I Madonnari Street Painting Festival, Santa Barbara

May 22-24, 2026, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

Old Mission Santa Barbara
2201 Laguna Street
Santa Barbara, CA
Free to see, sponsor or paint a square $, imadonnarifestival.com

On Memorial Day Weekend, celebrate art at the I Madonarri festival at the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara. Madonnari is the Italian word for street painters, who transform Mission Plaza using pastels on pavement to create colorful, large scale images.

150 vibrant designs are created in this romantic festival welcoming Santa Barbara's sister festival in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy.

The event is a fundraiser for kids' visual and performing arts workshops and performances throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. 

The festival benefits the Children's Creative Project, a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office. The Project serves 50,000 children in more than 100 schools with visual and performing arts workshops and performances throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.