Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Paseo Nuevo will host its Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30 at 6:00 p.m. to launch its holiday season and support Make-A-Wish (CVS) as Mayor Randy Rowse opens the event and a Make-A-Wish family speaks before the tree is lit.

Lucky Penny, a Santa Barbara restaurant at 127 Anacapa St, is known for its walls lined with over 100,000 pennies—a design choice that gained extra meaning after the U.S. Mint announced on Nov.

12 that it would stop making the coins; owner Sherry Villanueva said the unique look reflects local artistic spirit. The business plans to open a new location in Los Olivos soon.

SpaceX rescheduled its Transporter-15 rideshare mission launch—targeted for today at 10:18 a.m. PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base—after a last-minute delay; the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 140 payloads, including several NASA satellites, remains in healthy condition.

On November 21st, the Museum of Tibetan Art & Culture opened at Legacy Arts Santa Barbara with a ceremony led by Lama Tashi Norbu that drew several hundred visitors and featured art sales and Buddhist rituals — the museum will host weekly yoga, meditation, and Tibetan Sacred Tattoo sessions on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through year-end.

TradArt Foundation has supported Santa Barbara students for over 20 years by offering career technical education through programs like Tools for Schools and the Tiny House project.

It was founded to revive technical training after school courses declined — now local industries and professionals help students learn real-world skills before graduation.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden will celebrate its 100th anniversary, marking a century of native plant conservation and community work.

The centennial year will offer events such as a Conservation Symposium on January 31 — where entomologist Doug Tallamy will be honored — and a launch of a Native Plant Pledge to inspire 10,000 locals.

A 3.2-magnitude earthquake occurred 16 kilometers north of Santa Barbara Island at a depth of 5.4 kilometers on Thursday—adding to a busy day of seismic events in the western United States.

Three-thousand pounds of Rainbow Trout from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms were released into Cachuma Lake, which is now 77% full after recent rainstorms.

Anglers must have a valid fishing license, and boats (inspected and tagged 30 days in advance) along with camping (cabin, RV, tent) are available.

U.S. Rep. Carbajal announced that Solvang received a $1M federal grant to upgrade its wastewater plant (serving both Solvang and Santa Ynez) as part of an $18M plan.

The upgrades will fix old parts and add water recycling (construction will start in 2027).

Due to rain delays—affecting the pavement’s curing—the Orange Avenue parking lot in Old Town remains closed through Thanksgiving weekend.

The project will finish final striping and reopen the lot on December 1.

The CHP began a Thanksgiving enforcement period at 6:01 p.m. on November 26th that will last until 11:59 p.m. on November 30th.

Officers will patrol Santa Barbara roads checking for seat belt use, speeding, and drunk driving (steps meant to cut crash risks).

Santa Barbara High boys basketball lost 82-43 to Sierra Canyon on Wednesday in Chatsworth—Sierra Canyon, ranked No. 3 nationally with top recruit Brandon McCoy, built an early lead that they maintained throughout the game.

In a separate match on Wednesday, Bishop Diego fell 82-96 to Inglewood—Rudy Blue led Bishop Diego with 26 points as Inglewood secured the win.

UC Santa Barbara signed an agreement on November 21 to host ParalympicsGB as its training base for the L.A.

2028 Paralympic Games—team members will use the campus’s sports facilities to prepare for the event.

SBHS Class of 2005 Reunion

7-10 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — $40 — Celebrate 20 years since graduation with light bites, a photobooth, and nostalgic 2005 drink specials.

Swan Lake

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Family-friendly event — Experience the world’s most in-demand ballet with a full-scale production of Tchaikovsky’s legendary masterpiece.

Indigenous Market

11 a.m.-3 p.m. — 3227 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA — Free admission — Celebrate local native artists and enjoy vibrant traditional performances at this cultural arts fair.

Christmas Mariachi Festival

7-10 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Pre-sale available — Experience a festive evening with El Mariachi Estrella de Mexico and the largest mariachi in the world.

8th Annual Winter Music Showcase

6:00-7:30 p.m. — The Granada Theatre — Tickets available — Celebrate the winter season with an evening of live musical performances.

Introduction to Spring 6, Spring Boot 3, and Spring REST Class

December 15th - 19th — GSA Training, Santa Barbara, CA — Call for pricing — Enhance your programming skills with comprehensive training on Spring technologies.

3rd Friday’s Lunch Hang

12-1:30 p.m. — The Cruisery, 501 State St, Santa Barbara, CA — Free entry — Meet locals in your 20s and 30s for lunch and great conversation while making new friends.

Christmas Day Buffet

12-7 p.m. — Finch & Fork — Reservations recommended — Celebrate the season with a lavish buffet featuring seafood, carving stations, and delectable desserts.

The Gift of Christmas Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Ticket pricing varies — Experience an unforgettable evening with Jim Brickman featuring holiday classics and heartwarming stories.