Santa Barbara businesses make final push for tourists during the unofficial end of summer

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Summer 2021 is almost over... unofficially.

The summer started with pandemic-low levels of new COVID-19 cases. May and June saw 463 new cases in Santa Barbara County. However, cases started to go up in July and August – 1,200 and 3,371.

As cases started to surge, Old Spanish Days canceled some key events. The parades had already been canceled but the downtown Mercado was a late cancellation. Then Fiesta Pequeña was closed to public viewing.

Still, Downtown Santa Barbara businesses tried to soldier on. 

Now, even with another bump up in the already large fourth wave, businesses are making their final push to attract tourists before the end of the summer season.