Thanksgiving is 21 days away.
This is a big, easy weekend with three days of carnival rides and music in Buellton, the fall native plant sale at the Botanic Garden, a free family movie under the stars in Ojai, and half marathon runners to cheer along the waterfront on Sunday. One heads-up before you plan Saturday: the Museum of Natural History is closed all day Saturday, though the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf is open as usual. All times Pacific. Check the organizer's page before you leave, since plans can change with the weather.
The Shortlist
Buellton Fall Fest
Friday, November 6, 4 to 10 PM; Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8, noon to 10 PM. Avenue of the Flags, Buellton.
Free to get in, with carnival rides and games, food, makers, and more than 40 bands on two stages. Friday night is an 80s and 90s dance party, Saturday is reggae night, and Sunday is Fiesta Sunday followed by country night. Unlimited ride wristbands are $35 plus a $3 fee online until Thursday, November 5, at 10 PM, and $43 at the gate, so buy them the morning this lands. Most rides need kids to be 42 to 52 inches; the little ones' rides start at 36 inches.
Event page: https://www.buelltonfallfest.com/
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale
Saturday, November 7. Public shopping from 1 PM. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road.
The big fall sale of California native plants, and a nice one to do with kids who like to pick out their own plant for the yard. You need a free timed reservation, which covers one car and one hour, so book ahead. Members shop early, 9 to 11 AM, with 10% off. Service animals only.
Event page: https://sbbotanicgarden.org/classes-events/fall-plant-sale-2026/
GROW at the Ojai Film Festival
Saturday, November 7, 6:30 PM. Libbey Bowl, 210 S. Signal Street, Ojai.
The festival's free outdoor screening, followed by a conversation with Ojai writer Nick Guthe. Free for the first 400 adults and kids 12 and under, so reserve your seats on the festival site. Bring a blanket; it gets cool in the Bowl after dark. The festival notes its schedule is still tentative.
Event page: https://ojaifilmfestival.com/
Salute To Our Heroes
Saturday, November 7, 10 AM to 3 PM. Estrella Warbirds Museum, 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles.
A full day of airplanes, fire trucks, police cars, military vehicles, a car show and paratrooper drops, plus a kid zone and local food. Admission is $15, and veterans and kids under 12 get in free. Your ticket covers the warbirds museum and the auto display next door. It is a drive, but a great one for kids who love anything with wheels or wings.
Event page: https://www.salutetoourheroes.org/
Ventura Pet & Reptile Expo
Saturday, November 7, 10 AM to 5 PM; Sunday, November 8, 10 AM to 4 PM. Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Boulevard, Ventura.
Snakes, lizards, turtles and small pets, up close. Adults $15, kids 4 to 12 $10, and 3 and under free. Parking is $10.
Event page: https://venturacountyfair.org/event/ventura-pet-reptile-expo/2026-11-07/
Santa Barbara Half Marathon weekend
Saturday, November 7, 10 AM to 2 PM, Palm Park Festival at the Chase Palm Park Great Meadow (Casa Las Palmas), by Shipwreck Park. Sunday, November 8, half marathon starts at 7 AM and the 5K at 8:30 AM at Cabrillo Boulevard and State Street.
Saturday's festival has a cheer card making station and activities for all ages, free. On Sunday, bring the cards and cheer from the sidelines. The kids' fun run is listed as sold out, but they usually don't turn anyone away. Waterfront roads close Sunday morning, so plan around them if you are heading anywhere near Cabrillo.
Event page: https://santabarbarahalf.com/palm-park/
Ellwood Butterfly Rescue Tree Planting
Saturday, November 7, 8:45 AM to 1 PM. Ellwood Mesa, Goleta. Park at the Coronado Butterfly Preserve lot and walk in.
Help plant native trees to bring back the monarch grove. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and it starts with a safety talk, coffee and doughnuts. Wear long pants, long sleeves, a hat and closed-toe shoes, and bring water. Gloves are provided if you don't have your own.
Event page: https://ellwoodfriends.org/events/ellwood-butterfly-rescue-tree-planting-event
Bilingual Storytime at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Sunday, November 8, 11 to 11:40 AM. Art Learning Lab, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State Street.
Stories in English and Spanish for little ones, and it comes with free museum admission, so stay and wander the galleries after. Free.
Event page: https://www.sbma.net/events/bilingual-storytime-nov-2026
Parents’ Night Out
Santa Barbara Fall Tasting Festival. Saturday, November 7, 2 to 5 PM (early entry at 1 PM), Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol. Wine and food tastings on the Museum grounds. $125, or $165 for early entry. 21 and up with ID, no children.
Tickets: https://www.sbnature.org/visit/calendar/9128/santa-barbara-fall-tasting-festival
Rigoletto, Opera Santa Barbara. Friday, November 6, 7:30 PM, and Sunday, November 8, 2:30 PM, Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Cañon Perdido Street. Verdi in Italian with English captions, about 2 hours 20 minutes.
Event page: https://www.lobero.org/events/rigoletto-osb-26-27/
Psychedelic Symphony 2: Take Another Trip. Saturday, November 7, 7:30 PM, The Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street. The Santa Barbara Symphony with the Doublewide Kings, plus a 60s and 70s costume contest. Limited tickets are still available.
Event page: https://www.granadasb.org/psychedelic-symphony-2-take-another-trip/
Godmothers Gather. Friday, November 6, 6 to 7 PM, Dr. Joe Dispenza with Jennifer Rudolph Walsh; Saturday, November 7, 6 to 7 PM, Danny Meyer. Godmothers bookstore, 2280 Lillie Avenue, Summerland. No refunds, and the doors lock 15 minutes after the start.
Saturday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/godmothers-gather-danny-meyer-tickets-2000526910843
Boots in the Vines. Saturday, November 7, 3 to 7 PM, Zaca Mesa Winery, 6905 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos. Live country music and line dancing with lessons, ranch-style food included.
Event page: https://solvangcc.com/events/boots-in-the-vines/
Additional Events
Friday, November 6
Wiggly Storytime at Oak Park. 10:30 to 11 AM, with Library on the Go at the park 10 AM to noon. A short outdoor movement storytime for ages 0 to 5. No fee listed.
Chess Club at the Central Library. 2:30 to 4 PM, Faulkner Gallery, 40 E. Anapamu Street. All ages, drop in.
Read to a Dog. 3:30 to 4:30 PM, Island Room, Central Library. Young readers read aloud to a patient therapy dog.
Sensory Friendly Storytime. 4:45 to 5:15 PM, Central Library. A calmer, smaller storytime. Registration required.
Library calendar: https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/events/day/2026/11/06
Saturday, November 7
Carpinteria Arts Center Arts & Craft Faire. 10 AM to 4 PM, Koch Courtyard, 865 Linden Avenue, Carpinteria. Local artists selling pottery, woodwork, jewelry, fiber art and more. No fee listed.
Faire page: https://carpinteriaartscenter.org/marketplace
Driftwood Wall Hanging workshop. 10 AM to noon, Carpinteria Arts Center. Open to adults or a parent and child pair, who make a fiber art wall hanging together on a piece of Carpinteria driftwood. $50, or $45 for members.
Workshop page: https://carpinteriaartscenter.org/2026FallDriftwood
Community Baby Shower: New Parent Resource Fair. 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Michael Towbes Upper Plaza, Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu Street. Resources for new and expecting parents. No fee listed. Note that the library's Saturday Explore Together is cancelled this week.
Library calendar: https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/events/day/2026/11/07
Sea Center. Open 10 AM to 5 PM at 211 Stearns Wharf while the main Museum is closed for the day.
Sunday, November 8
Sea Center and Museum Backyard storytimes. Sea Center storytime at 10:30 AM and Museum Backyard storytime at 11:30 AM. Included with admission. The Museum also lists the Sea Center opening at noon Sunday because of half marathon road closures, so check before you go.
Museum calendar: https://www.sbnature.org/visit/calendar/
Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival, closing day. The festival closes Sunday, November 8 at the SBIFF Film Center, 916 State Street.
Festival: https://www.sbjewishfilmfestival.org/
Worth the Drive
Queen of Arts at Elverhøj Museum, Solvang. Friday, November 6, 3 to 6 PM preview with music and bites; Saturday, November 7, 10 AM to 3 PM. 1624 Elverhoy Way. Free, with more than 20 local makers. An easy pairing with Buellton Fall Fest next door.
Event page: https://elverhoj.org/queen-of-arts-copy/
Paderewski Festival, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. Friday to Sunday, November 6 to 8. The family picks are the Youth Competition Winners' Concert, Saturday at 3 PM, and the Youth Cultural Exchange Concert, Sunday at 11 AM, both at the Park Ballroom in Paso Robles, with young pianists front and center. Reservations are through the festival schedule page. The weekend closes out Saturday night with the SLO Symphony gala at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo.
Schedule: https://www.paderewskifest.com/schedule-of-events/
Ojai Film Festival. Through Monday, November 9. Beyond GROW on Saturday night, Friday brings Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone with a screening of The Boss at 4 PM, and Bill Pullman at 7 PM, both at the Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue. Reserve on the festival site.
Festival: https://ojaifilmfestival.com/
Looking Ahead
Presidio Harvest Festival. Saturday, November 14, noon to 3 PM.
Event page: https://www.sbthp.org/events
Santa Barbara Zoo IllumaNature. Opens Wednesday, November 11.
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11.