Get your French fix for free at the Santa Barbara French Festival.
Santa Barbara is spectacular any time of year, but it's particularly alluring in summer when the average high temperature is around 75 degrees. There's something going on almost every weekend, and there's an art show in the ocean-front park every Sunday afternoon.
One of our favorite events is the annual French Festival, which takes place on the weekend closest to Bastille Day. This year, the festival will be held in Oak Park from 11AM to 7PM on July 11 and 12.
More than forty different acts -- including cancan dancers, le jazz hot combos, drag queens, accordion players, and French singers -- are featured on three stages. The French Poodle Parade on Sunday afternoon is highlight. All breeds are welcome and costumes are strongly encouraged.
You can shop for arts and crafts, and local restaurants sell crepes, pate, escargots, French pastries, Alsatian sausages and sauerkraut, and Vietnamese food. There's French beer, wine, and soft drinks to wash it down.
One year, we had a baguette with rare tri-tip, Brie, and caramelized onions. Mon Dieu. It was the best festival food we've ever had.
Admission is free, food is reasonably priced, and there's parking on the neighboring side streets. Allons y. For more information, visit www.frenchfestival.com
For more information about Santa Barbara check out our Central California itinerary, http://www.tripaddiction.com/itinerary.cfm?regionID=239&itineraryID=24&display=itinerary