Santa Barbara County Weekend Events, Nov 6

Santa Barbara County has a full weekend: runners take over the waterfront on Sunday for the SB Half Marathon, Buellton's Avenue of the Flags hosts a free fall festival, and the first Santa Barbara Invitational Concours rolls into Montecito. Add opera at the Lobero, a Fall Tasting Festival at the Museum of Natural History and live music around town, and you won't run out of options.

Plans change, so check the organizer's link before you head out. Ticket prices and times can shift, and we've flagged anything we couldn't confirm.

Lead Picks

Santa Barbara Half Marathon & 5K: Sunday along the waterfront. Expect road closures near Cabrillo Blvd and State St.
Buellton Fall Festival: Free admission Fri–Sun on the Avenue of the Flags, with live music each night.
Santa Barbara Fall Tasting Festival: Saturday afternoon at the Museum of Natural History.
Santa Barbara Invitational Concours: A first-year car event, Nov 7–8 at the SB Polo & Racquet Club.
Opera Santa Barbara: Rigoletto: Friday and Sunday at the Lobero.

Waterfront and Festivals

Santa Barbara Half Marathon & 5K

When: Sun Nov 8: half marathon 7 AM, 5K 8:30 AM, finish-line festival 9 AM, kids' fun run 10:30 AM; packet pickup Fri Nov 6, 2–6 PM and Sat Nov 7, 10 AM–2 PM
Where: Start near Cabrillo Blvd. and State St.; finish festival on Yanonali St.; packet pickup at Chase Palm Park Great Meadow
Cost: Registration price not listed; check site
Info: santabarbarahalf.com

Funk Zone music runs all weekend, including Friday at 6:30 PM at Validation Ale and Friday and Saturday 7–10 PM at Figueroa Mountain Brewing. Expect waterfront road closures on Sunday; the Museum of Natural History says its Sea Center opens at noon that day.

Buellton Fall Festival

When: Fri Nov 6, 4–10 PM; Sat Nov 7, noon–10 PM; Sun Nov 8, noon–10 PM
Where: Avenue of the Flags, Buellton
Cost: Free admission; rides and tasting are ticketed (check site for prices)
Info: buelltonfallfest.com

Friday is 80s/90s night with 90s Babiez and the Molly Ringwald Project. Saturday brings Ales on the Avenue (separately ticketed) and Reggae Night with Arise Roots. Sunday is Fiesta Sunday & Country Night.

Santa Barbara Invitational Concours

When: Sat Nov 7: Montecito driving tour and Sunset Soirée 4–6:30 PM; Sun Nov 8, 9 AM–4 PM
Where: Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club
Cost: Free for ages 16 and under, students 17–21 with ID, and military; otherwise check site for tickets
Info: sbinvitational.org

The first year for this concours, with a driving tour through Montecito and a Sunday show. Ticket prices vary between sources, so use the tickets page.

Santa Barbara Fall Tasting Festival (21+)

When: Sat Nov 7, 2–5 PM (early entry 1 PM)
Where: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Cost: $125 general admission; $165 early entry
Info: sbnature.org

A tasting festival at the museum. It's likely to sell out, and the museum is closed to regular visitors Saturday.

Queen of Arts

When: Fri Nov 6, 3–6 PM (preview with wine); Sat Nov 7, 10 AM–3 PM
Where: Elverhøj Museum, Solvang
Cost: Free
Info: elverhoj.org

An art show with more than 20 artists.

Carpinteria Arts & Craft Faire

When: Sat Nov 7, 10 AM–4 PM
Where: 865 Linden Ave., Carpinteria
Cost: Admission not stated; check site
Info: carpinteriaartscenter.org

A Saturday arts and craft faire in Carpinteria.

California Home Show

When: Sat Nov 7, 10 AM–8 PM; Sun Nov 8, 10 AM–5 PM
Where: Exhibit Building, Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara
Cost: Free with online registration; $10 at the door; children free
Info: earlwarren.com

A weekend home show at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Check the link for parking details.

Stage and Screen

Opera Santa Barbara: Rigoletto

When: Fri Nov 6, 7:30 PM; Sun Nov 8, 2:30 PM
Where: Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara
Cost: Price not published; check site for tickets
Info: lobero.org

Verdi's classic at the Lobero, with one Friday evening and one Sunday matinee this weekend.

Wild and Free Film Festival

When: Fri Nov 6–Sun Nov 8
Where: Camino Real Cinemas, Goleta
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: wildandfreefilm.org

A weekend film festival at Camino Real Cinemas. The official lineup includes Nuisance Bear. Opening-night timing and ticket prices come from local news listings, so confirm on the festival site.

Terrace Martin

When: Fri Nov 6, 7:30 PM
Where: Campbell Hall, UCSB
Cost: Check site for tickets. The official buy page said "not currently on sale" as of Mon Nov 2, so call the box office at (805) 893-3535 before you go
Info: artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Terrace Martin with a six-piece ensemble.

Anything for Salina's: US #1 Selena Tribute

When: Fri Nov 6; time not posted
Where: Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: chumashcasino.com

A Selena tribute at the casino. The official page doesn't list the time, price or room yet, so check before you go.

Live Music at SOhO

Canyon Calling: A Laurel Canyon Tribute and Joni Mitchell Birthday Night (21+)

When: Sat Nov 7, doors 7 PM, show 8 PM
Where: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: tickets.sohosb.com

A Saturday night tribute to the Laurel Canyon sound, with a Joni Mitchell birthday theme. Advance and door prices differ between listings, so check the link.

Santa Barbara Jazz Society: Jeremy Siskind with Lia Booth

When: Sun Nov 8, 1–3:30 PM; all ages
Where: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara
Cost: Cash only: $25 non-members, $20 members, children under 16 free
Info: tickets.sohosb.com

A Sunday-afternoon jazz matinee from the SB Jazz Society.

Gauchos Home Games

UCSB Men's Basketball vs. Oakland

When: Sat Nov 7, 1 PM
Where: The Thunderdome, UCSB
Cost: $15–$20 single-game tickets; check site for tickets
Info: ucsbgauchos.com

Gauchos hoops at home on Saturday afternoon.

UCSB Women's Volleyball

When: Fri Nov 6 (check site for time); Sat Nov 7, 7 PM
Where: The Thunderdome, UCSB
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: ucsbgauchos.com

Two home matches this weekend. Friday's start time differs between the Gauchos and Big West sites, so confirm before you go.

Wine Country and Beyond (per local listings, confirm before you go)

Boots in the Vines

When: Sat Nov 7, 3–7 PM
Where: Zaca Mesa Winery, Los Olivos
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: solvangcc.com

A Saturday afternoon at Zaca Mesa. Details come from the Solvang Chamber listing.

Zaca Lake: Back to the Lake

When: Sat Nov 7, 3–9 PM
Where: Zaca Lake
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: eventbrite.com

Dinner and music from ZB Savoy (Willie Nelson songs). Details come from the Eventbrite listing.

Michelin Chef Series at Bacara (Lulio)

When: Fri Nov 6 and Sat Nov 7, 5–9 PM
Where: Bacara Resort & Spa, Goleta
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: santabarbaraca.com

An evening with the Michelin Chef Series, with JUSTIN wine pairings. Details come from the Visit Santa Barbara listing.

Vikings in the Vineyard

When: Sat Nov 7, 5–9 PM
Where: Vega Vineyard, Buellton
Cost: Cost not listed; check site
Info: syvalleyfoundation.org

A school fundraiser in the vineyard. Details come from the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation page.

Psychedelic Symphony 2

When: Sat Nov 7 (check site for showtime)
Where: Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: granadasb.org

The Granada confirms the date, with the Doublewide Kings and the Santa Barbara Symphony. Showtime and prices come from local news, so confirm on the Granada's page.

More Weekend Guides

Have a Santa Barbara event we should know about? Send it our way, and enjoy the weekend.

This Weekend in Santa Barbara County: Nov 6 to 8, 2026