ARTOBER
October 1-31
Breathing life into Santa Barbara once again this fall, arts, music, dance, and theater all star in a stunning line-up throughout the entire month of October. From the launch of highly-anticipated seasons from the Santa Barbara Symphony, Granada Theatre, and Lobero Theatre, to concerts by award-winning musicians and art shows, locals of all ages and interests can look forward to a diverse cultural season.
Read below about each participating ARTOBER organization to learn about what programs, events and activities they are offering in October along with the dates, times and links to tickets if applicable.
Explore the Cultural Season
AIA SB ArchitecTours 2024
October 5, 10 AM (self guided tour), 4 PM (party)
The American Institute of Architects, Santa Barbara is proud to announce our 15th annual ArchitecTours, a celebration of exceptional local architecture, showcasing the design and depth of knowledge of AIASB architects.
This year’s tour will include several unique residences: a modern ranch style home in Hope Ranch, a timeless masterpiece overlooking Santa Barbara, a contemporary residence on the Mesa, and a modern home that exemplifies preservation and sustainability. In addition, tour-goers will also have the opportunity to visit the Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Environmental Hub. All projects on the tour demonstrate the beauty of Santa Barbara’s signature indoor-outdoor lifestyle and the diversity of our built environment. You will receive a tour brochure and/or app with maps, photos, and info detailing all the projects. Meet architects and design professionals and discover how design impacts art and art impacts design.
Snarky Puppy
October 1, 6:30 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
Are they a jazz orchestra, a funk band or a jam-based collective? With Snarky Puppy, the answer is all of the above. Rousing solos, dueling drummers and a rotating roster of elite musicians keep the funk fires burning whenever this powerhouse ensemble comes to town.
André 3000
October 4, 8:00 PM
André 3000’s New Blue Sun LIVE performances are a mesmerizing blend of musical exploration and raw emotion, showcasing his unique artistry. Joined on stage by Carlos Niño, Surya Botofasina, Nate Mercereau and Deantoni Parks, the group’s masterful instrumentation captivates audiences with the same approach to how New Blue Sun was formed – inspired by the present moment and alive with the surroundings. The stage is set ranging between an intimate atmosphere and sensory grandeur. New Blue Sun LIVE is more than a concert; it’s a sonic odyssey that leaves fans both enchanted and reflective; reaffirming André 3000’s status as a visionary in contemporary music.
Salman Khan
October 5, 4:00 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
The visionary behind educational nonprofit Khan Academy, Salman Khan offers a prescient and practical look at how we can use AI to make education even more accessible and to enhance human intelligence and potential.
Mavis Staples & The War and Treaty
October 8, 7:30 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
Civil rights icon Mavis Staples is one of the most recognizable and beloved voices in American music. Grammy-nominated husband and wife Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter are a Southern soul duo known as The War and Treaty. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of deep soul and heart-wrenching gospel passion.
Intocable
October 11, 8:00 PM
Treinta Aniversario Tour
Aída Cuevas
October 20, 7:00 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
With a voice that has earned her multiple Grammys and avid fans all over the world, Aida Cuevas incarnates the spirit of Mexico in this evening of music in the mariachi tradition.
Eslabon Armado
October 12, 8:00 PM
La Mafia
October 27, 8:00 PM
Fall for the ARTS
October 18, 5:00 PM
Program:
One unforgettable evening that showcases the fusion of art, music, food, libations, and curated retail experiences at participating businesses throughout the district!
Don't miss "Fall for the ARTS" on Friday, October 18, 5-8pm! The community is invited to come together to celebrate and support the businesses in the ARTS District in one unforgettable evening that showcases the fusion of art, music, creatives, food, libations, curated retail experiences and so much more.
This free and inclusive, district-wide showcase welcomes all businesses (members and non-members welcome) to participate in this one-night affair to spotlight something new or special about their business this Fall that guests will be able to experience as they stroll around the ARTS District that evening from place to place, discovering what each business has to offer! Whether it’s something cultural, musical, theatrical, seasonal or beyond, the goal of this event is to offer something for art aficionados, foodies, and cultural enthusiasts alike around the district in one special night.
CAMA Presents Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Jaime Martín, Music Director, with Thomas Bauer, Baritone
October 21, 7:30 PM
The Granada Theatre
Program:
Haydn: Symphony No.6 in D Major, “Le Matin”
Mahler (arr. Schoenberg): Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (“Songs of a Wayfarer”)
Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D Major
Off-Broadway Hit "DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS"
Previews on October 10 at 7:30 PM & October 11 at 8:00 PM
Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM; with added performances on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, October 19 at 3:00 PM, Wednesday, October 23 at 2PM and Saturday, October 26 at 3:00 PM.
Presented by the Ensemble Theatre Company
By Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen - Directed by Jamie Torcellini
Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC), Santa Barbara’s only professional theatre company and a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), is dying to announce the first production of its 2024/2025 season, the hilarious Off-Broadway hit comedy with plenty of bite, DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS, written by Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen and directed by Jamie Torcellini.
Ever wondered what would happen if you took Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale and put in into a blender with the comedic influences of Mel Brooks, Monty Python and The 39 Steps? That’s just what happens in this lightning-fast, laugh-out-loud 90-minute gender-bending, quick-change magical romp. Famed female vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing and her motley company chase Count Dracula from the English countryside to Transylvania to “other frightening places.” Their antics brim with enough tongue-in-cheek mayhem to fill your cup of giggles. DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS will perform from Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 27, 2024 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 12 at 8:00pm) at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria Street.
MOMIX: Alice
October 1, 7:30 PM
Presented by American Theatre Guild
Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. “I don’t intend to retell the whole Alice story,” Pendleton says, “but to use it as a taking off point for invention.” Join this dazzling company on a mind-bending adventure, as Alice encounters time-honored characters including the undulating Caterpillar, a lobster quadrille, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and a variety of other surprises. Filled with visual splendor and startling creative movement, Alice reveals that nothing in MOMIX’s world is as it seems!
The Granada Centennial All-Star House Band
October 5, 7:30 PM
The Very Best of Santa Barbara Musical Talent up close and personal on the Granada Stage! Six amazing Santa Barbara vocalists... Morganfield Burnette, Miriam Dance, Jackson Gillies, Hunter Hawkins, Lois Mahalia, and Tina Schlieske. Backed by a group of exceptional musicians with deep roots and a strong connection to Santa Barbara. Granada Board member and world-class guitarist Tariqh Akoni, and beloved Santa Barbara musician Randy Tico have brought together incomparable performers for a one-of-a-kind night of music and entertainment. AND...If the music moves you, there'll be room to dance!
Seats are limited, first come first served.
An Afternoon with Malcolm Gladwell
October 6, 3:00 PM
Twenty-five years after the publication of his groundbreaking first book, Malcolm Gladwell returns with a brand-new volume that reframes the lessons of The Tipping Point in a startling and revealing light.
Why is Miami…Miami? What does the heartbreaking fate of the cheetah tell us about the way we raise our children? Why do Ivy League schools care so much about sports? What is the Magic Third, and what does it mean for racial harmony? In this provocative new work, Malcolm Gladwell returns for the first time in twenty-five years to the subject of social epidemics and tipping points, this time with the aim of explaining the dark side of contagious phenomena.
Through a series of riveting stories, Gladwell traces the rise of a new and troubling form of social engineering. He takes us to the streets of Los Angeles to meet the world’s most successful bank robbers, rediscovers a forgotten television show from the 1970s that changed the world, visits the site of a historic experiment on a tiny cul-de-sac in northern California, and offers an alternate history of two of the biggest epidemics of our day: COVID and the opioid crisis. Revenge of the Tipping Point is Gladwell’s most personal book yet. With his characteristic mix of storytelling and social science, he offers a guide to making sense of the contagions of modern world. It’s time we took tipping points seriously.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
October 12, 7:00 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
Edward Gardner, Principal Conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin
Known for her fearless interpretations of both the established classical repertoire and avant-garde compositions, violin phenomenon Patricia Kopatchinskaja performs a powerful program with the uniquely groundbreaking and exhilarating London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tickets also available through UCSB Arts & Lectures
Brincos Dieras
October 13, 7:00 PM
Presented by / Presentado por Grupo Elite Entertainment, Inc.
Regresa el fenómeno de la comedia en todo Latino América: BRINCOS DIERAS! Con su nueva gira “ IRREVERENTE TOUR.” Vive una experiencia a carcajadas con un show SIEMPRE DIFERENTE. Acompañado por primera vez en los Estados Unidos por el comediante bicolor… KEVYN CONTRERAS, atrévete a reír con los personajes más auténticos en su género. Juntos te harán pasar una noche llena de diversión. NO TE LO PUEDES PERDER!!!
"Brincos Dieras!" is back with full force in their new tour "Irreverent Tour," promising to bring the comedy phenomenon to a whole new level across Latin America. This always-different show guarantees you an experience filled with laughter. Additionally, for the first time in the United States, they will be joined by the bicolor comedian, Kevyn Contreras.
Yotam Ottolenghi
October 14, 7:30 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures Spend a delicious evening with world-renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi as he shares his stories and influences from across the globe, discusses his new book, Comfort, and prepares one of his dishes live on stage. Tickets also available through UCSB Arts & Lectures
Tchaikovsky Immersion: The Story Behind the Fourth Symphony
October 19, 7:30 PM
October 20, 3:00 PM
Presented by The Santa Barbara Symphony
"Tchaikovsky poured his soul into his symphonies," says Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti. "Symphonies that would express his inner anguish and romantic passions as no music had ever dared to do." Join Nir Kabaretti and the Santa Barbara Symphony for an immersion into Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony on opening weekend. Nir takes you behind the notes to discover how this symphony came into being, the meaning of the motives, and the mystery woman who made it possible, followed by a performance of the work. (And learn even more at the pre-concert chats!)
Plus, the intoxicating, seductive sound of the classical guitar. Experience the greatest of all guitar concertos, Rodrigo's haunting Concierto de Aranjuez with the greatest classical guitarist of our time: Pablo Sáinz Villegas. Billboard Magazine declares: "It's safe to call him the global ambassador of Spanish Guitar."
Tickets - October 19
Tickets - October 20
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
October 21, 7:30 PM
Presented by CAMA
Jaime Martín, Music Director
Thomas Bauer, baritone
Founded in 1968 as an artistic outlet for the recording industry’s most gifted musicians, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) has spent the past six decades burnishing its reputation as “one of the world’s great chamber orchestras” (KUSC Classical FM) and as a major cultural force in Los Angeles. Since 2019, the esteemed Spanish conductor Jaime Martín has served as LACO’s Music Director, as well as Chief Conductor of both the Melbourne Symphony and Ireland’s RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Known for his insightful interpretations, Maestro Martín offers a superb concert program featuring two symphonic masterpieces, the Haydn No. 6 and Brahms No. 2, and Mahler’s exquisite Songs of a Wayfarer, sung by acclaimed German baritone Thomas Bauer, who critics and audiences agree is one of the most fascinating vocal artists of our time.
Dr. Jennifer Doudna
October 22, 7:30 PM
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures
Co-presented with Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara
Dr. Jennifer Doudna, who earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for co-developing CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering technology, will explore the groundbreaking tool's ethical implications and its applications in agriculture, environment and medical science.
Tickets also available through UCSB Arts & Lectures
Scheherazade and The Firebird
October 26, 7:30 PM
October 27, 2:00 PM
Presented by State Street Ballet
State Street Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Season launches with a dynamic double bill, Scheherazade and the Firebird. With live accompaniment by the Santa Barbara Symphony, Nir Kabaretti Music and Artistic Director, the enchanting scores of Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov conjure a fantastical Russian fairy tale and a fable of faraway lands. Witness two timeless tales of good and evil as exhilarating original choreography transports you to the mystical realms inhabited by our intrepid female protagonists.
“Perfection in conception and execution…. Art that devastates the senses.” - The Voice
Choreography by Autumn Eckman and William Soleau • Music by Igor Stravinsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov • Conducted by Nir Kabaretti
Tickets - October 26
Tickets - October 27
Joe Bonamassa
October 28, 8:00 PM
Presented by JR Affiliates LLC
Joe Bonamassa is one of today's top live performers. His enthusiastic shows are one of the biggest parts of his career, and a favorite for music lovers worldwide. Hailed internationally as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation and cited by Guitar World Magazine as “the world's biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa has almost single-handedly redefined the blues-rock genre and brought it into the mainstream. Backed by a stellar band of legendary musicians, the set list for this show which will feature new songs alongside career-spanning favorites. By exceeding his own vertiginously high artistic goals, Bonamassa has shattered all expectations with 27 #1 Billboard Blues Albums (more than any other artist in history). Bonamassa’s career in the music industry has built steadily over the years and is only gaining more momentum.
Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert – An Encore Performance
October 1, 7:30 PM
Presented by EARL MINNIS and the Lobero Theatre Foundation
The artist, otherwise known as Chan Marshall, delivers a song-for-song recreation of one of the most fabled and transformative live sets of all time. The original performance saw Bob Dylan switching from acoustic to electric midway through the show, drawing ire from an audience of folk purists and forever altering the course of rock-and-roll. Marshall’s spellbinding performance both lovingly honors her hero’s imprint on history and brings a stunning new vitality to many of his most revered songs.
Men are from Mars - Women are from Venus LIVE!
October 5, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Presented by Emery Entertainment
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Off-Broadway sensation, Men Are From Mars – Women Are From Venus LIVE! This uproarious show, a seamless blend of theater and stand-up, has been revamped for 2024. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom. Sexy and fast paced, this show is definitely for adults, but will leave audiences laughing and giggling like little kids!
A Tribute to Billy Joel with Billy Nation featuring Adam Shapiro
October 11, 7:30 PM
Presented by ADS MUSIC
A musical celebration of one of the best-selling artists of all time, Billy Nation engages audiences with a high energy authentic concert experience of three decades of Billy Joel’s hits. Shapiro as Billy Joel and his 6-piece band capture Billy’s stylistic range with ease. Complete with Billy’s signature grand piano, growling saxophone, rich harmonies, and audience engagement, Billy Nation will make you feel like you are experiencing one of Billy Joel’s concerts in his prime.
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall
October 12, 7:30 PM
Presented by Jazz at the Lobero
Music icon Herb Alpert, his GRAMMY® winning vocalist wife Lani Hall, and their incredible band perform an eclectic mix of American standards, Brazilian jazz, some Beatles, classic Tijuana Brass & Brazil '66 songs, as well as many surprises.
The show also features a giant video screen that displays hundreds of classic photos, videos and various memorabilia from Herb and Lani's music careers. The prolific trumpeter’s 49th studio album Wish Upon A Star, released in 2023, reached #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart, and Lani’s Season’s of Love reached the top 10. Featured Sponsor – Noozhawk.
Mariza
October 16, 7:30 PM
Presented by Jazz at the Lobero
A chart-topping superstar of the fado movement in Portugal, Mariza has had a global following since the early 2000s. The Multi-Platinum-selling singer, who’s received numerous national and international awards throughout her career, has distinguished herself by gradually incorporating elements from other folk and popular traditions into her music. Her latest album, Home, was released in September of 2023.
Volver
October 17, 7:00 PM
Presented by Tango Lovers
Fall in love with Argentina and Uruguay all over again with Tango Lovers’ electrifying production, VOLVER 2. This powerful version of the company’s acclaimed show features the legendary, multiple award-winning tango singer Guillermo Fernandez. Their captivating performance boasts a sensational cast and a mesmerizing orchestra led by the GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® winning maestro, Lautaro Greco.
Go To Hale: Quips & Clips – Positive Vibrations
October 19, 7:52 PM
Presented by Lobero LIVE, KTYD and Panda Man
In recognition of the Lobero Theatre’s 100th Anniversary, Hale Milgrim (former President/CEO of Capitol Records) and music lover Richard Salzberg (aka Music Maniac) will take you on a brand new musical journey. In keeping with the theme of ‘Positive Vibrations,’ rare concert footage curated from Hale and Richard’s private archives will be shown for one night only. Hale will also share personal stories from his years in the music industry and his relationships with many of the artists.
An Evening with Los Lobos, with special guest Molly Maher
October 25, 7:30 PM
Presented by EARL MINNIS and Lobero Theatre Foundation
For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.
Tina Schlieske Quintet’s The Good Life record release show
October 26, 7:30 PM
Presented by EARL MINNIS and Jazz at the Lobero
An icon in Minneapolis’ music scene known for rock and Americana, Schlieske unveils her latest musical journey, The Good Life. Teaming up with a stellar ensemble, the artist embarks on a transformative jazz odyssey. This album, featuring renowned musicians Cody McKinney, Pete Hennig, Bryan Nichols, Brandon Wozniak, and Jake Baldwin, is a departure into uncharted jazz territory – a nod to the lasting allure of jazz, ushering in a new era yet paying homage to its timeless roots. Laura Schlieske opens the show.
RATED GIGI 2.0, featuring Gigi de Lana & the Gigi Vibes
October 27, 6:30 PM
2024 Award winning USA-Canada Tour. Most anticipated digital queen, Gigi de Lana and her band Gigi Vibes Live in Santa Barbara! Featuring her newest hit single: Misteryoso!
Aimee Mann, with special guest Jonathan Coulton
October 30, 7:30 PM
One of the most distinguished singer-songwriters of her generation, Aimee’s successful solo career has spanned several decades with two GRAMMY® Awards, several GRAMMY® nominations, and the release of nine critically acclaimed solo albums – including the profoundly popular soundtrack for the film Magnolia, which garnered an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Song in 2000. Her latest release, Queens of the Summer Hotel, continues to showcase her exceptional songwriting and musical talent.
Day of the Dead Calenda in Santa Barbara
October 20, 3:45 PM
We are thrilled to announce that the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) will host our second Day of the Dead Calenda in Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art at 1130 State Street towards the Paseo Nuevo Arts Terrace. Calenda in Oaxaca is a traditional celebration that represents the expression of joy, the strengthening of family, community and personal bonds. This festive event will feature a range of traditional music and dances from the mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero such as the Banda de Viento de San Jorge de Oaxaca, Lico Music Academy, traditional dances from the Mixtec region of Oaxaca, Las Danzas de los Diablos and Rubios de la Mixteca Baja grupo Agua Azul from Santiago Juxtlahuaca Oaxaca, Danza de la Pluma San Pablo Guila and @Oaxacreation Monos de Calenda y más from the Heroic city of Ejutla de Crespo Oaxaca. The ceremony will begin at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s State Street entrance and will proceed towards the MCASB in the Arts Terrace at Paseo Nuevo, where we will have an altar of the dead, authentic Oaxacan cuisine, art vendors, and conclude with a thrilling dance party by the group Los Hijos de San Juan Mixtepec. All are welcome to participate in the Calenda and join the party. Don't miss out on this amazing community celebration!
Calenda del Día de los Muertos en Santa Bárbara.
20 de Octubre, 3:45 PM
Estamos encantados de anunciar que el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Santa Bárbara (MCASB) celebrará su segundo festejo de la Calenda en Santa Bárbara en colaboración con el Museo de Arte de Santa Bárbara (SBMA) en 1130 State Street hacia Paseo Nuevo Arts Terrace. La calenda en Oaxaca es una celebración tradicional que representa la expresión de la alegría, el fortalecimiento de la familia, la comunidad y los lazos personales. Este evento festivo contará con una variedad de música y danzas regionales de Oaxaca y Guerrero: Banda de Viento de San Jorge de Oaxaca, Lico Music Academy, Las Danzas de los Diablos y Rubios de la Mixteca Baja grupo Agua Azul de Santiago Juxtlahuaca Oaxaca, Danza de la Pluma San Pablo Guila y @Oaxacreation Monos de Calenda y más de la Heroica ciudad de Hejutla de Crespo Oaxaca. La ceremonia comenzará en la entrada del SBMA en la Calle State (“State street”) y continuará hacia el MCASB en la Terraza de las Artes en el centro comercial Paseo Nuevo, donde tendremos un altar de muertos, auténtica comida oaxaqueña, puestos de artesanía y acabaremos con un divertido baile a cargo del grupo Los Hijos de San Juan Mixtepec. Todos son bienvenidos a participar en la Calenda y unirse a la fiesta. ¡No te pierdas esta increíble celebración de la comunidad!
Pianos on State
October 1-20
Free
The 4th Annual Masq(p)arade! is Back!
October 18, 5:30 PM
The Masq(p)arade! performance progressive brings its dynamic musical celebration back to State Street for its fourth exciting year! Our talented lineup of performing artists incorporates whimsical masks and fancifully-painted pianos into a series of bite-sized shows, performed in succession in this imaginative, roving three-hour sequence. Put on your own wild mask and join us at the Pianos on State pianos in the heart of Santa Barbara's historic cultural arts district for an art-centric, interactive parade that is free of charge, full of surprises, and loads of fun! The 4th annual Masq(p)arade! takes place on Friday, October 18, 2024, with performances every fifteen minutes from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.
Project Fiesta! Centennial!
Open Wednesday – Sunday, noon to 5 PM, and Thursday 12 PM to 7 PM.
Closes November 1
Celebrating the Centennial of Old Spanish Days Fiesta
Santa Barbara's largest civic celebration, Old Spanish Days Fiesta, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. To commemorate this landmark event the Historical Museum is staging a special, enlarged edition of its annual Project Fiesta exhibition.
Through photographs and film, poster art and programs, costumes, and additional memorabilia from the Museum's extensive collections, Fiestas from years past will be brought to life - 100 years of memories.
Free admission.
1st Thursday
October 3, 5:00 PM
Join the Museum for wine, music and dance performances by local dancers from Timo Nuñez Arte Flamenco (6:00 pm) and Grupo de Danza Folklorico Quetzalcoatl (6:30 pm). All ages are welcome to enjoy the exhibition and entertainment.
Free. No RSVP required.
Flamenco Íntimo
October 10, 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM
Location: Covarrubias Adobe, Santa Barbara Historcial Musuem
Co-hosted by Flamenco! Santa Barbara.
Enjoy an intimate, authentic flamenco tablao in the museum's Spanish era adobe. The show will feature award-winning artists: dancer Timo Nuñez whose worldwide career began in Santa Barbara, guitarist Andres Vadin (Havana, Cuba) and singer Pepele Mendez (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain).
Family First Thursday
October 3, 5:30 PM
Bring the whole family to enjoy Teaching Artist-led activities in the Museum’s Family Resource Center. Design your own mini-folded clothes from book pages inspired by Isabel Barbuzza’s Re-Designing My Library (1989). Afterward, enjoy the galleries until 8 pm
Free Second Sunday
October 13, 11:00 AM
Enjoy Free Admission every second Sunday of the month for Tri-County residents (Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo). Join us during Free 2nd Sundays for stunning exhibitions, enriching programs, and a welcoming museum experience.
In Conversation with Karen Slack
October 4, 5:00 PM
Free with Museum Admission
Join us for an engaging discussion with acclaimed soprano Karen Slack, hosted by the Music Academy of the West’s Chief Artistic Officer Nate Bachhuber and SBMA’s Chief Curator James Glisson.
Mary Cassatt's Alterity and Her Radical Modernism
October 13, 3:00 PM
Art Matters Lecture with Hollis Clayson, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita of Art History and Bergen Evans Professor Emerita in the Humanities, Northwestern University.
Writing in the Galleries
October 19, 2:00 PM
Writers of all levels are invited to participate in this informal exploration of the Museum’s galleries as an impetus to writing.The October session is led by Luna Vallejo-Howard, she earned an MFA in Poetry from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana where she received the John Wood Award in Poetry and the Joy Scantlebury Award.
Opening Celebration for "Friends & Lovers" and "Accretion: Works by Latin American Women"
October 5, 6:00 PM
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Pacific Pride Foundation cordially invite you to the opening celebration for Friends & Lovers and Accretion: Works by Latin American Women. A performance by Mariachi Arco•Iris de Los Angeles, the world’s first LGBTQ+ mariachi, will open the evening’s festivities at 6 PM.
Sketching in the Galleries
October 12, 11:15 AM
All skill levels are invited to experience the tradition of sketching from original works of art in current exhibitions. Museum Teaching Artists provide general guidance and all materials.
Free Family Day
October 12, 11:00 AM
For the 34th year, the Museum honors the Mexican tradition of remembering the dead with a display of altars created by students in the Museum’s school and outreach programs and local community groups. Día de los Muertos inspired art activities for all ages will be offered on the Front Terrace and in the Family Resource Center.
Tchaikovsky Immersion - The Full Story Behind Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony
October 19, 7:30 PM
October 20, 3:00 PM
Asian American Neighborhood Festival
October 13, 11:00 AM
The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation presents the 15th Annual Asian American Neighborhood Festival; a free, family-friendly event celebrating the Asian American communities that once thrived in and around the Santa Barbara Presidio neighborhood. Come see an array of cultural performances featuring dancing, drumming, and more. Shop at local Asian American artisan booths, participate in cultural arts and crafts, and learn about Santa Barbara’s Asian American history at educational booths.
Performance Schedule
11:00am –11:30pm // Gamelan Sinar Surya
11:45am – 12:15pm // Camarillo Kung Fu and Lion Dance Association
12:15am – 12:45pm // Togen Daiko
12:45pm – 1:00pm // UCSBreakin’
1:00pm – 1:15pm // SS805
1:15pm – 1:45pm // Ojai O’Daiko
1:45pm – 2:15pm // Hula Anyone
2:15pm – 2:30pm // RBG Dance Crew
This event is sponsored by the George H. Griffiths and Olive J. Griffiths Charitable Foundation.
Unite to Light the Night, Glow Gala
October 18, 6:30 PM
Kick off Unite to Light the Night with an unforgettable evening at the Glow Gala! Immerse yourself in a world of dazzling art, captivating performances, and interactive experiences. Enjoy a stunning ballet performance, light painting, and craft cocktails—all while supporting a cause that lights up lives. Dress in your sparkliest attire and let the magic unfold!
More details and to buy tickets
Community Showcase
October 19, 5:00 PM
Gather your crew for an evening of creativity and exploration! With free admission, it’s the perfect family outing. Dive into hands-on activities with MOXI, create with Art From Scrap, and catch the Artist Talk at 6:30 PM. Don’t miss out on a night of art, learning, and fun!
Bright Bash
October 19, 8:00 PM
As the sun sets, the party heats up! Join us for the Bright Bash—a dazzling dance party among the art. With live DJs, interactive art carts, and glitter galore, this night promises to be a blast. Grab your tickets now and let the glow begin!
Why it matters: By joining us, you're supporting Unite to Light's mission to bring light and power to 750 million people living without electricity. Together, we can brighten the world—one light at a time.
More details and to buy tickets
