Goleta Old Town Hosts Shop & Taste Fest: A Celebration of Food, Music & Local Shopping on Oct 11th

Goleta Old Town will come alive on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 1–5 PM with the Shop & Taste Fest — a dynamic community celebration of food, shopping, and live entertainment.

“The Fest is more than a showcase of food and shopping,” said Miguel Avila, President of the Greater Santa Barbara County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Fest Emcee. “It’s a celebration of the diversity of Old Town and the businesses that are the heart of our community.”

The festival kicks off at Toyota of Santa Barbara (5611 Hollister Ave), where guests will be greeted by former Goleta Mayor Michael T. Bennett and treated to live music by the Swing Along Band. Check-in begins at 1 PM, and the celebration continues along Hollister Avenue with music at various locations, including live music at SB Cider Co.

Shoppers and tasters are invited to scan QR codes at participating businesses to earn points, qualify for gift certificates and prizes, and unlock voting privileges for the ‘Best Of’ awards using the Shop EveryTown app developed by a local Goleta tech company.

Live performances run from 4–4:30 PM, followed by the awards ceremony. Shoppers and tasters who complete the Shop or Taste Challenges have a chance to take home gift certificates or prizes. The grand prize is an adult cruiser bike donated by Trek Bicycle Santa Barbara. Voting categories are listed at http://tasteofgoleta.com.

“Old Town Goleta has such a special energy,” said Albert Carasco, co-founder of Warrior Soul Combat. “The community has really welcomed and embraced us.” The martial arts school will showcase their unique style and membership deals during the event.

Shop Fest – Free & Open to the Public

Old Town’s Black Friday in October features four hours of flash sales and demonstrations. Shoppers can look forward to explosive sales from 20+ businesses, including whopping discounts up to $1500 at Gordon & Grant Spas! Discounts and offers from Crystal Chiropractic, Goleta Valley Paint, Carbajal Services, and JG Bike Workx.

Taste Fest – Tickets Required

Guests will enjoy tantalizing bite-sized samples and sips from Old Town’s best restaurants. Expect sumptuous tastes from Old Town star restaurants: La Hacienda is serving their signature ‘birria’ – a crispy corn tortilla filled with shredded beef and melted cheese with a flavorful consume for dipping and Del Valle Grill is serving their special ceviche de pescado cocido con limon

Pre-sale discounted tickets Eventbrite include early entry starting at 12:30 PM and include a swag bag of goodies to the first 100 persons. Regular tickets are available at Toyota on the day-of the event.