The city of Santa Maria is inviting local families out to the third annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 5. The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department along with The People for Leisure and Youth Inc. (PLAY Inc.) will provide cocoa and cookies and even welcomes Christmas carolers to the event. Local cancer survivor […]
Arts
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Library offers holiday songfest
The Santa Maria Public Library is offering a live concert by Craig Newton, who will bring his stash of instruments for a Holiday Songfest. The concert will include sing-a-longs, audience participation, and holiday music from different cultures. The show is open to children ages 5 and above. Newton’s songfest happens Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. […]
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Lompoc Theatre Project holds a fundraiser
The Lompoc Theatre Project will hold a fundraiser event on Dec. 12 and present a preview of the future plans for the old theater. The event will include Montemar wines paired with fire-cooked pizzas by John Martinez to accompany a presentation by Mark Herrier, president of the nonprofit’s board of directors, who will speak about […]
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The Great American Melodrama offers family friendly holiday stagecraft
The bustling fun of the Great American Melodrama is always present from the moment the longtime theater’s doors open and the already costumed actors whisk you away to your seat. The magic of the Melodrama is amplified during the holiday season as the theater welcomes more actors to the stage and decks the humble hall […]
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The Poetic Justice Project explores incarceration with commedia dell’arte
Humor has always been a powerful tool against hardship. Even in the toughest of experiences, a well-timed joke can relieve the tension, ease the pain, make us think, and transform our feelings. The Poetic Justice Project (PJP) is a live theater group made up of formerly incarcerated individuals who collectively use stagecraft to transcend and […]
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Local youth win at Paderewski Festival
The annual Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles welcomed youth from across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey Counties to compete in a classical solo piano competition honoring the name of famous Paso Robles musician, landowner, and wine maker Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Several local youth from SLO and Santa Barbara counties left the competition with […]
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Transitioning with art
Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) has launched a new enterprise, the Growing Grounds Gallery and Gifts, which is run in the same spirit as the association’s Growing Grounds Farm. The art gallery and gift store is run entirely by TMHA client/employees, and the artwork displayed and sold is made by members of Recovery Learning Communities, with […]
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Gifts of nature in Solvang
The Wildling Museum in Solvang is offering a Holiday Marketplace event for locals seeking naturally inspired artwork and gifts for the holiday season. The event happens Dec. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Wildling Museum following Solvang’s annual Julefest Parade. The event will have a couple of family arts and crafts classes, including […]
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Kiwanis will serve up cocoa at Santa Maria Christmas Parade
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria Valley and the Kiwanis Sponsored Leadership Youth Clubs will be preparing and serving fresh hot cocoa at the Santa Maria Christmas Parade on Dec. 6 along with the parade as it proceeds down Broadway beginning at 4:30 p.m. Club members will be selling 12 ounce cups of hot cocoa […]
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Everybody Can Dance and Santa Maria Civic Ballet features local students and parents performing ‘The Nutcracker’
The Everybody Can Dance Studio has educated fantastically trained and skilled dancers thanks to longtime owner and teacher Diane Zink for more than 20 years. The school has always provided a couple of public performances every year, including the favorite holiday production of The Nutcracker, which is a tradition of ballet programs across the globe. […]
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The Santa Maria Civic Theatre offers hilarity in ‘The Foreigner’
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre began its 56th season strong with its production of the heartfelt play The Dixie Swim Club, but that was just a warm-up for the next and current production, The Foreigner by Larry Shue. The ensemble of actors and backstage crew members completely embrace and embody the hilarious romp, and the […]
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PCPA’s ‘Christmas is Here Again’ is an original family holiday adventure
Once the swirling snow globe of wonder that is PCPA’s Marian Theatre shuts its doors, the lights dim on its 51st season’s debut holiday production, and the magic of the season comes alive. The original, new musical features a fantastical heroine’s journey that begins and ends with the joyous spirit of the Christmas season, from […]