The Summer Solstice booth at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Summer Solstice was part of the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Guests enjoy the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Nancy Caponi and friends enjoy the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Hundreds of people came out to enjoy the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Bubbles from SB Bubble Guy were one of the kid’s activities at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Richelle Boyd at the Independent booth at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Nina Johnson at the UCSB Arts & Lectures booth at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Guests enjoy the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Planned Parenthood had a booth at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Nick Welsh and a friend at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Dozens of new library cards were issued and books were checked out at the Library on the Go Van as part of the opening day festivities for the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
This historic Anapamu Street doorway was restored as part of the library renovations. | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Families enjoy the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Guests enjoy the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom 
Kids art activities at the opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza on November 3, 2024 | Photo: Ingrid Bostrom
The fences were down and spirits were up as hundreds of people gathered on Sunday, November 3, to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza. With free entertainment from Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, CAMA, Franklin Academy of Folklórico, and Flamenco Santa Barbara; kids’ activities; and 60 local nonprofits there with information tables, the Plaza is already well on its way to serving as a bridge to connect the Santa Barbara community with the Santa Barbara Arts District, downtown merchants, and the myriad of free services provided by the public library. Keep an eye out for a Society Matters report on Plaza Palooza later this week.
