Daily
Santa Barbara
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 2nd of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ At Lobero Theatre last week, local nonprofit CommUnify held a fundraising event with entertainers Jane Lynch, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall — moderated by Dante Di Loreto — to spotlight its programs that help low-income neighbors, including with education and childcare. The event showed videos on rising poverty in Santa Barbara to stress the urgent need for support for vital programs like Head Start. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ LEAP, a nonprofit founded in 1971 in response to Isla Vista riots, has supported Santa Barbara County families with trauma-informed childcare, culturally sensitive support, and community leadership for over 50 years. It receives 80% of its funding from government sources & is planning its 2026 LEAP Awards at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort to honor decades of impact and its expanded services. Noozhawk
- ➤ All Saints By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Montecito will host its free Christmas Tree Lighting Festival on Dec. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 83 Eucalyptus Lane—featuring a petting zoo, crafts, a cake walk, hot chocolate, and a visit with Saint Nicholas to mark the start of the holiday season. Noozhawk
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ A 17-year-old Santa Barbara teen died Saturday after a skateboarding accident on Thanksgiving while visiting friends in Palos Verdes — his donated organs helped those in need. Santa Barbara Independent
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Strings will present its Winter Concert at 4 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Music Academy of the West, where over 70 young players will perform works from Mozart to holiday tunes (tickets cost $30 for adults and free for children). A surprise movie character will also appear to add an unexpected twist to the performance. Noozhawk
- ➤ Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced that the downtown theatre at 916 State Street will be named The McHurley Film Center — honoring donors Nora McNeely Hurley and Michael Hurley after the campaign passed its halfway mark. The venue is undergoing renovations to add five auditoriums, advanced sound and projection systems, and accessibility upgrades before it reopens in February. Edhat
- ➤ State Street has been a long-time part of Santa Barbara's history and changed from a travel route for Native peoples and early settlers into a busy commercial area rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake — in 2020, the city closed the street to cars for a pedestrian space, and local groups now are debating if it should stay car-free or allow one-way traffic. Edhat
- ➤ The Tony- and Grammy Award-winning musical Kinky Boots will perform at Santa Barbara’s Granada Theatre (1214 State St.) on December 9-10 as part of the Broadway in Santa Barbara Series (Broadway in Santa Barbara). The show features a pop score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein that tell the true story of a man who revives his family’s shoe factory. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle will perform at the Arlington Theatre on December 7 at 7 p.m. as part of the UCSB Arts & Lectures season; she returns to Santa Barbara after successful shows at Campbell Hall, SOhO and Lobero Theatre to debut new tracks from her album So Long Little Miss Sunshine with an all-female band. Santa Barbara Independent
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Mystic Ocean Adventures, an ocean based educational non-profit, received a generous award from Montecito Bank & Trust at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachside Resort on November 24th with about 200 non-profit leaders in attendance & the award, part of the bank’s 50th anniversary celebrations, supports hands-on maritime education for youth in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Santa Barbara Independent
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County announced a permanent conservation easement for Rancho Dos Alamos, a 587-acre property located in the Solomon Hills of Los Alamos Valley, achieved through the efforts of landowners Jimmy and Lindsey Dominguez and Steve Lyons. The easement now joins other protected lands to create over 2800 contiguous acres for wildlife (including coast horned lizards, California tiger salamanders, and golden eagles) as the organization continues its regional conservation work. Santa Barbara Independent
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara officials released a Safe Streets survey to gather public input on high-collision areas—such as Bath, Canon Perdido, and Calle Real streets—to help guide upcoming traffic safety plans. The City-Identified Priority Street Input Survey is open until December 12, and residents can share their views to address dangerous intersections. KEYT
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Birth Center—founded in 2009—has cared for about 1,200 families with one-on-one midwife care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and offers free prenatal and parenting groups. The nonprofit will soon work with CenCal to serve more people and hopes to expand insurance partnerships to make care more affordable. Noozhawk
- ➤ The Organic Soup Kitchen in Santa Barbara now faces a fast-growing waitlist as SNAP benefits resume and government services reopen. Its Medically Tailored Meals Program partners with CenCal Health to serve low-income seniors and people with chronic illnesses—staff and volunteers work each week to support eligible clients. KEYT
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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New Year's Eve Celebration in Santa Barbara 2025-2026
3:15-5:15 p.m. — Celebration Cruises — $110 admission — Enjoy a Champagne Cruise with breathtaking views as you toast to the New Year.
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