Masq(p)rade! is a moving festival of free entertainment

Get ready for some fun State Street shenanigans Friday night when the Fourth Annual takes place Masq(p)rade! Performance Progressive will make its way down State Street every 15 minutes between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on October 18th

Originally a pop-up conceived in 2021 as an interactive complement to Pianos on State and a means to foster connection as the community began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, this roving performing arts showcase is today a popular Santa Barbara tradition and a moving festival of free entertainment.

Check out this impressive lineup:

5:30 – 5:45 p.m., Out of the Box Theater Company @ State/Figueroa (Pacific Premier Bank). (Note: If you like what you see, check out this talented group’s performance at SOhO on October 27th. Details here.)

6 – 6:15 p.m., Jackson Gillies & Connie Gillies @ State/Anapamu (Old Navy) (Jackson will again be part of the Grace Fisher Winter Music Showcase at Granada on December 7th.)

6:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Brasscals! @State/Anapamu (Sama Sama Kitchen); 7 – 7:15 p.m

Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus @ State/Victoria (Starbucks)

7:30 – 7:45 p.m. Zach Gill & Friends at Arlington Theater.

A short break between acts allows participants to walk up State Street to the nearest piano and enjoy the entire series of performances. The event is free to the public. The public is encouraged to join in the fun even more by donning their own decorated and glittery masks for the occasion. For more information, visit masqparade.org.

Opera Santa Barbara performs at a previous Masq(p)arade! (left) and another masked actor. | Photo: Courtesy; Ed Baum