California Beaches Blog

Santa Barbara, Calif.–If you’re not IN, you’re OUT, this holiday season in the Riviera of California. Santa Barbara is one of the most special places in the world, and according to one former student who went to college there, “It’s the only place that brings tears of joy to my eyes,” said Timex, who now lives in L.A. and works in Hollywood.

Santa Barbara’s season of celebrating is so special, it brings tears of joy, laughter and smiles to those who make the journey to celebrate with locals, students, and other tourists. Thanks to the Santa Barbara Convention and Visitors Bureau, we found out what’s going on for you to enjoy. Make your own pilgrimage to celebrate this special season. Here’s a list of holiday events they compiled:

• December 3-27:  Ensemble Theatre presents Trying. ensembletheatre.com
• December 4:  57th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade lights up State Street with holiday cheer. santabarbaradowntown.com
• December 4-6: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s 23rd annual Folk & Tribal Arts Marketplace. sbnature.org
• December 5:  Third annual Pomegranate Festival at Global Gardens, featuring Pomegranate Glazé, Pomegranate Agrodolce Olive Oil Pound Cake and Pomegranate Golden Balsamic Vinegar. Special recipes available and select pomegranate tastings all day. oliverevolution.com
• December 5:  More snow, more sledding and more fun this year at the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Sledding at the Zoo & Snow Leopard Festival. sbzoo.org
• December 6:  The first annual Santa Barbara International Marathon starts 1 mile west of Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta and ends at Leadbetter Beach.sbmarathon.com
• December 11-13:  Santa Barbara Revels presents “The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of Winter Solstice” at Marjorie Luke Theatre. santabarbararevels.org
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  December 12-19:  Lit Moon Theatre presents Humbug at Center Stage Theater. litmoon.com
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  December 12-13:  State Street Ballet presents The Nutcracker at The Granada. granadasb.org (see more “Nuts“)
• December 13:  24th annual Harbor Parade of Lights including festive touches like carolers, Santa Claus and kids’ activities in Santa’s Village.
• December 13:  Experience first-hand the way Santa Barbara’s earliest Spanish and Mexican residents celebrated Christmas with song and food at Una Noche de Las Posadas at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. sbthp.org
• December 16:  The Granada presents Tomàseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas, a heart-warming evening of traditional Irish storytelling, music and step dancing. granadasb.org
• December 20-January 3:  Santa Barbara Theatre presents Leonard Bernstein’s Peter Pan at The Lobero.sbtheatre.org
• December 22:  The world’s greatest jazz troupe journeys from the French Quarter to the American Riviera for Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Creole Christmas, a brassy spin on all the holiday’s greatest hits. granadasb.org

And finally to round out 2009, enjoy the  Santa Barbara Symphony annual New Year’s Eve Pops Concert at The Granada on December 31. thesymphony.org