What to Do on a Rainy Day in Santa Barbara

If you have the bad luck of visiting Santa Barbara on a rainy day, fear not. While I personally think Santa Barbara is best enjoyed on a sunny, warm day, there are still lots of fun things to do in town.

Whether you are a local or a visitor, Santa Barbara has a decent selection of indoor activities to keep you busy on a bad weather day.

If you have one day in Santa Barbara or even a weekend in Santa Barbara, you may find you want to do these activities regardless of the weather.

Here is a local’s selection of some the best things to do around Santa Barbara on a rainy day. These rainy day activities include trivia nights, shows at the theater, museums, and even the library.

How often does it rain in Santa Barbara?

Because of its Mediterranean climate, SB doesn’t experience rain all that often. Winters are mild and a bit wet, while summer is dry and sunny.

On average, the city receives about 18 to 20 inches of rainfall annually, with the majority occurring between November and April. The peak rainy months are typically January and February, though rain can vary significantly from year to year depending on weather patterns like El Niño or drought conditions.

Rain is rare during the summer months, with some years recording no rain at all between June and September. If you don’t like the rain and only have one day in Santa Barbara, try to plan it for September (June is subject to “June Gloom” cloudy days).

While rain is not too common, when it does happen it can cause serious problems. Because the city infrastructure was not built with rain in mind, flooding can be an issue in town. Sometimes the flooding closes down roads and highways. The creeks surge and gutters sometimes get clogged, causing further flooding issues.

Mudslides and landslides can also be dangerous and are known to happen during storms. You should avoid bluff areas at the coast as well, as erosion undercuts the bluffs and they are known to cave in.

1. Catch a Show at the Arlington

The Arlington Theatre was built in 1931 on the site of the original Arlington Hotel, which was destroyed by a devastating 1925 earthquake.

Unlike most theaters, its interior design replicates the feeling of a Spanish courtyard, complete with twinkling stars on the ceiling, faux balconies, and village facades along the walls. These atmospheric touches give audiences the impression of being in an open-air plaza under the night sky. It is truly one of the most unique theaters you can find in California.

Today, it is part of the Metropolitan Theatres chain and serves as a venue for both blockbuster films and live performances.

2. Participate in a Trivia Night at a Local Brewery

California is known for its creative craft beer scene. For its relatively small population size and geographic footprint, Santa Barbara boasts numerous unique craft breweries throughout the city.

Black Dog Trivia Nights host themed trivia events at local breweries and venues, such as Rincon Brewery and Santa Barbara Public Market. Past themes have included Harry Potter, Hocus Pocus, and general knowledge trivia.

Another option is King Trivia at Institution Ale. They meet every Tuesday at 7 PM and features a mix of general and themed questions. Institution Ale also has lots of board games and food options if you want to hang out here longer.

Finally, Night Lizard Brewing Company hosts trivia nights on Wednesdays at 7 PM. Like the others, its sometimes a themes night like Friends or just general trivia. Check their website for details.

3. Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Founded in 1941, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art houses a diverse collection of over 27,000 works spanning 5,000 years, including American, European, and Asian art. Highlights include pieces by Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Salvador Dalí.

Best of all in my opinion, you can see these famous artists’ work without all the crowds you find in bigger, popular museums around the world.

This museum does not disappoint. With permanent and visiting collections, there is always something new to see. There are a wide variety of mediums such as sculpture and photography, in addition to artifacts of civilizations. You can go for free on Thursday evenings from 5-8pm.

4. Make Your Own Chocolate Bar

At Manchaca Chocolate you get to create your own chocolate bar. In Santa Barbara, Menchaca Chocolates offers a fun “Chocolate & Art” workshop where participants can create their own custom chocolate bars and decorate wooden boxes to store them (or whatever else later).

The workshop allows guests to select ingredients, design packaging, and explore the chocolate-making process. It includes demonstrations on turning cacao pods into chocolate and tastings of chocolate and cacao husk tea.

Workshops are typically held on weekends and are open to individuals, families, or groups.

5. Check Out the Local Public Libraries

Going to the library may not stand out as a fun activity, but it is a great, cozy space that has things for adults and kids alike. Plus, the Santa Barbara Public Library recently underwent a big renovation to improve the plaza, install elevators, and develop more work space.

Initially established in 1882, the library provides access to extensive collections of books and digital resources. The library hosts events such as storytimes, technology workshops, and small art and cultural exhibits.

It features a Family Resource Center, computer access, and spaces for study and collaboration. Because of the children-oriented options, this is one of the best things to do in Santa Barbara with kids indoors. Best of all, you can hang out at the library as long as you want and its totally free.

6. Go Wine Tasting

One of the biggest attractions in Santa Barbara is wine. The county has six official American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). The most efficient way to sample a diverse array of local wine is by following the urban wine trail. This trail is really just a selection of dozens of tasting rooms in Santa Barbara clustered together. Without having to leave Santa Barbara, you can have a tour of the tasting rooms and other cool spots in the Funk Zone.

A good place to start is The Valley Project. Along with your wine samples here you learn more through maps and about the soil the grapes are grown in and other things. Another great spot is the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. These spots have cozy indoor spaces and most are close enough together that you can dash between them with an umbrella on a rainy day with no problem.

7. Visit the Santa Barbara Historical Museum

While a historical city walking tour is usually a great option in Santa Barbara, a rainy day may push you into a museum like the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

Founded in 1932, the museum serves as a hub for preserving history of Santa Barbara and the Central Coast. Its permanent collection includes artifacts from the Chumash Native Americans, the Spanish colonial period, and early Californian settlers. There are lots of old photographs of what Santa Barbara used to look like a hundred years ago.

General admission is free. It’s closed on Mondays.

8. Hang Out in a Coffee Shop

Spending a morning or an afternoon in a coffee shop on a rainy day is a classic move. Santa Barbara has no shortage of cute, cozy coffee shops. For a rainy day, I personally prefer Old Town Coffee Goleta or Handlebar on De La Vina St. because they are warmer spaces with more wood and brick detail.

OTC Goleta also has arcade games inside in a separate room so even if you don’t want to work, there is a fun escape space. Plus, they serve wine and beer.

9. Do Dinner and a Show at SoHo

SoHo hosts a variety of budget friendly shows and activities many days of the week. Most are live shows, but there are also other things like speed dating and dancing. There is a main stage area and a floor that is usually set up for dining. It is the perfect spot to have dinner and a show all in one.

See the schedule for SoHo here.

10. Join a Sip & Paint Event at Painted Cabernet

For a reasonably affordable price you can attend a paint and sip event the local Painted Cabernet. While this kind of event is popular all over the country, Santa Barbara is known for being an excellent viticultural zone making this opportunity special. You can book based on your schedule or dependent on what theme or design you want to paint.

The lead provides an example and general guidance on how to paint your canvas and then makes sure your wine glass is topped off. Canvas and paint is provided.

11. See a Talk or Show at the University

University of California Santa Barbara hosts several cool events throughout the year which the broader community is encouraged to attend. At the Pollack Theater and other spots around town they screen unique and indie films, as well as have special guests like famous actors and actresses come comment on the production of the films. For example, Jeff Bridges recently showcased an upcoming show.

They also often bring authors of New York Times best sellers. In 2023, I went to hear the author of Olga Dies Dreaming, Xóchitl González, give a talk. In 2025, the author of There There, Tommy Orange is coming to speak. If you’re a fan of literature I would definitely browse the schedule.

Where to Stay in Santa Barbara (Rain or Shine)

Budget hotels in Santa Barbara:

I’ll be honest, there are not very many budget-friendly options for lodging in Santa Barbara. One of the cheapest (but decent) options in the area is Motel 6 in Goleta which is located right next to a cute coffee shop, Dune, as well as a Trader Joe’s and Walgreens. Any Motel 6 in the area will cost about $130 a night. The airport is in Goleta and is a slightly more budget friendly area. That said, it takes about 10-15 minutes of driving to get to the heart of Santa Barbara from Goleta.

Mid-range hotels in Santa Barbara:

For about $180-250 a night, you can find many more options. You’ll likely recognize many of the names of good mid-range hotels in the area. There is the Best Western Plus Santa Barbara, which has older decor but a convenient location in central Santa Barbara. If you prefer a boutique style hotel, try the beachfront Hotel Milo.

Luxury hotels in Santa Barbara:

Hotel Californian is a well-located luxury hotel within walking distance of the beach, wharf, and countless bars and restaurants. Its patio is also a popular venue for weddings and receptions. A new boutique hotel named Drift was built in the old Santa Barbara headquarters of the Church of Scientology. This hotel has stylish, calming boho decor. Drift starts at about $300 a night. A bit further north is one of the most luxurious hotels in the area, the Ritz-Carlton Bacara.

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