Santa Barbara County Weekend Events, Nov 13

It's a big arts weekend in Santa Barbara. The Symphony takes on Symphonie Fantastique at the Granada, the Lobero has modern dance on Saturday and William Christie's Les Arts Florissants on Sunday, and Spring Awakening plays Center Stage. Add two SOhO nights, a free star party and a full slate of Gaucho home games.

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

Lead Picks

Santa Barbara Symphony: Symphonie Fantastique!: Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at the Granada.
Doug Varone and Dancers: Two shows Saturday at the Lobero.
Les Arts Florissants: Monteverdi on Sunday afternoon at the Lobero.
Gladys Knight: Friday at Chumash Casino Resort.

Stage and Symphony

Santa Barbara Symphony: Symphonie Fantastique! (our pick)

When: Sat Nov 14, 7:30 PM; Sun Nov 15, 3 PM; pre-concert chats Sat 6:30 PM and Sun 2 PM
Where: The Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: thesymphony.org

Nir Kabaretti conducts Debussy, Poulenc's Gloria with Devon Guthrie and the Symphony Chorus, and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.

UCSB Arts & Lectures: Doug Varone and Dancers

When: Sat Nov 14, 2 PM and 7 PM
Where: Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara
Cost: $57–$72, including the Lobero facility fee; online and phone orders add $3 per ticket
Info: lobero.org

Double Octet, set to Philip Glass, and No Matter How It Ends, set to Radiohead.

UCSB Arts & Lectures: Les Arts Florissants, The Magic of Monteverdi

When: Sun Nov 15, 4 PM
Where: Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: lobero.org

William Christie and Paul Agnew lead the French Baroque ensemble in Monteverdi madrigals.

Spring Awakening in Concert

When: Fri Nov 13, 8 PM; Sat Nov 14, 2 PM and 8 PM; Sun Nov 15, 3 PM
Where: Center Stage Theater, Santa Barbara
Cost: VIP $50, general admission $40, students and seniors $30 (plus a $2 online fee); students under 18 free with ID, in limited numbers per show
Info: centerstagetheater.org

Out of the Box Theatre's concert staging of the rock musical. Not recommended for anyone under 14 because of mature themes.

UCSB Theater & Dance: All My Sons

When: Fri Nov 13, 7:30 PM; Sat Nov 14, 2 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Nov 15, 2 PM
Where: Performing Arts Theater, UCSB
Cost: Free admission; reserve seats online
Info: theaterdance.ucsb.edu

A UCSB Theater & Dance production of Arthur Miller's drama.

Live Music at SOhO

Doctor Wu: The Music of Steely Dan

When: Sat Nov 14, 6:30–8:30 PM
Where: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St., Santa Barbara
Cost: Dinner reservation packages sold out; standing-room tickets (back bar) $33.54 online including fees, or $35 cash at the door day of show
Info: tickets.sohosb.com

A tribute to the music of Steely Dan. Dinner packages are sold out, but standing-room tickets are still available.

SB Acoustic: Sonny Leyland Trio

When: Sun Nov 15, 7:30 PM
Where: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St., Santa Barbara
Cost: $30 cash at the door; dinner reservation plus concert tickets available online
Info: tickets.sohosb.com

SB Acoustic's Sunday-night concert at SOhO.

Art and Night Sky

SBMA Fall Opening Party (21+)

When: Fri Nov 13, 6–8 PM
Where: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara
Cost: SBMA members $10 (includes one drink ticket); non-members $20; drink tickets $10
Info: sbma.net

Celebrate the museum's three new fall exhibitions, including Cassatt & Friends.

Star Party

When: Sat Nov 14, 7:30–10 PM
Where: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Cost: Free; no tickets or registration needed
Info: sbnature.org

The museum's monthly night of stargazing, open to all ages. Don't arrive before the start time.

Gauchos Home Games

UCSB Men's Soccer: Big West Championship Final

When: Fri Nov 13, 7 PM, vs. CSU Bakersfield
Where: Harder Stadium, UCSB
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: ucsbgauchos.com

The conference title is on the line at Harder.

UCSB Volleyball and Basketball

When: Women's volleyball Fri Nov 13, 7 PM, vs. Sacramento State, and Sat Nov 14, 7 PM, vs. Utah Valley (Senior Night); women's basketball Sat Nov 14, noon, vs. California; men's basketball Sun Nov 15, 1 PM, vs. UC Merced
Where: The Thunderdome, UCSB
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: ucsbgauchos.com

Four home games at the Thunderdome in three days.

Santa Ynez Valley

Gladys Knight

When: Fri Nov 13
Where: Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez
Cost: Check site for tickets
Info: chumashcasino.com

The Empress of Soul in the valley. Check the casino's page for the show time.

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 13 to 15, 2026