Wharf Wednesday Concert to feature The Hoodlum Friends
It may still be winter but things are heating up on Stearns Wharf! In honor of this iconic structure’s 150th anniversary, Stearns Wharf merchants are holding Wharf Wednesdays on the first Wednesday of each month. There are anniversary specials, free concerts, a bit of history and lots of fun, family-friendly activities.
The next Wharf Wednesday, on March 2nd will feature a brief commemoration ceremony by the mayor and City Council members, a library on wheels, as well as some rockin’ live music by the Hoodlum Friends. Festivities will begin at 4pm.
New to Wharf Wednesdays will be the Library on the Go van. With the mission of providing a range of library services to Santa Barbara residents, the Library on the Go van delivers more than just books; it offers free wifi, laptop use and engaging activities for kids.
So, come out to Stearns Wharf for an afternoon of fun in the fresh air! There’s wine tasting, shopping, great restaurants and no better view of Santa Barbara. Whether you bring a date or bring the kids, you won’t be disappointed.
ATTACHED PHOTOS: The Hoodlum Friends, Historical photos credit: Edson Smith Photo Collection
Stay tuned to https://stearnswharf.org/stearns-wharf-to-celebrate-150th-anniversary/ for further announcements on music and other events that will take place throughout the year. The big anniversary bash will be on Saturday, October 8th.
Stearns Wharf is more than a nice place to watch boats or fish, it’s a structure that changed the face of Santa Barbara-literally. 150 years ago, Santa Barbara, being surrounded by mountains, was an isolated pueblo. There were no roads into town, there was no railroad. When John Peck Stearns built the wharf in 1872 he not only opened the door to large-scale commerce and trade; he introduced Santa Barbara to the rest of the world.
Since that time, Stearns Wharf has evolved along with the city. It was a vital conduit for a growing fishing fleet. It was the birthplace of commercial diving. It served as a focal point to bring the community together.
Over the years, Stearns Wharf has been battered by storms, scorched by fires, even damaged by a water spout, but through it all, it has persevered because it offers something no other place in town can match-perspective.
In honor of this iconic structure’s 150th anniversary, Stearns Wharf merchants will hold Wharf Wednesdays on the first Wednesday of each month. There will be anniversary specials, a bit of history and lots of fun, family-friendly activities. The commemoration will culminate with a special celebration, complete with fireworks, in October.
The Stearns Wharf Merchants Association is proud to host Seeping Into History, the inaugural project of UCSB’s Social Print Lab.
The installation will be available free to the public March 5th through March 19th, 2022 on Stearns Wharf.
More Details are on…
Seeping Into History: Oil Touches Everything and…
Seeping Into History the inaugural project of UCSB’s Social Print Lab
Wharf Wednesdays
There’s no better view of Santa Barbara than from Stearns Wharf and there’s no better time to experience it than on Wharf Wednesdays. To celebrate Stearns Wharf’s 150th birthday, Wharf Merchants are offering specials on the first Wednesday of every month in 2022.
Wharf Wednesday specials include:
The Great Pacific Ice Cream Company
Buy a single scoop cone or bowl, and get the second single scoop cone or bowl for $1.50
Stearns Wharf Fun Facts
- Before the wharf was built, lumber was thrown overboard and the buyers had to pick up their share off of the beach.
- Up until the wharf was built, buildings in town were almost exclusively made from brick and adobe.
- For a brief while, Stearns tried using Eucalyptus instead of Douglas Fir for pile replacement. The trial failed miserably.
- The wharf has had three major fires, been damaged by boats and even lost a 100-foot section to a water spout.
- Stearns Wharf is 2,300 feet long and has an area of 3.8 acres and is supported by 2,307 piles.
Historical photos credit: Edson Smith Photo Collection, Steamships at Wharf loaded with lumber, Early Stearns Wharf with Horse cart
Aerial photo credit: Chris Bell
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The Stearns Wharf Merchants Association represents the merchants and business owners on Stearns Wharf. Stearns Wharf is located at the end of State Street between East Beach and the Santa Barbara Harbor. For more information, visit www.stearnswharf.org