The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise’s annual Dolphin Derby Festival will be held on Sunday, July 13 at the beautiful Chase Palm Park. This is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise with proceeds benefitting humanitarian community service projects in Santa Barbara and around the world.
The event is an afternoon of fun, music, food, beer and wine, games, face painting, music and dolphin races.
The signature activity includes dolphin races featuring miniature multi-colored dolphins speeding down a 200-foot watercourse. The dolphins are “adopted” for a fee, and cash and other prizes are awarded to race winners, with a grand prize of $2,500.
Watch the dolphins race down the water course and see if you’re a winner. Each $10 adoption gives you another chance to win cash prizes (and you don’t need to be present to win). Click here to Adopt a Dolphin.
DJ Darla Bea, who is hoping to add a 10th year to her winning streak of the Santa Barbara Independent Best of Santa Barbara in the Event DJ category, will make a splash at the event, serving as emcee and entertainment. She’s joined by award-winning wedding band director and saxophone instructor Gerry Smith Jr., who has shared the stage with Michael McDonald, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Tower of Power, and Postmodern Jukebox, among others.
Cousins Maine Lobster, Connie’s Hot Dogs, and Kona Ice will have food available for sale. And adults over age 21 are invited to join the festivities in the beer and wine garden. The dog-friendly event will even host a Yappy Hour in the beer and wine garden starting at 4 p.m.
“This event invites our community to come out and frolic in the park and, if they want to adopt dolphins, to enjoy the thrill of the race,” Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise President Liz Alves said. “This day of play raises funds to support the good work we do in the community through signature Rotary programs and in partnership with local nonprofits.”
Although vehicle parking at the park and along Cabrillo Boulevard is limited, attendees can park in one of many downtown lots and board the Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle, which stops in front of Chase Palm Park. One-way fares are $.50, or $.25 for seniors and people with physical disabilities.
One of the frequently asked questions is whether people can keep the dolphins they adopt. The answer is no, but that’s part of the event’s commitment to being environmentally responsible. The dolphins are reused each year, and even the race water is recycled for each event and then used to irrigate the park grass.
The 2025 Dolphin Derby Festival Island Sponsors include Cox and Minno Rugged Tablets. Other sponsors include Alpha Fire Unlimited, American Riviera Bank, Arlington Financial Advisors, Benchmark Portal, EdHat, Karen Y. Kawaguchi, Kathy Scroggs, Kirk & Jann Greene, Lily Carey, Montecito Bank & Trust, Nasif, Hicks, Harris & Co, The Point Market, Paul & Judith McCaffrey, SAMsARA Wine Co., Santa Barbara Sailing Center, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Smith & Ortiz Insurance.
Visit the Dolphin Derby Festival website for more event information.
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