NOT THIS YEAR: It'll come as a disappointment to many that the annual Santa Barbara French Festival has been canceled in 2011. No reason has been given yet by organizers, but many around Southern California and the Central Coast look forward to the mid-July party, which has been an American Riviera staple since the '80s (the festival is due to hit its quarter-century mark in 2012). If you're not familiar with the fest, perhaps you know the Poodle Parade, a strut that tends to get a lot of camera-time near and far.
WATCH THIS SPACE: You can keep updated at the French Festival site; the Santa Barbara visitors bureau also recommends alternatives for the July 16-17 weekend, including the California Wine Festival.
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