Tag archives: Christmas

Here Come the Holidays
By Richard Mineards   |   November 28, 2023

Christmas got off to an early start at the venerable Santa Barbara Club with the launch, for the second year, of its holiday boutique. The event was founded by general manager Linda Spann with her choosing the 18 vendors showing their wares to members of the club, founded in 1892. “It’s a great way to […]

Celebrating the Start of Advent
By Scott Craig   |   November 28, 2023

Westmont celebrates Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, with “Let There be Light!” a festive gathering, tree lighting, hot cocoa, and opportunity to take photos with Santa on Wednesday, November 29, from 5-7 pm on Kerrwood Lawn. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.  Children’s photos with Santa begin at 4:30 […]

Local Holiday Gift Ideas 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   November 20, 2023

Rare Brazilian Cabochon Paraiba Tourmaline surrounded by 114 diamonds, set in 18 kt yellow gold and platinum. For over 40 years, Silverhorn has been renowned for its handcrafted jewelry, using rare gemstones and exemplary craftsmanship. Known for award-winning creativity, each piece is artfully crafted with precision. At their Design Studio in Montecito, clients can observe […]

Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Annual Christmas Tea
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 27, 2022

The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) Women’s Auxiliary (WA) held its annual Christmas Tea for its Bethel House women in recovery on Wednesday, December 14 at the home of Susan Hughes. The Women’s Auxiliary, led by President Pamela Dillman Haskell, supports the SBRM through prayer, fundraising for its programs, and community outreach. One such program […]

2nd Annual Carp-Summerland Firefighters Santa Run
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 27, 2022

Carpinteria-Summerland Firefighters, the Local 3368 International Association of Firefighters, held their 2nd Annual Santa Run on Friday, December 16, with routes through Carpinteria and Summerland respectively.  Founded two years ago by Firefighter (FF) Pat Cockrum, Vice President of Carpinteria-Summerland Firefighters, the event is a community favorite with the entire crew and fire engines from 1926 […]

Christmas Lighting of Kerrwood
By Scott Craig   |   December 27, 2022

It was a festive evening of entertainment and holiday treats at the annual Let There Be Light on November 30 on Kerrwood Lawn. Karen Sloan, who recently retired from Westmont after 16 years, was chosen to throw the large switch to turn on the Christmas lights at Kerrwood Hall.  The Westmont Activities Council hosted a […]

A Bear’s Gift of Food
By Montecito Journal   |   December 27, 2022

Carlos, The Bear, was snug and cozy, reclining in his lazy bear chair perusing the internet, when a memory bubbled up under his holiday cap. He remembered as a very young cub, his mother would take him to Romero creek near their den, in Rancho San Carlos, in hopes of catching some steelhead trout, that […]

Coast Village Holiday Cheer
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 27, 2022

After a two-year hiatus, a contest for holiday window decorating on Coast Village Road (CVR) resumed this December, marking the last hurrah for the outgoing Coast Village Association (CVA), which is evolving into the Coast Village Improvement Association thanks to the approval of the Coast Village Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID) earlier this year. Last […]

Ending on a High-land Note
By Richard Mineards   |   December 27, 2022

Tartan ruled supreme at the Lobero when Santa Barbara Revels founder and artistic director Susan Keller staged her 13th Yuletide production, a Scottish celebration of the Winter Solstice. Set in an imposing baronial hall in the 18th century, the entertaining show opened with a Scottish overture played by the Ben Nevis Brass Ensemble and the […]

A Cracking Good Show
By Richard Mineards   |   December 27, 2022

Everybody was clearly going nuts about State Street Ballet’s colorful production of The Nutcracker at the Granada with hardly a seat to be had to watch Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. Accompanied by the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra under substitute conductor Lee Mills, as well as State Street Ballet Academy students and professional track trainees, the […]

A Ray of Holiday Cheer
By Richard Mineards   |   December 27, 2022

Scientist, inventor, and real estate investor Ray Winn, 88, and his partner of 34 years Peter Kavoian, 66, pulled out all the stops when they hosted their first Christmas bash for 100 guests in five years at their magnificent Birnam Wood home. Peter used his gleaming red Bentley convertible as Santa’s sleigh with six reindeer […]

Holiday Wrap Up: Wrapping Up the Home
By Zach Rosen   |   December 20, 2022

With the holidays upon us, here are a few places for putting those finishing touches on the home, last-minute local gifts, or just spots to go get some fresh air and holiday cheer. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to let things slip through the cracks and this week is […]

Trimming Montecito’s Tree
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 20, 2022

Last week, the usual crew of Montecito locals gathered to decorate the giant pine tree near the Manning Park tennis courts. It’s a festive tradition that goes back many decades, and we retell it here each year to keep the memory alive.  As the story goes, in the early 1960s, then Montecito Fire Chief Don […]

Christmas at the Casa 
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 20, 2022

A wet and windy evening did not derail the annual Christmas at the Casa fundraising event at Casa del Herrero on December 10, as guests were chauffeured from the El Montecito Church parking lot to the event. There we were greeted with elegantly dressed staff who escorted us with umbrellas to the host desk and […]

A Westmont Yuletide
By Richard Mineards   |   December 13, 2022

The full arsenal of Westmont College’s musical talent was on display at the Granada for the 18th annual Christmas Festival. Always a great start to Yuletide, the concert “Prince of Peace” was the second year at the venerable State Street theater after years at the First Presbyterian Church. Ruth Lin, chair of the music department, […]

Christmas Kicks Off
By Richard Mineards   |   December 13, 2022

The Rosewood Miramar was flooded with Yuletide illuminations, as well as dozens of miniature trees, when Managing Director Rick Fidel, accompanied by a very jolly Santa Claus, lit the tony hostelry’s Christmas tree in the grand lobby watched by dozens of parents and their children. As guests quaffed hot chocolate, apple cider, and prosecco cocktails, […]

Welcome to December! We’re very excited to announce our Second Annual Montecito Holiday Magic Parade December 17!
By Sharon Byrne   |   December 6, 2022

We’ll have the coolest classic cars, lit up to brighten the night sky (briefly). We’ll have dancers, singers, and so much fun! The route starts from the Upper Village, and heads down Hot Springs to Coast Village, and then back up Olive Mill to the end. We encourage you to support our local merchants and […]

Caroling to a New Tune
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 6, 2022

The veteran actor, director, and choreographer Jamie Torcellini is no stranger to Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC), having performed at ETC in The School for Lies and The Mystery of Irma Vep, and directed both Tell Me on a Sunday and The 39 Steps. It’s the latter play that’s most germane, as Torcellini has been enthralled […]

Love for the Lower Village: Home for the Holidays Continues Along Coast Village
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 6, 2022

The second in a four-part series on shopping locally in Montecito, we’re shining a light on the Lower Village: Montecito’s Coast Village Road and beyond, which has long been a shopping and dining destination for locals and visitors.  Many shops along Coast Village Road are gearing up for the holiday season, decorating their windows and […]

A Holiday Circus
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 29, 2022

Santa Barbara’s regular traditional holiday shows such as The Nutcracker and Christmas Revels will be arriving next month, along with sing-along Messiahs and holiday parties. But the highlight of the season just might be taking place even before the calendar flips to December as American Theatre Guild’s Broadway in Santa Barbara series presents A Magical […]