Santa Barbara Bowl

A quick look at the Bowl’s policies can make entry and arrival much easier.

• Re-Entry & Smoking: There is no re-entry at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside the venue.³
• Payment Options: Many venues follow a cashless model. Be sure to have card payment methods available.
• Prohibited Items: Outside food and beverages are not allowed. Glass bottles, cans, ice chests, and picnic baskets are also prohibited.³ Refer to the policy page for a complete list of prohibited items.
• Age Restrictions: Guests must be 21 or older to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages. Refer to the official policy page for the most current guidance on general age restrictions.³

For the most up-to-date guidance and information on regulations, including bag policies, check the official Santa Barbara Bowl policy page.

Santa Barbara’s live performance scene includes both historic theaters and larger concert venues.

• Arlington Theatre: This historic movie palace and performance venue hosts concerts, film screenings, and stage productions. It seats approximately 2,000 guests.⁴
• The Granada Theatre: This is a major downtown performing arts venue used for concerts, dance, opera, lectures, and community events. It seats 1,550 guests.⁵
• Lobero Theatre: The Lobero Theatre is one of Santa Barbara’s historic stages and has long been tied to the city’s cultural life, from lectures and concerts to film and live performance. It seats about 600 guests.⁶

Santa Barbara Bowl is on a hillside, so planning your route and parking ahead of time can make your arrival easier.⁷

Public Transportation: Rideshare, taxis, and drop-offs are all common ways to get to the Bowl. All passengers should be dropped off at the corner of Milpas and Anapamu, with traffic directed northbound on Milpas.⁷

Driving: Santa Barbara Bowl is located at 1122 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Paid event parking is available, and drivers coming from either direction on US 101 are routed to Milpas Street before heading uphill to the venue.⁷ Venue-affiliated parking options include:⁷

• Santa Barbara High School (enter on Anapamu St.)
• The Armory (enter on Nopal St.)

Santa Barbara Bowl has multiple concession and bar areas spread across the grounds, so food and drinks are part of the pre-show routine rather than an afterthought.

Guests can buy meals, lighter fare, beer, wine, cider, seltzer, kombucha, soda, sparkling water, and other beverages. Alcohol is available for guests 21 and over with a valid ID.⁸

Santa Barbara Bowl opened in 1936 and originally served events tied to the city’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta.^2,9 It later grew into one of California’s best-known outdoor music venues, with a 2001 renovation that added modern upgrades while preserving its historic amphitheater form.⁹

The venue sits on 17 acres and is defined in part by its hillside design, cut-stone stage pavilion, and long-running connection to major touring artists.^2,9