When: August 30, 2025 at 8:45 P.M. - 10 P.M.
Where: Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara | 33 West Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Santa Barbara. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen vs. ABBA at The New Vic / Ensemble Theatre Company under the gentle glow of candlelight, performed by String Quartet – Vapour String Quartet.

The tentative program includes:
Dancing Queen – ABBA
SOS – ABBA
Money, Money, Money – ABBA
Voulez Vous – ABBA
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
I Want to Break Free – Queen
Killer Queen – Queen
Waterloo – ABBA
Super Trouper – ABBA
Mamma Mia – ABBA
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
We Will Rock You – Queen
We Are the Champions – Queen
Gimme Gimme Gimme – ABBA

When: August 30, 2025 at 6:30 P.M. - 7:45 P.M.
Where: Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara | 33 West Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara. Get your tickets now to discover Vivaldi and more at The New Vic / Ensemble Theatre Company under the gentle glow of candlelight, performed by Listeso String Quartet.
The tentative program includes:
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 1 RV 269: Spring – Vivaldi
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2 RV 315: Summer – Vivaldi
Thaïs: Méditation – Jules Massenet
The Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas: Verano Porteño – Astor Piazzolla
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 3 RV 293: Autumn – Vivaldi
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 4 RV 297: Winter – Vivaldi

When: August 30, 2025 at 11 A.M. - 2 P.M.
Where: Brander Vineyard | 2401 Refugio Road Santa Ynez, CA 93460

Are you looking for something unique to do in Santa Barbara County Wine Country? Why not join Art Spot on Wheels at the picturesque Brander Vineyard in Santa Ynez to grab a glass of wine and a paintbrush?! You’ll spend the afternoon sipping delicious wine and capturing the beauty of the landscape on canvas.
This painting in the vineyard classes provide a beautiful, stress-free environment that will both inspire your creative spirit and indulge the wine-lover in you. Don’t consider yourself an artist just yet? Don’t worry. Their trained artist will walk you through the entire painting process step-by-step. No previous painting experience necessary. You’ll be amazed at what you can create in just a few hours- even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush in your life!

When: August 30, 2025 at 7:15 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Where: Twenty-Four Blackbirds | 428 E Haley Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Attendees begin with a welcome drink before receiving a brief introduction to the bean-to-bar dark chocolate-making process. They then decorate their own 75% dark chocolate bars with local ingredients such as flowers, fruit, salt, and spices.

While the bars are setting, guests enjoy a 20–30 minute chocolate truffle tasting experience, paired with their choice of perfectly matched wines or non-alcoholic beverages to enhance the flavors. Each custom chocolate bar is packaged to take home in a beautiful, resealable Twenty-Four Blackbirds pouch. Perfect for date night or simply for fun, this delicious experience offers something for everyone.

The event is designed for adults but may be suitable for a mature and curious child aged 10 and up. Attendees should consider the length of the class, as most of the event involves standing, listening, and using fine motor skills. If registering someone under 21, this should be noted at the time of sign-up.

When:  August 30, 2025 at 7 A.M. - 2 P.M.
Where: CAYA Restaurant | 5650 Calle Real Goleta, CA 93117

Get a $20 bottle of house sparkling with complimentary OJ for Mimosas at CAYA Restaurant.

When: August 31, 2025 at 6 P.M. - 9 P.M.
Where: Test Pilot  | 211 Helena Ave Santa Barbara, CA 93101

This Labor Day weekend, the party is on at Good Lion Hospitality’s Test Pilot as Santa Barbara’s favorite tropical cocktail bar turns nine! Pull out your fanciest apparel and dive into the island spirit with anniversary cocktails featuring Diplomatico Rum, a festive photo booth to capture the night, and dance the night away while DJ Persian Housecat spins beats. With tiki vibes, strong pours, and a crowd ready to celebrate, it’s the ultimate way to toast nine unforgettable years in the Funk Zone!

When: August 31, 2025 at 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Where: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History | 2559 Puesta Del Sol
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Step into an immersive, hands-on exploration of the cosmos where Earth’s rhythms meet celestial forces. This new space sciences experience invites visitors of all ages to discover the astronomical phenomena that shape life on our planet, including tides, Moon phases, gravity, meteorites, and more. Authentic space rocks, experiential soundscapes, and striking planetary models create an interactive environment that brings space science to life.

With curiosity about the cosmos growing throughout the community, this timely exhibit offers a personal and engaging way to connect with the universe. Visitors can also enhance their experience with a journey through the stars in the adjacent planetarium or observe the Sun up close during daily solar viewing sessions, weather permitting.

When: August 31, 2025 at 12 P.M. - 2 P.M.
Where: El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park | Pico Adobe at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park

Join this free poetry workshop and tasting event in the Presidio Neighborhood! Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin and Gunpowder Press invite the community to create poetry inspired by Santa Barbara County’s food, drinks, restaurants, and agriculture for a new anthology. After a workshop led by Yatchisin, participants will enjoy bites at Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant, sip local sparkling wine at Loubud Wines, and savor a Chumash sweet treat at The Space—Su’nan Protection, Art & Cultural Education.

When: August 24, 2025 at 10 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.
Where: Condor Express Whale Watching | 301 W. Cabrillo Blvd.rnSanta Barbara Landing dock in the Santa Barbara Harbor

Join the Condor Express on an island whale watching trip to see the amazing wildlife in the Santa Barbara Channel. Come see dolphins, humpbacks, blues, and minke whales. This 4.5 hour trip will give you the opportunity to see these amazing animals as they move through the channel. Over 27 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises come to the channel each year to feed, mate and frolic… which makes Santa Barbara one of the best year round whale watching areas in the world. Trips depart at 10 am and return around 2:30 pm daily on the Condor Express, one of the finest whale watching vessels in the world.