Holiday Events in the Santa Barbara Area

The City of Goleta and City of Santa Barbara have various events going on during November and December for the holidays. Below are some events that are more family-friendly and often free or inexpensive to attend.

November 2018

November 20 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Boys and Girls Club Community Thanksgiving Dinner: free meal for Boys and Girls Club members, family, friends and neighbors.

November 23-December 27 (Thursday-Sunday only) from 4-10 PM: Santa Barbara Night Market at Paseo Nuevo Santa Barbara. Live music, food, decorations, and falling “snow” for the holiday season.

November 23-December 20 (Weekdays 10am – 8pm and Weekends 9am-8pm): Lane Farms Christmas Tree Patch. There will be Christmas trees and wreaths for sale, treats to buy, holiday decorations such as a real vintage sleigh, tractors for kids to sit on, and farm animals.

November 23- December 23 during museum hours: Candy Cane Train at the South Coast Railroad Museum.

November 28 from 5-8 PM: La Arcada Holiday Walk This free event has live music, holiday goodies, popcorn, and photos with Santa. Check out the Peanuts Maternity and Kids Store for balloons for the kids.

December 2018

 

Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Hollister Village Plaza Holiday Market

 

 

Saturday, December 1 at 6 PM: Old Town Goleta Christmas Parade:  After the parade, there will be the lighting of the Christmas tree and pictures with Santa.

Sunday, December 2 from 10 AM to 3 PM: Sledding at the Zoo/Snow Leopard Festival at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The zoo will have various events for the family included in the admission fee. Sledding costs $3 per child.

Friday, December 7 at 6:30 PM: The Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Parade: an annual nighttime parade along State Street.

Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 8 AM – 11 AM Pancakes, Santa and Reptiles! at San Marcos Parent-Child Workshop (co-op preschool)

Saturday, December 8-Saturday December 9 11 AM-4PM : Holiday at the Ranch
“A holiday open house featuring Santa Claus and his ‘rein-goats’! Kids of all ages love our open house that includes holiday music and caroling, craft-making, tours of the festive Stow House, celebrity story-time and holiday hayrides.”

 

Saturday, December 8 at 2:30, 7:00 PM/Sunday, December 9 at 2:30 PM: The Nutcracker at the Arlington

 

Sunday, December 9 from 3 -6:00 PM (Boat parade starts at 5:30 PM from the Harbor): Parade of Lights event includes a Santa’s Village at Stearn’s Wharf, decorated boats that sail between the Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf. The parade ends with a fireworks show.

Saturday, December 15 from 9AM-11AM: Breakfast with Santa at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara

Saturday, December 15 and 16, 6:00-7:30 PM: A Non-Musical Puppet Christmas at Community Covenant Church of Goleta. Tickets to go on sale on November 25.

Saturday, December 22 at 1 PM: Inspire Dance SB Presents: Clara & the Land of Sweets at the Goleta Valley Library.