Community Calendar

In its 41st year, the Santa Barbara Vintners Festival is truly the Original Santa Barbara Wine Festival.

Don’t miss the opportunity to taste wines from 60+ wineries and sample regional cuisine from dozens of restaurants, chefs, and food producers, while strolling through the picturesque vines at Vega Vineyard and Farm. Chat with the winemakers and winery owners and enjoy live music from Generic Clapton. At the Rio Vista Chevrolet Bubble Lounge, sample sparkling wines from some of the region’s top producers.

An Early Entry Admission ticket grants access to the festival at noon, 60 minutes prior to General Admission tickets, providing the opportunity to interact more personally with winemakers, owners, and chefs in a more spacious, open, and uncrowded environment.

Join us for the 10th Annual Santa Monica Playhouse BFF Binge Fringe Festival of FREE Theatre, Oct 14 – Nov 16, the only FREE Fringe Festival in the nation, offering over 36 plays, workshops and family-oriented events. What’s on for BFF SATURDAY matinees?

Oct 18: ATYPICAL GRACE- Marilynn runs a weekly support group for parents of children struggling with learning disabilities – challenges related to ADHD, math, reading and more. These parents are as diverse as their children’s needs, but Marilynn meets them with empathy, while also exploring her own journey of forgiveness and breaking generational patterns. Written & Performed by Maria Fagan Hassani, Director, Developer & Character Coach Heather Dowling; Produced by Jessica Lynn Johnson; Acting Coach Christinna Chauncey Rated: 12+

Oct 25: WILL POWER SHAKESPEARE HOUR - The California Shakespeare Company perform scenes, sonnets and soliloquies from the greatest plays by the world-famous Bard. All ages are invited, especially students, teachers and anyone who enjoys great theatre and great literature. The show is followed by a 60-minute Shakespeare workshop. Come for the show, stay for the workshop; or just come for one or the other.

Nov 1: JANE AND THE MAGIC ALBUM– A fun and educational musical for kids and families about Jane, a girl who discovers a Magic Album that brings to life historical figures like Shakespeare, Einstein and Sally ride. Almost full, but the show also live-streams throughout the festival. Streaming link can be found at SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com – great for all ages.

Nov 8: tHis Is Very IMPORTANT – Rahvaunia Johnson’s powerful, award-winning rollercoaster of “edutainment”—emotionally raw, surprisingly funny, and deeply moving. HIV is just one part of a larger story about love, stigma, identity, and resilience. You'll laugh, cry, relate—and leave forever changed. Created, Written & Performed by Rahvaunia Johnson. Directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson Rated 16+

Binge on Theatre this Fall – give your couch a rest!

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Ahmanson Foundation and Playhouse PALS.

Peek behind-the-scenes of our chocolate factory to get a high-level overview of the chocolate-making process, from bean to bar! This event is great for families, corporate groups, bachelorette weekends, and anyone new to chocolate or curious about where their food comes from. You’ll get to taste warm, flowing dark chocolate from our tempering machine, and you’ll get to sample our single origin 75% dark chocolate bars.

Santa Monica Playhouse is excited to present the 19th anniversary production of its modern Halloween classic, Oct 4 – 26 only. It’s the delectable Family Theatre Halloween musical for Kids 2 to 102 – the heartwarming Rudie-DeCarlo tale of the aptly-named Candy, a sweet young girl who learns some surprising lessons about life, love, laughter, and sugar, from a delightful array of characters who take her on a magical All Hallow’s Eve adventure. And you, the audience, help Cattypuss, Patty Patches, Lester the Jester and Fifika the French Fortune Teller save Halloween for one more year.

Helmed by Playhouse Artistic Director Chris DeCarlo, with book, music & lyrics by DeCarlo, Evelyn Rudie & Matthew Wrather, the ingenious costumes are created by award-winning designer Ashley Hayes, with production and multi-media design by James Cooper and The Attic Room. ABSOLUTELY HALLOWEEN features internationally acclaimed Actors’ Repertory Theatre members Celeste Akiki, Isabel Lindley, J.T. Melaragno, Cydne Moore, Joseph Perez, Charlotte Robinson, Graham Silbert and Megan Wright. Birthday parties, hosted by gaily-costumed members of the ABSOLUTELY HALLOWEEN Company, are available in conjunction with every performance. It’s Around Town’s “Favorite Pick!” It’ll be yours, too! Saturdays, 2pm, Sundays 12:30, October 4-26 only.

Meet Me at the Museum: Community Portraits by Star Montana is a free, two-day event in celebration of the farmworker and migrant communities that make up the Central Coast region of California. Join Los Angeles-based artist Star Montana to participate in representing the beauty and diversity of our community in celebration of the people who sustain us all. Photography is sacred, and everyone deserves a beautiful portrait with their family, friends, pets, or by themselves.

“It would be my honor to photograph you, capture your magic and make memories.”
— Star Montana

Participants will receive one free 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) printed photograph per session, and an optional digital copy to an email address provided at the event. The photograph will be available the same day, after a wait time of up to 30 minutes. All participant information is confidential. Photography will remain private unless the participant agrees to share their image publicly. Hosted at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum at UC Santa Barbara, this event is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Mexican Prints: The Garcia-Correa Collection, on view at the AD&A Museum until December 7, 2025.

Star Montana is a photo-based artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. She was born and raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles, which is predominantly Mexican American and serves as the backdrop to much of her work. Her work has recently been exhibited at Charlie James Gallery (2019, 2016); Residency Art Gallery (2018); LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (2018); Occidental College (2017); The Mexican Center for Culture and Cinematic Arts at the Mexican Consulate General of Mexico (2017); The Main Museum (2017); Ballroom Marfa (2017); and Vincent Price Art Museum (2016). She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Art from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the School of Visual Arts, and an Associate of Arts in Photography from East Los Angeles College

Encontrémonos en el Museo: Retratos Comunitarios por Star Montana es un evento gratuito de dos días que celebra a las comunidades de trabajadores agrícolas y migrantes que conforman la región de la costa central de California. Acompañen a la artista Star Montana, residente en Los Ángeles, para representar la belleza y la diversidad de nuestran comunidad y celebrar a las personas que nos sustentan. La fotografía es sagrada y todos merecen un hermoso retrato con su familia, amigos, mascotas o en solitario.

“Sería un honor fotografiarlos, capturar su magia y crear recuerdos.”
— Star Montana

Los participantes recibirán una fotografía impresa de 4 x 6 pulgadas (10 x 15 cm) gratuita por sesión y una copia digital opcional a la dirección de correo electrónico proporcionada durante el evento. La fotografía estará disponible el mismo día, después de un tiempo de espera de hasta 30 minutos. Toda la información de los participantes es confidencial. La fotografía se mantendrá privada a menos que el participante acepte compartirla públicamente. Este evento, que se lleva a cabo en el Museo de Arte, Diseño y Arquitectura de la Universidad de California en Santa Bárbara, se presenta en conjunto con la exposición Gráfica Mexicana: La Colección García-Correa, que se exhibe en el Museo AD&A hasta el 7 de diciembre de 2025. Star Montana es una artista fotográfica que vive y trabaja en Los Ángeles, California. Nació y creció en el barrio de Boyle Heights, en el Este de Los Ángeles, una zona predominantemente mexicoamericana que sirve de escenario a gran parte de su obra. Su obra se ha exhibido recientemente en la Galería Charlie James (2019, 2016); la Galería de Arte Residencia (2018); la Plaza de Cultura y Artes de Los Ángeles (2018); el Occidental College (2017); el Centro Mexicano para la Cultura y las Artes Cinematográficas del Consulado General de México (2017); el Museo Principal (2017); el Salón de Baile Marfa (2017); y el Museo de Arte Vincent Price (2016). Tiene una Maestría en Bellas Artes en Arte de la Universidad del Sur de California, una Licenciatura en Bellas Artes en Fotografía de la Escuela de Artes Visuales y un Título Asociado en Artes en Fotografía del East Los Angeles College.

Join us for the 10th Annual Santa Monica Playhouse BFF Binge Fringe Festival of FREE Theatre, Oct 14 – Nov 16, the only FREE Fringe Festival in the nation, offering over 36 plays, workshops and family-oriented events. What’s on for BFF SATURDAY AFTERNOONS?

Oct 18: MAFIA ANONYMOUS: THE WOMEN SPEAK - Nella leads a women’s Mafia Anonymous group — a place where secrets unravel and stories are finally spoken. Rumors have long circulated that Nella’s father did business with the Mafia. She’s here to set the record straight... or is she? Pina brings to life the voices of many, as she channels the raw, untold stories of women entangled in the shadows of organized crime — with humor, grit, and heart. Written & Performed by PINA – Fiction Based on Truth. 21+

Nov 1: RAG DOLL ON A BOMB SITE – A BFF MUSICAL SELECTION - On opening night of The Threepenny Opera, Kurt Weill demands the show be canceled—Lotte Lenya’s name is missing from the program. Desperate to perform, she relives her traumatic past through emotional songs and haunting dances. Sung. Danced. Lived. But will it be enough to change his mind? “Shelley Cooper weaves a poetic spell that really does create a sense that you’re watching Austrian-American actress Lotte Lenya make her way in 1928 Berlin.” Book, Lyrics, Composer, Choreographer & Performer Shelley Cooper; Director & Developer Kelsey Miller; Developer & Producer Jessica Lynn Johnson. 16+

Nov 8: ADOPTED BY APPALACHIANS – Featuring Special Agent Fox Mulder from The X-files to serve as mentor and partner to our young detective in her investigation, and Appalachian Queen Dolly Parton as the musical narrator, this show turns the Whodunnit genre on its head. A Mystery Solo show set in a time before DNA technology, AKA the 90's in the rural South, that follows a young detective who wants to believe in the paranormal but gets sidetracked by the real life cold case to uncover her true identity. Written & Performed by Paulina Combow; Produced by Jessica Lynn Johnson; tech/art Producer Luis Villanueva. 13+

Binge on Theatre this Fall – give your couch a rest!

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Ahmanson Foundation and Playhouse PALS.

It’s 1895: a new generation of Americans is coming of age and looking for trouble! In the barrooms and bordellos of St. Louis, New Orleans, Atlantic City – “loafing places”, as some disgruntled townie may have called them – something new and uniquely American is cooking up. Young piano players are melding southern country dances with lowdown blues with European classical, and the result is called: Ragtime, an infectious syncopation which will shape the sound of American music to come.

Award-winning pianist Eve Elliot is your raucous guide into this colorful world, with its infuriating injustices and thrilling triumphs. You’ll meet some of our story’s heroes – and villains – and get a glimpse into their lives and music. Expect plenty of hilarity and vaudevillian antics as we delve into questions like: Who kidnapped Fats Waller? Why did Jelly Roll Morton own so many suits? How did Scott Joplin uphold his artistic vision amid a slew of rejection? What does “funky butt” mean?

Embrace the duality of this elevated art form birthed by the underworld of vice. Surrender to the “weird and intoxicating effects” of delicious live ragtime and stride piano. Celebrate the lives of these debonair and debaucherous pioneers – from the national fame and fistfuls of hundred dollar bills, to the alcoholism and fatal venereal disease. And experience their music, which traveled from the 10-cent whorehouses to Carnegie Hall.

Concerts in the Gallery is an exceptional program of performances by outstanding singers and musicians. The concerts take place within the main gallery at Studio Channel Islands, creating a unique and intimate setting for sumptuous musical performances.

The series is programmed by composer/conductor Don Harper and concert pianist Armen Guzelimian; drawing upon their extensive connections with international performers, each concert is a celebration of the rich variety music making around the world.

The Good Good Show is Santa Barbara's longest running monthly stand up comedy show featuring the best comedians working today that you've seen or heard on Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel, Amazon Prime, FX, The Problem with Jon Stewart, Funny or Die, Sirius XM and more.

FEATURING: Feicia Folks, Alexa Loftus, Jeff Frame, Julie Weidmann and Serafina Costanza.

Come have some laughs with us and enjoy a delicious craft beer (wine available too)!

7:30 p.m. $10

Show is 21+

2025/26 Joint Season Opener
Saturday, October 18 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 19 | 3:00 PM

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

A love forbidden. A love immortal. The greatest moments from Prokofiev’s greatest ballet—the ardent Romeo and Juliet performed with grace and passion by dancers from State Street Ballet on the Granada stage. These concerts—and the season—begin as Nir Kabaretti and the Santa Barbara Symphony perform Shostakovich’s spirited Festive Overture and Rachmaninoff’s Men’s Dance from the Opera Aleko.

The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
State Street Ballet
Santa Barbara City College Brass

Repertoire
SHOSTAKOVICH | Festive Overture
RACHMANINOFF | Men’s Dance from the Opera Aleko
PROKOFIEV | Romeo & Juliet, Acts 1 & 2 (with dancers from State Street Ballet)
Visit for more: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/state-street-ballet/

Tickets start as low as $35 (does not include Granada fees).