For almost 30 years the congregation of the First United Methodist Church has offered a beautiful seasonal gift to the community by staging a re-creation of the Holy Night for three nights just before Christmas. The community is invited to join in this inspiring and meaningful celebration – it’s free! Join us on the evenings of December 20, 21, and 22, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm for the outdoor Living Nativity and to tour the sacred space of our historic sanctuary. Everyone is welcome here! Free parking onsite, enter from Garden Street.

Join the many families who have made this event part of their holiday traditions! For 3 nights, December 20, 21, and 22 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm, gather around the silent tableau of a rustic stable, Holy family, Wise Men, angels, shepherds, and featuring live animals including camel(s), donkeys, goats and sheep. The church sanctuary will also be open for viewing with a display of creches on the altar rail, and Christmas music by pianist Ann Leatherman.

Monthly Westmont Public Telescope Night

State Street Ballet brings this annual holiday favorite to the grandeur of The Granada Theatre. Featuring the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra, and the talented students of Gustafson Dance alongside our professional dancers, this is the perfect way to celebrate the magic of the holiday season. Through virtuosic dancing, opulent sets and costumes, and brilliant comedic moments, the beloved story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince always delights audiences of all ages. Three performances only!

The Christmas Revels: A Venetian Celebration of the Winter Solstice is a joyous theatrical celebration set in Renaissance Italy. Venice’s “Festival of Fishes” is fast approaching. Performing groups vie for selection to perform for the festivities. A traveling commedia dell’arte troupe is desperately eager to participate, but the Magistrato in charge of selection is determined that the lowest class of citizens – actors – be excluded from the lineup.

Our Revels company is joined by accomplished guest artists, including the SBCC Sackbut Ensemble. The Christmas Revels is an exciting and heartwarming entertainment experience for every age and a favorite Santa Barbara holiday tradition created by and for our community for the past 12 years.

Join us at Louie's California Bistro located in the historic Upham Hotel on Saturday, December 21st for the annual Feast of the Seven Fishes celebration.

Join owner and head chef Owen Hanavan for an evening tasting the farm-to-table menu at Lemon & Coriander, the newest addition to the culinary scene in Old Town Goleta.

State Street Ballet brings this annual holiday favorite to the grandeur of The Granada Theatre. Featuring the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra, and the talented students of Gustafson Dance alongside our professional dancers, this is the perfect way to celebrate the magic of the holiday season. Through virtuosic dancing, opulent sets and costumes, and brilliant comedic moments, the beloved story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince always delights audiences of all ages. Three performances only!

This week create your own mini elf with guest artist Laura Denny.

The Art From Scrap CreatorLab comes alive with a themed workshop every Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Filled with hundreds of reuse materials, our CreatorLab is sure to ignite your imagination! Children 6 years and up can stay and have fun while their parents go shopping at the Saturday Farmer’s Market – just one block away. Workshops are taught by visiting Guest Artists and AFS Staff Members. This is a perfect way to spend a morning – for artists of all ages and abilities. Cost: $8.00 per person

State Street Ballet brings this annual holiday favorite to the grandeur of The Granada Theatre. Featuring the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra, and the talented students of Gustafson Dance alongside our professional dancers, this is the perfect way to celebrate the magic of the holiday season. Through virtuosic dancing, opulent sets and costumes, and brilliant comedic moments, the beloved story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince always delights audiences of all ages. Three performances only!

State Street Ballet brings this annual holiday favorite to the grandeur of The Granada Theatre. Featuring the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra, and the talented students of Gustafson Dance alongside our professional dancers, this is the perfect way to celebrate the magic of the holiday season. Through virtuosic dancing, opulent sets and costumes, and brilliant comedic moments, the beloved story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince always delights audiences of all ages. Three performances only!

Join Rev. Karen S. Wylie at The Ojai Retreat on Sunday, December 22, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., for her Mid-Month Devotional Retreat, which this month will explore “The Greatest Gift You Can Give!”