Annual Performance Event
Since 1981, the Children's Creative Project has presented a free annual student performance event that brings 2,000–4,000 elementary students from South Santa Barbara County schools to professional performances at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Arlington Theatre, or Granada Theatre. Held during the school day, these performances feature nationally and internationally touring artists, providing students with the opportunity to experience exceptional live performing arts they might not otherwise have access to.
To enhance the educational experience, classroom teachers receive study guides in advance of each performance, helping students prepare for the event and deepen their understanding of the featured artists, art forms, and themes.
The program is made possible through valued partnerships with the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's Education Outreach program and UCSB Arts & Lectures. Additional support from The Towbes Foundation, the City of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture helps fund student transportation, ensuring that schools across the region can participate regardless of financial barriers.
2025 Event – Kids at the Bowl!
On October 7, 2025, more than 2,200 junior high and high school students from across Santa Barbara County attended the annual Kids at the Bowl event, made possible through a partnership between the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation and Children's Creative Project. Students watched Las Cafeteras perform Vivan Los Muertos, a production celebrating Día de los Muertos through music, dance, poetry, and storytelling. The performance captivated the audience, encouraging active participation while honoring Indigenous traditions and the importance of remembering ancestors.
After the show, Santa Barbara High School students joined a workshop called "The Art of Remembering," where they explored storytelling and poetry to reflect on the past and its influence on the future. The event highlighted the Bowl Foundation's commitment to arts education and community outreach, with organizers hoping experiences like Kids at the Bowl inspire a lifelong appreciation for live performances.
2024 Event – Kids at the Bowl!
The Santa Barbara Bowl and the Children's Creative Project partnered to bring The Dancing Wheels Company to the annual Kids at the Bowl event, giving more than 2,500 students the opportunity to experience a unique performance by a professional dance company featuring dancers with and without disabilities. The event promoted arts education while delivering a powerful message of inclusion, accessibility, and disability awareness through captivating performances.
The collaboration reflects the Children's Creative Project's commitment to making arts education accessible to all students. Supported by Santa Barbara Bowl outreach funding, the partnership continues to create meaningful cultural experiences that inspire appreciation for the arts, strengthen community collaboration, and advance the organization's mission of arts education for every student.
Past Annual Performances
Since 1981, the Children’s Creative Project has coordinated and presented the following free performance events—partial list.
October 2025: Las Cafeteras — 2,200 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
October 2024: Dancing Wheels — 2,500 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
October 2023: LADAMA — Santa Barbara Bowl
September 2019: The Kingdom Choir — 2,500 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
April 2019: The Alley Cats with UCSB Dance Company — 2,500 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
April 2018: Taiko Center of Los Angeles — 4,400 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
October 2016: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis — 1,400 students — Granada Theatre
April 2016: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — 2,000 students — Arlington Theatre
April 2015: Las Cafeteras with Ballet Folklórico de Los Angeles — 4,800 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
March 2014: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis — 2,000 students — Arlington Theatre
January 2014: Lula Washington Dance Theatre — 4,000 students — Arlington Theatre
February 2013: African Children's Choir (Uganda) — 4,000 students — Arlington Theatre
April 2012: Imago Theatre — 4,000 students — Arlington Theatre
March 2011: Balé Folclórico da Bahia — 4,000 students — Arlington Theatre
October 2009: Yamato: The Drummers of Japan — 5,500 students — Santa Barbara Bowl
March 2009: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — 2,000 students — Arlington Theatre
