Visit Santa Barbara Presents What's New in Fall 2013

Enjoy Santa Barbara during the fall season. The great weather allows for numerous popular outdoor festivals such as the Avocado Festival, Lemon Festival and Celebration of Harvest. New experiences are popping up as well with Canary Hotel's "Sing Along Under the Stars" rooftop movie series and the Santa Barbara Arts Foundry where guests can watch artisans at work casting bronze sculptures. For the top 15 not-to-miss experiences this fall, see the list below.

1) The 5th annual epicure.sb, a celebration of Santa Barbara's culture, cuisine, and libations, kicks off in October. Local businesses and festivals will showcase what our city has to offer with special events and tastings held throughout the month. Mark your calendar and join the celebration of this year's theme, the Spirit of Santa Barbara. Epicuresb.com

2) The 27th annual Avocado Festival will take place in Carpinteria from October 4 - 6. Live music, family fun, and avocados will line the streets as over 100,000 festival goers attend. As Santa Barbara County is the third largest avocado producer in North America, it's only natural that Carpinteria hosts a festival in its honor. AvoFest.com

3) The California Lemon Festival will take place on September 28 & 29 in Girsh Park in Goleta. Arts and craft vendors, a classic car show, and amusement park rides are just a few of the many activities planned to pay tribute to the iconic Goleta lemon-which became popular in Goleta Valley in the 1890's. LemonFestival.com

4) Offering a fresh Santa Barbara Coastal Cuisine fine dining experience, Seagrass Restaurant is a charter member of the Sustainable Seafood Program through the Ty Warner Sea Center. The restaurant honors what has been done in the culinary arts for the last one thousand years and yet keeps their eye on modern cooking techniques and trends. Seagrassrestaurant.com

5) The Goleta Butterfly Grove will once again come alive with thousands of Monarch butterflies on the Ellwood Mesa mid-November through mid-February as they migrate. The Mesa is comprised of 137 acres of natural terrain with designated trails and beach access. Plan to go on a warm afternoon when the butterflies are the most active. GoletaButterflyGrove.com

6) Lucky Penny boasts a façade completely tiled in copper pennies. Enjoy artisan pizzas from a wood-burning oven, fresh baked goods and carefully crafted coffee drinks prepared from La Colombe coffee to be enjoyed on the property's charming rustic patio, one of the nearby wine tasting rooms, packed for the beach or enjoyed at home. LuckyPennySB.com

7) Inspired by the elegance of the Italian Riviera, Bacara's new beachside restaurant, The Bistro, blends flavors of Italy with the finest locally-sourced ingredients. Led by Chef Chris Turano, who earned the role after competing on Food Network's Chef Wanted, the menu offers traditional Italian dishes complemented by lighter, coastal cuisine and breathtaking ocean views. BacaraResort.com

8) The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has a new exhibit, the Point Conception Lighthouse Fresnel Lens. This Registered National Landmark is nearly 160-years old, stands 18-feet tall, and consists of 624 individual glass prisms. The Maritime Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for Wednesdays. Located at 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara. SBMM.org

9) Kimpton's Canary Hotel will announce the debut of their weekly "Sing-Along Under the Stars" movie series, beginning Wednesday, October 2nd, with a screening of Grease on the Canary's scenic rooftop terrace. The screening is complimentary and Finch & Fork will also offer a menu of cocktails available for purchase. Movies start at 8 pm. CanarySantaBarbara.com

10) The Lark celebrates Santa Barbara County - wineries, farms, ocean and natural beauty, with an imaginative menu by Jason Paluska. The stunning design of the historic fish market building connects past and future, paying homage to California train travel using discovered vintage objects and blending them with modern, urban and industrial materials to spectacular effect. TheLarkSB.com

11) On Saturday, September 28th, 10 area museums, along with over 1,400 other participating venues nationwide, will be opening their doors free of charge for the 9th annual Museum Day Live! Participating local venues will emulate the Smithsonian's lead of encouraging learning and making these cultural institutions available to everyone. Download a ticket at Smithsonian.com/museumday

12) The 5th annual New Noise Music Festival hosts 50+ bands and music industry speakers in three days (Oct. 17 - 19) throughout Santa Barbara. The fest includes a special Block Party that takes over two blocks of SB's Funk Zone for a day of music, food trucks, art and more (10/19, Mason St @ State St.). NewNoiseSB.org

13) Santa Barbara Art Foundry, the newest local attraction in the Funk Zone, opens Saturday, October 5th. Guests can watch artisans at work casting bronze sculptures and visit a gallery of finished pieces all while sipping a glass of wine-for free. Don't miss this unique experience combining an art gallery, tour, and wine bar into one. SBArtFoundry.com

14) With over 25 years of local wine industry experience, Wine Canyon Tours gives you an informative and adventurous, yet casual exploration of the gorgeous Santa Barbara back country. The wine tours are designed for guests to relax, enjoy scenic views, eat a fresh picnic lunch and most important to discover ultra- premium boutique wineries. WineCanyonTours.com

15) Celebration of Harvest Weekend, Santa Barbara County's annual celebration of the year's bounty, will take place October 11 - 14. It will feature winemaker dinners, special tastings, and the Celebration of Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 12 at Rancho Sisquoc Winery. The Festival will include over 100 local wineries, restaurants, caterers, and gourmet food creators. sbcountywines.com/events/COH.html

ABOUT VISIT SANTA BARBARA
Visit Santa Barbara is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization jointly funded by the City of Santa Barbara, the County of Santa Barbara, the South Coast Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) and by a membership of hospitality-related busi¬nesses. The primary mission of Visit Santa Barbara is to enhance the economies of the City of Santa Barbara, South Coast communities and Santa Barbara County areas through tourism marketing that increases business revenue, tax revenue and creates jobs.

ABOUT SANTA BARBARA
Featured on the cover of Travel + Leisure in May 2013 and voted Best Getaway by L.A. Times Readers' Choice Awards in 2012, Santa Barbara is located just 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco, on the Pacific coastline. Visitors can arrive via scenic Highway 101, train, bus or by flying into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. For travel and accommodation information and to request a free copy of the official Santa Barbara County Visitors Magazine, contact Visit Santa Barbara at 800.676.1266, 805.966.9222, tourism(at)santabarbaraca(dot)com or http://www.SantaBarbaraCA.com. Visitor information is also available at the Visitor Center, 1 Garden Street (at Cabrillo Boulevard).