Daily
Santa Barbara
Thursday, December 11th, 2025
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 11th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Hand-knit scarves, hats and gloves appear at bus stops and public spaces in Goleta as part of the annual Chase the Chill project to help people stay warm. The drive runs through Saturday, Dec. 13 (at food banks and community centers). Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Officers from the Morro Bay Police Department continue their festive caroling event by driving through neighborhoods with sirens and Christmas music, handing out gift bags with candy & popcorn to children through Thursday evenings. KSBY
- ➤ Alexandra Allen, a Santa Barbara Foundation trustee, leads the Community Engagement Fund to help residents facing housing, food, child care, and health care challenges. The fund brings together donors, nonprofits, and local partners to support these essential needs. Noozhawk
- ➤ After vandalism, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church is uniting the community with its Feast Day events starting with a Rosary at 6 p.m. at Ortega Park and special masses at 4 a.m. Friday; the church seeks funds for security improvements. KEYT
- ➤ Wanderment Farms hosted a walk and food drive party on Sunday, Dec. 7, with a 3 p.m. farm tour and seasonal small bites by artist-chef Libby Holland to support the Unity Shoppe Food Drive and Toys for Tots. Tickets were available in advance. Santa Barbara Independent
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Hillside is hosting the 9th Annual Shining Light on Abilities display, a free, family-friendly holiday event with more than 50,000 lights each night after sunset throughout December. The open house kicked off on Dec. 6 at the Hillside property (1235 Veronica Springs Road) with festive treats and music. Noozhawk
- ➤ This weekend, Westside Dance will perform a shorter, sweeter version of The Nutcracker at Marjorie Luke Theatre with shows on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. + 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. designed for young families. KEYT
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara officials announced that non-emergency offices will be closed for winter holidays from Dec.22 to Jan.2 (City Hall will be fumigated Dec.22-24) while emergency services and key operations remain open. Most services will resume on Jan.5. Edhat
- ➤ County supervisors approved a covenant change that lets the city buy the homeless shelter at 816 Cacique St so services continue after PATH ends on Dec. 31. Mercy House will cover operations from Dec. 1 — until the city council reviews the purchase on Dec. 16. Noozhawk
- ➤ On Monday, the city released a draft climate adaptation plan for water and wastewater systems to address flooding, erosion, sea level rise, and wildfires. The draft outlines upgrades and potential facility relocation over 20 years — public comment ends Feb. 10, with City Council approval set for May. KEYT
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ One805 launched a $10 million Mental Wellness Endowment Fund to support Santa Barbara County first responders. Unveiled at a Dec. 3 appreciation event in Santa Barbara with $2M in funds, the endowment adds retiring Fire Chief Mark Hartwig to its board — ensuring lasting mental health care for frontline professionals. Edhat
- ➤ UC Santa Barbara has launched a new $3.8 million NIH-funded project to bring shared VR experiences into homes to help older adults form lasting bonds with their families. Piloted at Maravilla and partnering with Right at Home, the program uses Rendever headsets + virtual outings to ease isolation. Santa Barbara Independent
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Montecito’s tropical Japanese-style farmhouse sold for $6.62 million on Dec. 4 after an eight-month listing at 1399 School House Road. The four-bedroom, 3,637 sqft home features a pool + spa and is near local schools, the Upper Village, and Hammond’s Beach. Edhat
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Luis Campos scored a game-winning goal in the 79th minute as San Marcos High boys’ soccer team came from behind to beat Santa Barbara 3-2 on Tuesday night at Warkentin Stadium — the win improves their Channel League record. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Jamie Neushul, Olympic gold medalist, will coach the San Marcos Royals girls water polo team after this season, replacing Chuckie Roth who stepped down to focus on his other duties. San Marcos will announce more details soon — her club coaching background is widely respected. KEYT
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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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