Santa Maria will host its second annual Open Streets festival on March 29, marking the return of an event that reportedly drew 20,000 attendees last year.
The event is organized by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), which has sought to bring Open Streets to cities all over the county.
The Open Streets website notes that similar events began in Bogota, Colombia, 30 years ago. The idea was to block off streets from automobile traffic to allow unencumbered passage for pedestrians and cyclists.
SBCAG began its own program in 2013 to help promote wellness, hosting events in Santa Barbara in 2014 and 2015 and another in Carpinteria in 2017.
Kent Epperson, director of Traffic Solutions for SBCAG, said these events are great ways to stimulate the local economy, but their first purpose is to promote healthy lifestyles and fitness.
“You’re there to be a participant,” Epperson said. “It’s designed to get people moving and for physical fitness—which makes it a little different from a typical street festival—with things like street hockey, a little soccer station, cornhole.”
This year’s event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will close off 1 mile of Main Street between Blosser and Broadway.
With a cost of about $45,000, the event is funded through a series of grants, money from the county and city, and donations from private business, Epperson said.
Last year’s event drew 200 different groups and vendors with this year’s on track to draw a similar number.
“Many people in the community might not have the resources to try a yoga class or a dance class, so they’re offered it for free so they can try them without any expense or risk on their part,” he said.
Epperson said there are plans for at least four stages that will host the different classes people can participate in.
Organizers of various health and wellness programs are expected to be there, including Dignity Health and wellness providers from Social Services. He said basic health screenings will be available for free to all attendees.
Another aim of the event is to bring traffic to businesses that might not typically get attention.
Roger Galvan, the owner of Xtreme Electronics, said Open Streets brought him customers not just for the one day, but repeat business throughout the year. He estimates that the festival boosted his annual sales by 35 to 40 percent.
“It’s not like they were driving down the street at 30 or 40 miles an hour,” he said. “People were stopping in.”
Even though Galvan’s business has been at its 614 West Main St. location since 2001, it’s been difficult to connect with customers. He said many who purchased from him for the first time didn’t even know he was there.
Open Streets has caught the attention of other communities, too. Santa Barbara is throwing another festival May 7 through 10. Some cities have even reached out to SBCAG to seek help in organizing their own events. Guadalupe plans an Open Streets/Fiestas Patrias Parade for Sept. 13, with Buellton’s Open Streets on Avenue of the Flags lined up for Oct. 4.
Highlights
• The EconAlliance, in partnership with Allan Hancock College, will host an agricultural forum scheduled for Feb. 6. The forum has a 7:30 a.m. check-in and a noon finish. Located at 937 Thornburg St., the event runs every two years, according to a release from the EconAlliance. Tickets are $65 per person, or $600 for a table of eight. The event, named Growing Possibilities, will be attended by Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross.
Staff Writer William D’Urso wrote this week’s Spotlight. Send story tips to spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 6, 2020.
