Daily
Santa Barbara
Monday, February 23rd, 2026
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Monday, the 23rd of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara County Trails Council is hosting the third annual 5 Peaks Challenge from Feb. 1 to May 1, where hikers select five peaks out of eleven to scale at their own pace and verify climbs via Instagram or Strava to earn a certificate and gift certificate drawing. Noozhawk
- ➤ On Feb. 17, after returning home from hospital for foot surgery, one resident struggled to help her husband up stone stairs in a stormy downpour when a stranger named Kelly pulled over to lend a hand. Their act of kindness eased a difficult night. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Habitat Santa Barbara has signed a lease for a ReStore set to open in summer 2026 at 400 State Street downtown. The store will accept donations starting mid-March as it prepares to support local affordable housing by recruiting volunteers and paid staff. Edhat
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara’s original photo hunt game March Edness will begin on Monday, March 2 for edhat subscribers. The contest posts a cropped photo at midnight daily until March 27 with entries due by 8 p.m. and will name top winners with a tie-breaker (March 30) if needed. Edhat
- ➤ Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture will launch Make It: Building a Public Art Practice workshop series in March, offering free hybrid courses led by public art professionals for artists of all levels (participants attending four or more sessions become eligible for a public art commission opportunity). Edhat
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara County logged over 100% of its typical rainfall that filled reservoirs and recharged groundwater basins, with water managers noting spills from Lake Cachuma and Gibraltar began early. More rain is expected in the next two months to delay drought (confirming the county’s strong water supply). Noozhawk
- ➤ The Community Environmental Council launches A Year of Active Hope with a series of free events at its Environmental Hub (1219 State St.) featuring film screenings, workshops, repair fairs and youth climate sessions from Tuesday, Feb. 24 through Thursday, Apr. 9. Edhat
- ➤ Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation advises residents to wait at least one full day per inch of rain before using dirt trails to prevent erosion. They recommend using paved park paths until trails dry to avoid damage caused by rutting. Edhat
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ On Feb. 7, 2026, local surfers experienced the official start of the Rincon Classic with good waves and a casual vibe at popular surf spots. Beachgoers & families appreciated favorable conditions along the coast. Edhat
- ➤ Bishop Diego girls’ basketball team won a 48 to 42 semifinal on Saturday night with Eden Wynne scoring 19 points (including five three-pointers) and will face Burroughs next week in the Division 5 Championship Game. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ In the CIF Regional Girls Water Polo Championship, Division 1 has San Marcos at Bishop's in La Jolla at 5 p.m. Tuesday and Division 2 features Santa Barbara hosting Carlsbad at 5 p.m. Tuesday — winners advance to a Feb. 28 final at Long Beach City College. KEYT
- ➤ The Santa Barbara Royals Ice Hockey team clinched their spot in the LA Kings HS League Championship with a 4-0 win (shutout) over Ventura County Poseidon on Saturday. They will play the Burbank Cougars for the title on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Noozhawk
- ➤ Kellan Montgomery got his first home start win as the Gauchos swept Portland with a 6 to 2 win at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Sunday; his strong pitching and timely offense moved the team to a 4 to 2 record. They face Loyola Marymount on Tuesday. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Westmont Baseball swept Vanguard in a four-game series at Dean Harvey Field on Saturday afternoon, winning both ends of a doubleheader with scores of 9-2 and 3-0. The Warriors will next face Biola in a doubleheader on Feb. 27 and 28 with first pitches at 11:00 a.m. Noozhawk
- ➤ Gabe Speier, nicknamed Li'l Unit from Goleta Valley South Little League, is set to join Team USA as a relief pitcher in the World Baseball Classic. He will make his first appearance on March 6 at Houston's Daikin Park following a standout season with the Mariners. Noozhawk
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Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
7-10 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — $26 General Public / $18 Youth / $15 UCSB students — Experience thrilling outdoor adventure films at a larger-than-life scale, showcasing the best mountain adventures.
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Bored Teachers Comedy Tour
11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Check venue for pricing — Enjoy an uproarious comedy night with the 'Teachers Off Duty' Podcast stars.
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La Chupitos Comedy and Mariachi Show
7-9 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Tickets available — Experience a vibrant fusion of Mexican comedy and mariachi music featuring La Chupitos and the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas.
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Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
6:15-7:14 p.m. — Music Academy of the West — Tickets required — Experience the enchanting music of Hans Zimmer in an intimate candlelit setting.
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Kyle Watson Live Performance
9:00 p.m. — EOS Lounge — $12.36 — Experience Kyle Watson's unique blend of house music with rolling basslines and punchy grooves.
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Nachle Deewane 2026
4:30-7:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Proceeds aid South Asian charities — Experience a vibrant annual Bollywood-fusion dance competition featuring teams from across the country.
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March 2026 Area Meeting
6-8 p.m. — The Community Arts Workshop — Free entry — Engage in an open forum of critiques and insights from local artists while enjoying a keynote from ceramicist Erin Smith.
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St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
7:30-9 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Ticket information not provided — Celebrate Irish culture with music, dance, and high-energy performances from champion dancers.
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California Agave Symposium
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort — $125-$350 — Network with industry leaders and explore the future of California's agave industry.
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