Santa Barbara County is embracing the holiday spirit, with parades, Christmas tree lightings, pictures with Santa and more.

From Santa Barbara to Santa Maria, no matter where you are, you can find some way to join in on the holiday joy.

Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Eastside Society is sponsoring the Milpas Street Holiday Parade scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The parade will start on De la Guerra Street and then travel down Milpas Street to Mason Street.

On Sunday, Dec. 10, residents can enjoy a tree lighting on Stearns Wharf at 5 p.m. before the 37th annual Harbor Parade of Lights. At 5:30 p.m., 30 boats decked out with lights and decorations will sail from Leadbetter Beach to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion at East Beach and back to Stearns Wharf. The city is hosting a brief fireworks show after the boat parade. The wharf, the harbor breakwater, West Beach and East Beach are recommended viewing spots for the parade and fireworks.

Now through Jan. 14, the Santa Barbara Zoo is hosting a Zoolights event every day from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. More than 50,000 LED bulbs were used to transform the zoo into an after-dark exhibit showcasing animals and nature scenes from around the world. Tickets are $32 for adults and $30 for kids (zoo members save $2).

Goleta

The Goleta Holiday Parade will be on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The parade will feature dozens of holiday floats, dancers and bands in the heart of Old Town Goleta. The parade route will be on Hollister Avenue from Orange Avenue to Kinman Avenue.

Residents can meet Santa and his “rein-goats” at Rancho La Patera and Stow House on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Holiday at the Ranch. Along with meeting Santa, guests can expect live holiday music, tractor rides, crafts, and food trucks. Tickets for children ages 2 to 12 are $5; tickets for adults are $10.

Buellton

Sunday, Dec. 3 is Buellton’s annual Winter Fest. Visitors are available to have breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. General admission is $15, tickets for children ages 6 to 12 re $5, and tickets for kids age 5 or younger are free.

In the afternoon, guests can expect a Holiday Village in Village Park from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Holiday Village will include 20 tons of snow, vendors, music, beer and wine. The festivities will wind down after 7 p.m. with a Christmas tree lighting. 

Solvang

Solvang has plenty of things to do this holiday season, starting with a Christmas tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The lighting will include ballerinas, dancers and caroling. The lighting will be at Solvang Park at First Street and Mission Drive.

The Julefest parade will be on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. with a theme of “My Favorite Christmas Movie.” The parade will include floats, bands, horses and more. More than 400 participants will be strolling down Solvang’s main avenues for the public to enjoy for free. 

Solvang will be celebrating all season long with the annual Solvang Julefest now through Jan. 6. There will be daily activities, including a free light and music show in Solvang Park and a daily citywide hunt for Nisser (Christmas elves), which are hiding throughout downtown Solvang. For hints on finding the Nisser (Danish for gnome), head to the Solvang Visitor Center.

Los Olivos

For an Olde Fashioned Christmas, the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce is hosting an afternoon of celebration on Dec. 2 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The free event will include lights, a tree lighting, a holiday market, and treats. There will be holiday music and singers with free roasted walnuts, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate

Santa Maria Valley

The parade of lights will be Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5:20 p.m. Hosted by the Santa Maria and Nipomo Rotary clubs, the parade will be on Broadway and will travel from Enos Drive to Main Street. For the parade, Highway 135 will be closed to through traffic from Enos Drive north to Highway 166 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., according to Caltrans.

Old Town Orcutt will have its own parade on Dec. 9 at noon. The parade originally started in 1961 by the volunteer fire department. Today, the parade is organized by volunteers and the Orcutt Lions Club. 

Lompoc

Lompoc’s Children’s Christmas Season Parade will be held Friday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as this year’s theme. The parade will start on H Street and proceed to Ocean Avenue and then south to I Street. After the parade, residents can enjoy a Christmas tree lighting, cookies, hot chocolate and visiting Santa at Centennial Park.