Good morning, Santa Barbara.

On December 10, 2025, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated $25,000 to the Central Coast Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign to help children in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties (marking 22 consecutive years of support and raising the tribe’s total contribution to $550,000).

Santa Barbara County was named one of the top 10 most generous U.S. counties on GoFundMe’s ‘2025 Year in Help’ report with over 34,000 residents donating, and Ventura also earned a spot after the news was shared on social media on Dec.

10.

Goleta named winners of its Third Annual Window Decorating Contest; Classic Collision (winning Best Overall Window and People’s Choice Award) and Larry’s 8 Day Auto Parts, The Edge Salon & Barbershop, and Goleta Bakery earned honors.

Community members voted online and festive displays now adorn Old Town for the holidays.

Santa Barbara Humane invites families to adopt two dogs at its campus on Overpass Rd. Phoebe, a 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier who has received complete care, and Po, a husky with waived fees, are now available for adoption.

Goleta announced winners of its Third Annual Window Decorating Contest held on Sat., Dec.

6. Classic Collision won Best Overall + People’s Choice, Larry’s 8 Day Auto Parts earned Most Creative, The Edge Salon and Barbershop took Most Festive, and Goleta Bakery got Honorable Mention; displays remain for the holidays.

Kinky Boots kicked off the Broadway in Santa Barbara series at the Granada this week with energetic songs by Cyndi Lauper and standout performances by Noah Silverman and Omari Collins (featuring high-kicking choreography and creative set design) that celebrate individuality and inclusivity.

Holiday events bring festive cheer this weekend to the Central Coast with free boat parades, live music, and fireworks in Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Cayucos, Oceano, and San Luis Obispo (with Santa Barbara’s Parade of Lights starting Sunday at 5:30 p.m.).

Gracie at Santa Barbara Harbor offers coastal dining at 107 Harbor Way with an art deco bar (with handmade Venice glass chandeliers) and warm brass fixtures.

The menu features dishes like salmon crudo and tasty short ribs, making it a popular choice for dinners with intimate groups or larger gatherings.

The City of Santa Barbara released a draft wastewater and water systems climate adaptation plan to protect vital water infrastructure from flooding and sea level rise.

Public comments are accepted (through Feb. 10) as the plan is reviewed by the Water and Planning Commissions ahead of a May final decision.

Santa Barbara County Association of Governments invites locals to document traffic-calming features during its 12 Days of Mapping campaign on OpenStreetMap.

The community effort supports the AI Bike Map Project in partnership with UCSB and Simon Fraser University (funded by a Caltrans grant).

Santa Barbara County supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday to support a resolution for the Climate Superfund Act (which would require fossil fuel companies to pay for local climate damages).

Senate Bill 684 and Assembly Bill 1243 must be voted on by January for the plan to move forward.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warned residents against eating wild mushrooms after 21 cases of toxin poisoning were reported as of Dec.

5, urging extra caution since cooking does not remove the deadly toxins.

Jamie Neushul, Olympic gold medalist, is set to lead San Marcos High girls' water polo program starting in the 2026–27 school year.

Coach Chuckie Roth, whose record includes two CIF championships, will step down but continue with the swim teams.

The UCSB Baseball team announced its 2026 schedule featuring 54 games including 30 home matchups and series against top NCAA contenders like Oregon & UCLA.

The season begins with a trip to Pete Taylor Park and wraps with a postseason championship at UC Irvine.

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.

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.

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.

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.