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2024 CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN SANTA BARBARA

November 25, 2024

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Winter in Santa Barbara is enchanting, with festive events and activities that bring the holiday spirit to life, Santa Barbara style. The city offers countless ways to celebrate the season with loved ones. Here’s my personal guide to holiday happenings in the coastal paradise I call home.

5 young children sock skating at Santa Barbara MOXI Museum on the rooftop, with palm trees, red tile roof buildings and the ocean in the background.
Image courtesy MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

Seaside Sock Skating at MOXI

Nov. 20, 2024 – Jan. 30, 2025, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Experience the fun of ice skating—without the chill—at MOXI’s rooftop sock skating exhibit. This frictionless skating experience features a specialty tile floor. Ideal for both kids and adults, sock skating invites everyone to slip off their shoes and slide across the floor in a safe and enjoyable environment. MOXI’s interactive rooftop provides stunning views of Santa Barbara while offering unique holiday-themed activities that add extra sparkle to your visit.

A poster advertising 'A Cowboy Christmas' in stylized gold lettering on a black background

A Cowboy Christmas

Nov. 29 – Dec. 21, 3:30–7:30 p.m.
Journey into the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley for A Cowboy Christmas, a unique celebration of holiday traditions with a western twist. Highlights include holiday animal encounters and the Daring Elf Adventure, a pony ride that takes visitors through a whimsical North Pole setting. Guests can also challenge themselves with the Tipsy Ornament horseback activity, visit Santa in a vintage sleigh, and enjoy festive food and drinks. Additional activities include inflatable houses, obstacle courses, and a hay bale pyramid, all designed to entertain kids and adults alike.

Lane Farms Christmas Patch

Nov. 29 – Dec. 23, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Christmas events in Santa Barbara would be incomplete without a trip to Lane Farms, where fresh-cut Christmas trees abound, including Noble, Nordman, and Douglas fir varieties. The Christmas Patch also features a fun corn maze, perfect for creating joyful memories with family and friends. Visitors can explore the farm’s fresh produce offerings, ideal for holiday baking or cooking, and capture the season’s charm with a special photo opportunity in this cozy holiday setting.

Holiday Harbor Cruise Aboard Lil’ Toot

Dec. 1–23
Step aboard the iconic Lil’ Toot for a holiday-themed harbor cruise. Decked out in festive decor, this charming water taxi takes guests on a scenic journey through Santa Barbara’s harbor. The friendly crew shares local history and insights into marine life while creating a cheerful holiday atmosphere. It’s a delightful way to see Santa Barbara’s waterfront while soaking up the magic of the season.

A poster advertising the Paseo Nuevo Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in red and green lettering, with stylized green Christmas trees flanking the lettering

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Paseo Nuevo

Dec. 1, 5–8 p.m.
Paseo Nuevo hosts its annual, beloved tree-lighting ceremony, a magical evening that kicks off the holiday season. Join Mayor Randy Rowse, Santa Claus, and DJ Darla Bea for an unforgettable night under the stars. The festivities include live music, snow flurries, and a Peppermint Parlor After-Party, where families can capture cherished holiday moments with photos and festive fun.

Holiday Tree Lighting at El Encanto

Dec. 4, 5–7 p.m.
Celebrate the start of the holiday season with a spectacular tree-lighting ceremony at El Encanto. Held on the Pacific Lawn, this event includes festive music, seasonal refreshments, and stunning ocean views. El Encanto's elegant ambiance makes it a truly magical event for families and friends looking to enjoy timeless holiday traditions.

Merry Miramar Event & Holiday Stroll

Dec. 5, 5–7 p.m.
Rosewood Miramar Beach invites you to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with a festive family celebration. Enjoy a holiday concert, visit with Santa Claus, and witness a California Coastal “snowfall.” Stroll through the property’s beautifully decorated grounds and take advantage of exclusive shopping opportunities from participating retailers. It’s a perfect way to combine holiday cheer with a touch of coastal elegance.

Holiday at the Ranch

Dec. 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Rancho La Patera and Stow House host Holiday at the Ranch, a festive event with something for everyone. Explore the historic Stow House, beautifully adorned for the season, and enjoy activities such as children’s crafts, tractor rides, and live music. Visitors can also shop for unique gifts at the local artisan market or indulge in delicious offerings from food trucks. Santa and his rein-goats make a special appearance, adding extra holiday magic.

38th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights

Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m.
Any list of Christmas events in Santa Barbara would be incomplete without mention of the annual Holiday Parade of Lights at the Santa Barbara waterfront. This treasured event showcases elaborately decorated boats gliding through the harbor, spreading holiday magic and a bit of yo-ho-ho from yuletide pirates. The evening culminates in a dazzling fireworks display that lights up the sky. Viewing spots include Stearns Wharf, the breakwater, and East Beach, offering picturesque vistas of the parade and fireworks.

Movie Nights at The Steward

Dec. 13, 19 & 20, 5–9 p.m.
Gather with loved ones for festive movie nights at The Steward’s garden lawn. Enjoy holiday classics like The Grinch and Home Alone in a charming outdoor setting. Guests should arrive early for happy hour, indulge in dinner at Terra restaurant, or relax by the cozy fireplace. These evenings provide the perfect combination of holiday cheer and cinematic delight.

Two young girls, a young boy, a snowman, and Santa wiuth snowflakes falling.

Snowfall at Rosewood Miramar Beach

Dec. 24, 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Experience the magic of a white Christmas at Rosewood Miramar Beach, where snow falls on the event lawn for some holiday merriment. Revelers can sip hot chocolate in this lovely setting, savor roasted chestnuts, and play in the snow. It’s a delightful way to enjoy a winter wonderland by the sea.

Menorah Lighting Ceremony

Dec. 25 – Jan. 2, 5 p.m.
Also, at Miramar Beach, everyone is invited to celebrate the Festival of Lights during Rosewood Miramar Beach’s nightly menorah lightings. This warm and inclusive event features traditional treats, stories of resilience, and a festive atmosphere that welcomes all.


Santa Barbara truly shines during the holiday season, offering an abundance of activities that capture the joy and magic—Santa Barbara style. Another Christmas event in Santa Barbara, and one that promises to give you cause to celebrate year-round, is finding your perfect new home. The holiday season may not be the most traditional time to buy a house, but it can actually be one of the most strategic. While others are busy decking the halls, savvy buyers can take advantage of unique opportunities in the real estate market. As a top real estate agent with numerous accolades, I invite you to explore the exceptional listings on my comprehensive website, then call me at (805) 886-9378 or email me at to arrange a tour.


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“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch