December 1st Thursday

Holiday Dreams are Answered at December’s 1^st Thursday!

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.– Visit Downtown Santa Barbara for an evening filled with FREE art, culture, music and fun! 1^st Thursday on December 1^st will include more than 40 cultural art venues eager to show off exciting new exhibits, welcoming artist receptions, intriguing demonstrations and energetic live music.

The holiday season is in full force at this month’s 1^st Thursday. Delightful holiday music is streaming through your head, shopping hours have been extended and holiday cheer is popping up everywhere you turn. Start off your holiday 1^st Thursday at Fast Frame Santa Barbara where local artist Chris Potter will feature his plein air landscape painting that makes the perfect gift for a loved one. Potter will be painting under the holiday tree lights on State Street next to Fast Fame from 4-6pm. Stroll on over to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art where Quire of Voyces will be performing choral music of the renaissance and modern age at 6:30pm in Ludington Court. Skip on over to Sullivan Goss to view the annual exhibit, 100 Grand which is a great time to make fine art a part of life for someone you love during the holiday season. In true holiday spirit, 33 Jewels will feature artwork of Dream Foundation recipient, Michael Orchowski. Orchowski is in the advanced stages of ALS and has a wish to have an art exhibit of this work. Stop by to help fulfill Orchowski’s dream as all proceeds will be donated to the Dream Foundation. Continue over to theSanta Barbara Historical Museum to view their exhibit Treasures: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collections. A historical carousel will be available for small children and as well as live holiday music by The Holiday Horns for all to enjoy.

While 1^st Thursday offers extraordinary exhibits and paintings indoors, be sure to check out the performance art and live music outdoors. The Santa Barbara Drama Club will be strolling up and down State Street providing yuletide cheer through the joy of music and short theater skits. The Santa Barbara Revels will present highlights from this year’s production The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice on Marshall’s Patio. Be sure to check out the Holiday Tree Decorating station on the patio where you can help deck the halls with handmade ornaments for two community holiday trees. Continue over to Casa de la Guerra to view a wall-sized photography show by Ciro Coelho titled Travelbooks: Sao Paulo. Wrap up your festive 1^st Thursday at the Paseo Nuevo Center Court as you enjoy the sounds of the Adam Phillips Band that will perform a holiday set of music. Not sure where to begin your evening? The Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative will lead a curated Art Crawl that will begin at Wall Space Gallery at 113 West Ortega Street at 5:30pm.

All of these attractions and many more are FREE during 1^st Thursday on December 1^st. With over 40 stops on this month’s 1^st Thursday map, there is sure to be something for everyone. For more information and a complete listing of the specific programming offered at each gallery as well as all public performances and interactive exhibits, go to www.santabarbaradowntown.com.