Daily
Santa Barbara
Thursday, December 4th, 2025
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 4th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Santa Barbara Zoo welcomes Layan (a 9-year-old snow leopard from Idaho Falls Zoo via the Species Survival Plan) as he settles into his new habitat. Guests may soon spot him exploring outdoors as he adjusts. Noozhawk
- ➤ C.A.R.E.4Paws is hosting its Howliday Donation Drive-Thru on Saturday, Dec. 6 in Santa Barbara and SLO counties to support pet families by collecting food and monetary gifts — drop-offs are available at partner sites including Earl Warren Showgrounds and La Cumbre Feed. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Three Ecuadorian cooks on J-1 visas lost all their belongings in a house fire on Dec. 1 in Goleta and need community help to rebuild, including replacing documents and work tools (essential for their chef careers). Edhat
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Sable Offshore Corp. is asking PHMSA to approve the restart of its defunct oil pipeline that connects its Santa Ynez Unit to the Pentland Station terminal. The Houston-based company said it will follow new safety measures to resume petroleum transportation. Edhat
- ➤ SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base today between 10:12 a.m. and 2:12 p.m., carrying 28 Starlink satellites into orbit. Residents in Montecito, Carpinteria, Ojai, and Ventura may hear a sonic boom — about 8 to 10 minutes after lift-off. Edhat
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Festival Ballet will present its 50th production of The Nutcracker at the Arlington Theatre on December 13 and 14. The performance features internationally acclaimed dancers, returning alumni, and a live symphony orchestra. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ SBCC’s School of Extended Learning will host its annual Arts & Crafts Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the SBCC Wake Campus front patio — showcasing handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and more from over 50 local student-artists while offering a catered lunch from Chef Rene’s Cuisine and free parking. Santa Barbara Independent
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Researchers at UCSB developed a display that creates both visible and touchable 3D graphics (using optotactile pixels to form bumps) that may one day be used in cars, mobile devices, and smart walls. The breakthrough was detailed in Science Robotics. Noozhawk
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered new findings that challenge existing views on how carbon is fixed in the deep ocean. The study, supported by the National Science Foundation and published in Nature Geoscience, may change how we understand the ocean’s role in absorbing carbon (a key climate factor). Edhat
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Hospice of Santa Barbara will host its 42nd Annual Light Up a Life ceremonies to honor loved ones with star dedications, refreshments, and music. The free events take place in Montecito on Dec. 6, Santa Barbara on Dec. 7, Carpinteria on Dec. 13, and Goleta on Dec. 14. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Cottage Health will hold a free flu vaccine clinic for people aged 18 and older on Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Ave). Two sessions will run from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Noozhawk
- ➤ Santa Barbara County has faced a deadly fentanyl crisis with 112 overdose deaths in 2023, up from 12 in 2017 (young people are increasingly at risk) and while fentanyl deaths dropped 47% in 2024, community programs like CADA ARTS and naloxone distribution remain vital to save lives. Noozhawk
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ UCSB’s men’s and women’s basketball teams begin Bold Week today at 6 p.m. with the men hosting Long Beach State at the Thunderdome and the women competing at Long Beach’s Pyramid. The teams are riding winning streaks while the men’s coach encourages fans to wear blue — a sign of school spirit. Noozhawk
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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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Sounds and Stories of Greek Christmas
The program includes traditional Christmas music, rarely performed Byzantine hymns, and Greek holiday carols. Performing will be Opera Santa Barbara director Kostis Protopapas; Santa Barbara-born mezzo-soprano Xeni Tziouvaras who returns home from Florence, Italy for this festive holiday concert and acclaimed soprano Anastasia Malliaras who recently performed at the Granada Theater with the Santa Barbara Philharmonic.
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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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