Santa Barbara, CA

The holidays are very festive indeed in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. It's the best time of the year to eat, drink and be merry in this relaxing small town by the sea! Visit this coastal community during the months of November and December to catch live performances, twinkling lights and parades - there's even a boat parade! The 10 destinations on this list of the best holiday attractions in Santa Barbara will get the whole family in the Christmas spirit, from little Susie to grumpy Uncle Joe. 

Perfect weather, beautiful buildings, excellent bars and restaurants, and activities for all tastes and budgets make Santa Barbara a great place to live (as the locals will proudly tell you) and a must-see place for visitors to Southern California. Check out the Spanish Mission church first, then just see where the day takes you.

Brush up on your SB expertise with these quick Santa Barbara travel tips — all of which will help you make the most of your time here.

It’s December and there is so much going on in Santa Barbara this time of the year! From holiday markets and parades to wine tours and concerts, there is something for everyone in the American Riviera. If you still need gift ideas, don’t forget about Santa Barbara Adventure Company’s gift certificates…who doesn’t want a kayaking trip in the Channel Islands or a wine and bike tour for Christmas? As the year comes to a close, we would like to wish all of our friends and guests a happy and healthy holiday season. Enjoy the events below, cheers!

The Santa Barbara local's favorite tour for admiring the amazing Holiday light displays around town! Relax on one of our open air trolleys as we take to you all of the breathtaking holiday lights around town on this 90-minute ride.

More than 65,000 spectators lined State Street in anticipation of Santa Barbara’s only nighttime parade, the 65th Annual Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Parade, Presented by Consumer Fire Products Inc! Officially kicking off the holiday season, this signature Downtown Santa Barbara event brought a colossal contingent of high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday-themed floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and our amazing Grand Marshal, Noah Wyle! The Holiday Prince and Fairy, selected from winning artwork best capturing the parade theme, led the parade and lit up the community Christmas tree on their way down the parade route.

Santa Barbara December events calendar provided by local beachside b&b, The Eagle Inn.

Answer 1 of 24: My wife and I are going to Santa Barbara for 4 nights over Christmas. It's our first visit to Santa Barbara. What are some of the attractions and things to do worth recommending? Any recommended restaurants? My wife is a vegetarian. Are there...

Looking to spend December in Santa Barbara? We're like the rest of the counry, but with fewer layers and more beach days.