Endless Entertainment and Activities

Adopt Your Dolphins Here

Admission is Free. 

The Dolphin Derby Festival in Santa Barbara is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation, benefiting local nonprofits and international humanitarian causes.

The signature activity includes several dolphin races that feature miniature multi-colored dolphins speeding down a 100-foot watercourse. The dolphins are “adopted” for a fee, and cash prizes are awarded to race winners. The grand prize is $2,500.

The Dolphin Derby Festival is a unique and exciting event that brings the community together for a day of fun and family-friendly activities.

Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome! 

Dolphin Races

There will be 4 races for cash  prizes throughout the day and one kids' race with dolphins decorated by kids at the event.  You do not need to be present to win. The grand prize is $2,500. 

Beer & Wine Garden

The Beer & Wine Garden at the Dolphin Derby Festival offers a refreshing selection of craft beers and fine wines in a lively atmosphere, perfect for relaxing and celebrating the festivities.

DJ Darla Bea & Friends

Groove all day with DJ Darla Bea featuring the Sax & the City band Gerry Smith Jr. + Tony Ambriz.

Food Trucks

Cousins Maine Lobster, Connies Hot Dogs & Kona Ice!

Face Painting

Bringing imagination to life, one brushstroke at a time! #FacePaintingFun

Games Galore

There's fun for the whole family with games, dancing, interactive crafts and more!

About the Dolphin Derby Festival

The Dolphin Derby Festival is run entirely by volunteers and supported by our sponsorsand your dolphin adoptions. With no payroll or overhead, 100% of the net proceeds will support local and international causes.

The Dolphin Derby Festival is an environmentally friendly event. The dolphins are reused each year, and the water is recycled for each race. After the event, we use the water to irrigate the park grass. We also offer water fill stations, so bring your own reusable bottle! 

About the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise 

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise is made up of local business, professional, and civic leaders. We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships, and through that, we’re able to get things done in our local and worldwide communities.

Join us! We meet for breakfast on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 a.m. at the beautiful historic Santa Barbara Club, located at 1105 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara.  Contact Membership Chair Kirk Greene if you are interested in attending. 

Other Stuff

Any taxes, if applicable, will be the responsibility of the prize winner. Winners need not be present to win. In the event that the winner is not present, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise will attempt to contact winner by email or telephone. If winner cannot be contacted with a reasonable effort and does not come forward to claim prize within 30 days of the race, the prize will be forfeited. The odds of winning depend on the number of dolphins adopted. Names and likenesses of winners may be used by the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, Dolphin Derby Festival sponsors and sponsors' designee(s) for promotional purposes.  Photos will be taken at the event and may be used for promotional purposes. 

Who We Support

The Dolphin Derby Festival raises funds for underserved youth, individuals at risk, & environmental concerns.  By supporting the Dolphin Derby Festival, you are supporting the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise and its charitable foundation–a 501(c)(3) organization that funds hands-on humanitarian and community service projects in Santa Barbara and around the world. Over the past several years, the foundation has donated over $400,000. A few examples:

• Gifted more than 12,000 dictionaries to 3rd graders throughout Santa Barbara

• Aided families in need at Transition House, Furnishing Hope, and Domestic Violence Solutions

• Provided computers to La Cuesta High grads, enabling them to continue their education

• Supplied more than 100 students with new clothes and school supplies

• Trained ~100 residents how to use life-saving Naloxone to treat opioid overdose

• Supported youth environmental, nutrition, and arts education programs in partnership with Channelkeeper Youth Environmental Education; Explore Ecology; the Santa Barbara Foodbank; the Grace Fisher Foundation; and the youth Film Camp at Camp Whittier and many more. ​

Every member in the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise is dedicated to community service improving the quality of life of people in our community and the world at large.