CRISTAL’S PICKS: SANTA BARBARA EVENTS IN MARCH 2022

Make Plans Now For These Special Events In And Around The American Riviera

Planned Santa Barbara events in March include a full spectrum of things to do in and around the American Riviera. Besides the events listed below, March is the time of year to enjoy the vibrant displays of color found everywhere in our community, from wildflowers sprinkled on hillsides to sunsets of every hue.

The official first day of spring is March 20, and what better place to celebrate the season of rebirth than Santa Barbara? Here, you can reset and refresh outside in a myriad of ways on the sparking ocean or our green rolling hills. Think hiking, biking, paddle boarding or just plain relaxing on our beautiful beaches. And if that’s not enough, check out a selection of exciting events to choose from:

Poster for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, an annual Santa Barbara event in March

Image courtesy of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Festivals

Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), March 2-12, 2022
SBIFF returns to the American Riviera for its 37^th year with in-person events over 11 action-packed days. We’re talking film screenings, including some Oscar contenders, celebrity tribute events, panel discussions, parties, and more. This world-renowned festival attracts award-winning filmmakers, actors, writers, students, devoted moviegoers, and locals who simply love the buzz the events bring to town.

World of Pinot Noir March 3-5, 2022
For three days, oenophiles will gather at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara to taste hundreds of rare and reserve wines, while basking in the gorgeous beachfront setting. Don’t miss this seaside celebration of this delicious and storied wine.

Poster for the Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival

Image courtesy of Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival

Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival, March 18-19, 2022
The second annual Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival will honor the legendary ocean sport by showcasing feature and short films that are sure to get your heart going. The 2022 festival will be a different experience than before, celebrating Santa Barbara’s rich surf history at a new venue, the Community Arts Workshop space. Featuring captivating surf cinema, live music, art in multiple mediums, local charities, and vendors, as well as food and artisan drinks.

Ballet

Sleeping Beauty at the Granada Theater, March 5-6, 2022
Performed to Tchaikovsky's celebrated score, this is a full-length world premiere, combining classical elements with updated choreography and motifs. The performance will be accompanied by the San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra and features intricately designed sets, visionary costumes, and virtuosic dancing that has become symbolic of the classical ballet repertoire. This performance is suitable for all ages.

Theatre

Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic presents LILLIAN, March 3-13, 2022
This beautiful one-person play by David Cale, directed by Jonathan Fox, stars Nancy Travis as a middle-aged British woman who becomes romantically involved with a much younger man. The play’s depiction of being open to life’s curveballs is perfect for our times.

The Ojai Art Center Theater will perform “Steel Magnolias” March 8-April 10, 2022
Opening in 1939, The Ojai Art Center Theater is the longest continuously-operating multi-disciplinary center serving the arts in the entire State of California. It encompasses eight branches for various art disciplines, of which the theater branch presents a variety of dramatic productions annually, ranging from comedy to drama and musicals.

Music

Image courtesy of Richard Thompson

Lobero Live Presents Richard Thompson, March 1, 2022
Richard Thompson, a pioneer of folk-rock, influential singer-songwriter, and one of Britain’s most astonishing guitarists is here for one night only. The man who holds a coveted spot-on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” will marvel the audience with his jaw-dropping guitar playing. As an artist, Thompson holds a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association in Nashville, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Awards among many other accolades. Thompson will be accompanied by Jessie Payo, a true original independent artist that writes Americana/country material.

Santa Barbara’s SOhO Restaurant and Music Club’s St. Patrick’s Day Bash, March 17, 2022
Wear your green and dance to the sounds of Spencer & the Worried Lads. This year marks the 25-year anniversary of SOhO Restaurant and Music Club in Victoria Court, a central gathering place for not just music but for Santa Barbara life in general. It’s fitting that this social hub is the place to celebrate “Lá Fhéile Pádraig,” (Irish for St. Patrick’s Day), through music, friendships, and community.

Santa Barbara Symphony Presents: Sonic Boom, March 19-20, 2022
The sophisticated arranger and composer Cameron Carpenter and the Symphony show why the organ belongs in the spotlight. Presented in partnership with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and its “Through Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources” exhibit now running through May 22, 2022.

How to Build an Orchestra at the Music Academy of the West, March 26, 2022
Conductor Sir Simon Rattle leads the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in this family friendly show at the Granada Theater. When it comes to making music, there’s nothing like an orchestra. Learn how the instruments come together to make onstage magic with LSO presenter Rachel Leach. The music is paired with an award-winning book by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli.

Alt-J and Portugal. The Man at the Santa Barbara Bowl, March 26 and April 2, 2022
The month ends on a high note (literally) in Santa Barbara with GRAMMY-nominated alt-J and Portugal. The Man at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The Mercury Prize-winning, multiple GRAMMY- and BRIT Award-nominated band will be performing music from their eagerly awaited fourth album, The Dream, which was just released in February via Canvasback / Infectious Music. Listen to the music while you enjoy the sweeping sunset from the top of the venue. Paired with a glass of local rosé or beer, and experience The Bowl, Santa Barbara Style.

Art

Sunflowers on State, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, March – May 2022
This spring, a new public art exhibition will be unveiled on Santa Barbara’s State Street with six larger-than-life sunflower sculptures fabricated by local artists. These Impressionistic style flowers represent one of many programs developed in tandem with the current Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Vincent Van Gogh exhibition, “Through Vincent’s Eyes.” The flowers were painted by students from Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta Valley Junior High School, La Colina Junior High School, Santa Barbara Junior High School, Santa Barbara High School, and San Marcos High School.

Ojai Warming: Flora and Fauna In The Time of Climate Change art exhibit at the Ojai Valley Museum ends on March 13, 2022
This moving exhibit takes a look at how years of drought, record-setting temperatures and The Thomas Fire are affecting the Ojai Valley, one of the fastest-warming areas in the USA. Learn what plants and animals need to survive here and how YOU can help reduce global warming.

Alan Ross (left) assists Ansel Adams (right) with the camera, 1977. Photo by Frank Neim

Sharing the Light: Alan Ross and Ansel Adams Wildling Museum of Art & Nature in Solvang ends on March 20, 2022
The exhibition explores the American West through the lenses of both Ansel Adams and Alan Ross, and marks the first institutional show dedicated to the two photographers’ works. Ross, who served as Adams’ longtime assistant, later developed into an internationally acclaimed photographer in his own right.

If your schedule of Santa Barbara events in March includes moving in and around any of the Santa Barbara area communities I represent, please give me a call at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com for a free consultation regarding selling and buying. I will happily add your listing to my portfolio of amazing estates for sale and find you a new home at the same time. Let’s all celebrate spring Santa Barbara style!

Back to Articles

Client Reviews

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch