Year of the Dragon Festival

Come celebrate Santa Barbara’s diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities at our Year of the Dragon Festival on Saturday, February 10th, 4:00-8:00pm at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park!

Be among the first to see SBTHP’s Year of the Dragon Mural, and meet muralist and designer, DJ Javier. Experience an immersive art exhibition, THE DRAGON, co-curated by SBTHP Board Member Kai Tepper and emerging artist Meiya Sidney. On display inside the Presidio Chapel from February 10-21, THE DRAGON features artwork by local, multigenerational AAPI artists.

Discover the history of Santa Barbara’s Japanese and Chinese communities on a free walking tour of the Presidio Neighborhood and explore SBTHP’s Nihonmachi Revisited and Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens exhibits.

Shop local at our outdoor Dragon Market and support AAPI artisans and small businesses. Enjoy free activity booths, craft tables, and live cultural performances. Groove to DJ-duo, Hi-Jams, and swing by MindGarden’s live screen-printing station to wear DJ Javier’s dragon artwork home. Grab delicious bites and desserts to-go from pop-ups by Your Place Thai Restaurant and Creaminal. For those 21+, drop into Santa Barbara’s favorite neighborhood bar, The Pickle Room, for dragon-inspired drink and food specials.

We hope you can join as we gather our community to embrace the strength, wisdom, vitality, resilience and hope that the Year of the Dragon represents.

There will be free parking in the parking lot at 117 East Canon Perdido Street and also behind Panino at 834 Santa Barbara Street.

SBTHP recently received a grant from the state aimed at preventing hate crimes. This program, administered by the California Department of Social Services in partnership with the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, is part of ongoing efforts in California to provide direct support for communities impacted by hate incidents and support victims.