Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Pumpkin patches have opened across Santa Barbara County.

Lane Farms (308 S. Walnut Lane) offers hayrides and a corn maze until Halloween, while Big Wave Dave’s, Montecito Country Mart and other spots host family activities and themed events throughout the season.

Entrepreneur Dylan Mancuso said Ventura's month-long Downtown Harvest Days—featuring hay bale displays, pumpkin patches, and busy restaurants—shows how fall events can boost business.

He urged Santa Barbara’s team to expand activations like a car show and youth soccer games by adding a holiday market and public workshops.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, Goleta will host its final Coffee & Community event of 2026 (9-11 a.m.) at El Sitio restaurant, 7398 Calle Real, with complimentary coffee, light bites and $10 breakfast burritos while local leaders discuss neighborhood issues including El Niño.

Spanish interpretation and kids activities are provided.

Santa Barbara Humane hosted Whiskers Under the Moon (a Western-themed gala) on its campus that raised over $370,000 for local animal programs.

Nearly 300 guests enjoyed live music, dinner, and bidding while helping the group exceed its $300,000 goal.

SpaceX is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base at about 5:11 p.m. today to deploy 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit and then return the booster to land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.

The documentary Free Leonard Peltier premieres today on Netflix, based on a 2017 Santa Barbara Independent cover story by producer Kevin McKiernan.

The film revisits Peltier’s nearly 50-year fight for justice — and highlights his ongoing work as an artist.

Tamir Hendelman will lead his trio in a Tribute to Bill Evans at The Grand on State (1218 State St.) on Oct.

16 at 7 p.m., featuring classics like 'Blue in Green' and lesser-known works with dinner, wine, and beer offered.

State of Mind Cafe and Blind Fitness will present a screening of 'Unseen the Documentary' on Saturday, Oct.

17 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. The free event runs from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and offers refreshments & a Q&A with director Set Hernandez.

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum will present Unscripted Voyages — a new after-hours improv series featuring professional performers and ocean experts — at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov.

7 at 113 Harbor Way. Tickets range from $8 for children to $15 for the general public.

Sérgio and Clarice Assad will perform a Brazilian music program at Campbell Hall, presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures, on Wednesday, Oct.

21 at 7:30 p.m. They bring a rich family tradition of Brazilian music to the stage.

Today, SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to deliver 27 Starlink satellites into orbit & the booster will land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific.

Candidates at a forum hosted by the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative and the Community Arts Workshop discussed boosting local art through affordable workspaces and public installations downtown.

They outlined plans to support cultural vibrancy and economic development in the community.

City of Goleta announced on Oct.

9 that it secured $2.5 million in state funds - $2 million for upgrading its community center childcare buildings and $500K for renovating the library. The funding, part of AB 113 signed on Sept. 18, will modernize local facilities and support valuable community programs.

The UC Santa Barbara men’s soccer team won 3-1 over Cal Poly in front of 11,183 fans at Harder Stadium (the largest NCAA crowd this season).

They will travel to Spokane to face Gonzaga on Wed, Oct. 14.

Santa Barbara High School quarterback Griffin Arnold overcame cancer (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and emergency surgery to resume strong play, earning a baseball scholarship from Pepperdine; his comeback marks a year since his first hospital emergency at Cottage Hospital.