Swap snow for soft coastal sand this winter and experience the magic of December in Santa Barbara. While much of the country retreats indoors from the cold, Santa Barbara shines with sunny days, holiday events, live performances and coastal celebrations.
Seasonal tip? Explore the Santa Barbara South Coast at your leisure and choose from local accommodations offering a third night free when you book a two-night stay. With so many shows to attend and shops to enjoy, do yourself a favor and add on an extra night.
Read on for the best ways to embrace the holiday season in The American Riviera®.
SIGNATURE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Holiday cheer takes over the streets of Santa Barbara all December long. Don’t miss the annual Christmas Patch at Lane Farms, where patrons can shop for the perfect noble or Douglas fir, visit farm animals and wind through a corn maze. Make the short trip west to Goleta, where you’ll get the small-town holiday treatment at the Goleta Old Town Holiday Parade, complete with decked-out floats, dance groups and live bands making their way down Hollister Avenue.
The South Coast’s holiday spirit spills into the sea as well. Head to the Santa Barbara Waterfront for the annual Parade of Lights. Festivities include a Winter Wonderland, a spirited procession of costumed kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders and, after dark, the main event: a parade of illuminated boats along the waterfront. Stick around as the celebration concludes with fireworks over the water.
The annual Miracle pop-up bar transforms Pearl Social Cocktail Club in the Funk Zone each December with over-the-top holiday décor and festive cocktails. Keep an eye out for other holiday pop-up events at Santa Barbara’s cozy lounges, craft breweries and restaurants.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Take a look at these holiday and New Year’s Eve events throughout the Santa Barbara South Coast.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
December brings a festive entertainment lineup to some of Southern California’s most striking historic venues. Settle in for seasonal music and performances in the ARTS District at the Spanish Revival-style Lobero Theatre or the meticulously restored Granada Theatre. Both venues host an array of holiday productions and concerts to close out the year. A night in Santa Barbara’s ARTS District can easily extend beyond the curtain call. Make an evening of it with dinner at one of the neighborhood’s acclaimed restaurants before the show, then linger over a cocktail nearby afterward. Galleries, architectural landmarks and other cultural attractions offer even more reasons to arrive early and explore.
Santa Barbara’s smaller stages and intimate venues make it easy to squeeze a show into your activity-filled December plans, whether you’re exploring downtown, the Funk Zone and Waterfront, or venturing to nearby Goleta and Montecito. Read our definitive guide to live music in Santa Barbara.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Santa Barbara’s abundance of independent shops, artisan markets and holiday boutiques makes it easy to find gifts for everyone on your list. For even more inspiration, browse the Santa Barbara Gift Guide for locally inspired presents and thoughtful finds. Explore the holiday atmosphere of Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center and State Street Promenade, where you can enjoy outdoor shopping amid twinkling lights and seasonal décor.
Say “yes” at The Yes Store and experience Santa Barbara’s original artists’ gift gallery. Offering one-stop shopping for arts, crafts, custom fine jewelry, blown glass, ceramics, woodworking, clothing and leather goods, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for the art lover in your life. Or indulge your family and friends’ sweet cravings with a stop at one of Santa Barbara’s best chocolate shops.
Support local businesses owned by people of color when checking off your shopping list this holiday season. Find one-of-a-kind treasures at the holiday-themed Mujeres Makers Market, a community market that amplifies local businesses run by women of color. Pick up a gift card to Summerland Salon and Spa, a box of Cristy’s Cookies or a unique gift from a Black-owned business to give to your loved ones while directly championing some of the entrepreneurs who make Santa Barbara such a special destination.
