the Go Van, and so much more! This year's theme invokes the emotion of hope, one that finds strength in community gathering together to celebrate freedom. Juneteenth SB has partnered with Leticia Resch for event logistics to plan a safe, fun, and successful event.
Read MoreSojourner “JOY” Kincaid Rolle. Full stop. That's the sentence. How do you capture an icon's life into a word count? Especially one who was a master with words, every detail, every diction, and every dialect. To know Sojourner was to understand truth, history, and true love. She was a perfectionist, an artist, a peacemaker, and an activist who saw beauty in all things and all people, a true steward of justice and an inspirer of hope. Her story exemplifies a person who has lived many lives and understood the meaning of living a fulfilled life. I am honored to be among a few close friends to share her magnificent story.
Read MoreMy name is Sebastian "Sebo" Sieghart, and I have 12 years of experience working with professional athletes overseas. It was an honor to be trusted by NCAA 1 athletes, European top teams, NBA players, and National teams.
Love brought me here to Santa Barbara, and I love to share my time, passion, and knowledge with everybody that wants to perform and enjoy life to the fullest.
Read More