Celebrating All Things French at Santa Barbara’s French Festival
It’s Bastille Day in France. Meanwhile, in Santa Barbara, California, visitors to the 28th annual French Festival are enjoying a celebration of the food and culture of France. Three stages offered a diverse selection of entertainment. The Accordion stage hosted a band of accordions and even provided space for a little dancing. The Moulin Rouge Stage hosted a variety of dance troupes and musicians. Nestled in the trees between food booths and other vendors, the Eiffel Tower Stage served up a selection of small combos and singers.
Tastes to Tickle Your Palate
Perhaps the busiest of the food vendors enjoyed pride of place near the Eiffel Tower Stage. Chef Josette LeBlond and her own Normandie Bakery and Bistro served up a variety of sandwiches, quiches and salads. But the real draw was her baguettes and impressive array of pastries. It was here we chose to 
sample the wares. Our selections included a Croque Monsieur, which is a lighter version of a Monte Cristo sandwich filled with ham and cheese, and a zucchini quiche with field greens. The quiche was light , fluffy, creamy, and flavorful. The sandwich tasted a bit like an inside out grilled ham and cheese sandwich, the ultimate comfort food.
Of course we couldn’t move on without sampling the pastries. Our choices, after much deliberation were a Napoleon, an apricot tart and chocolate mouse cake. Every bite was pure bliss!
Other food vendors included Barbecue Chez Nous which offered barbecued chicken and tri-tip salads, wraps and sandwiches; 
The French Grill which offered a variety of French-inspired sandwiches and plates; and French Creperie which offered a dizzying assortment of both sweet and savory crepes.
Lest you think it was just about French food and music, this year’s festival organizers, celebrating their 6th year presenting the French Festival gathered a unique variety of vendors to help support their cause. Speaking of Stories and Center Stage Theater began their association with the French Festival by running the drink concessions, Les Baissons which offers fresh squeezed lemonade, Oragina, and Diablo French soda, along with La Barre which offers wine, champagne and beer.
Festival Hosts: Speaking of Stories and Center Stage Theater
Speaking of Stories draws on the vast community of authors and performers in and around Santa Barbara. They host events in which four or five actors and authors read a story. Steve Gilbert was a bookstore owner who wanted to sell the work of local authors, so he founded the organization which now brings their work to life. From January to May, they offer two shows per week; one on Sunday afternoon and the other on Monday evening. Each show ends with the opportunity to meet with the readers over cookies and milk. Local authors featured by Speaking of Stories include T.C. Boyle and Joyce Carol Oates. Readers have included actress, Meredith Baxter.
The organization also supports Santa Barbara Reads. The library selects a book each year for various loc
al groups to read and discuss. But it’s not just about books, theater and reading. Speaking of Stories also hosts the Poodles and Pals dog parade. Each evening of the Festival, Napoleon (pictured here with Steve Jones) leads a host of snappily dressed pups on a parade through the festival. Mr. Jones was kind enough to share a little of the history of the Festival as well as Speaking of Stories and Center Stage Theater with us. In fact, we had to tear ourselves away to see the rest of the festival as he’s such a wealth of information! It just gives us a good reason to go back next year to learn more.
Offerings from Local Artisans
The Festival also attracts unique vendors with wares ranging from hand made clothing and jewelry to natural products for health and well-being, and even wearable positive affirmations.
Alpaca by Karim brought their beautiful and unique hand-made jewelry to this year’s festival. They use Drusi stones in delicately elegant settings.
Julietta’s Natural shared their line of olive oil body products including lotions, soaps, body scrubs and butters, oils and lip balms. We each bought a gift set like the one you see here. Mine included her Amber Moon lotion and soap and lemon lip balm. Her small batch process creates a lotion which feels almost decadent, and which your skin absorbs hungrily. Her products are available online, but she also has a shop in Grover Beach inside The Old Potting Shed. Also look for her at various festivals in Morrow Bay, Grover Beach and Goleta, as well as the Harvest Festival at Seaside Park in Ventura.
Simply walking past Just Buddha‘s booth is enough to raise your vibration. 
Their t-shirts emblazoned with positive messages are both uplifting and inspiring. The shirts come in a variety of styles and colors for both men and women.
Get There Early. Enjoy All the French Festival Has to Offer.
All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable local festivals we’ve attended. I would, however, suggest arriving as early in the day as possible as the parking is extremely limited and most is street parking throughout the neighborhood, so be prepared to walk a little. And this festival is extremely popular!
