Tigers. Clowns. Men in top hats. This year in arts reporting was quite a circus, in all the right ways. Between one edge of the Sun’s coverage area to the other, 2024 was full of visually compelling art displays and equally dazzling live performances. There’s even still time to catch some of them before the […]
Arts
Stone Pine Hall holds concert benefit for the Lompoc Theatre Project
There’ll be church pews and stacking chairs but no standing room for guests of an intimate concert, set to bring a handful of rock, roots, and country acts to Stone Pine Hall in late December. With a capacity limit under 100, the historic building—previously a First Church of Christ Scientist Reading Room—is hosting the show […]
Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast holds annual youth art exhibit
A showcase of art by young members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast opened at the Santa Maria Town Center on Dec. 13 and is scheduled to remain on display through the end of December. Every year, the local Boys & Girls Clubs organization hosts activities related to the National Fine […]
Floral design students and teachers from Santa Maria and Nipomo contribute to Rose Parade
On Dec. 7, more than 100 floral design and advanced floral design students and teachers from Santa Maria High School, Pioneer Valley High School, and Nipomo High School’s FFA programs joined forces with Kiwanis International and the Phoenix Decorating Company to help prepare floats for this year’s Rose Parade in Pasadena, aka the Pasadena Tournament […]
PCPA’s Beauty and the Beast is a sweeping spectacle
Certain as the sun The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) presents its production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Marian Theatre through Dec. 22. Visit pcpa.org for tickets or more info. The Marian Theatre is located at 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. If there’s one tale as old as time that ages particularly […]
Pryor Baird and supporting acts hold acoustic holiday shows in Orcutt and Atascadero
As Christmas approaches, so do two chances to see Pryor Baird live in concert without venturing outside of the Central Coast. The prolific blues and country musician with local roots, widely known for his time on NBC’s The Voice, will perform in Atascadero on Friday, Dec. 20, at 6:30 p.m., and in Orcutt on Saturday, […]
Friendly Neighborhood Big Band holds two free Christmas concerts in Nipomo
Holiday music fans can look forward to two upcoming Christmas-centric performances in Nipomo from the Friendly Neighborhood Big Band—one outdoors and the other indoors. The group will hold a free outdoor concert in a residential area, on the driveway of 755 Honey Groove Lane, Nipomo, on Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. Attendees […]
Ebenezer Scrooge and Princess Aurora take the stage at the Great American Melodrama
Selling fast Get tickets to the Great American Melodrama’s Holiday Extravaganza show running until Dec. 31 at americanmelodrama.com. Changing leaves, crisp mornings, and Christmas music on the radio all mark the holiday season’s approach. For theater lovers on the Central Coast, the Great American Melodrama’s annual Holiday Extravaganza is another holiday harbinger. Playing until Dec. […]
Orcutt playwright debuts holiday show, Turkey Boy, at the SLO Library
Performances of Turkey Boy: A Christmas Carol Addendum will be held in the San Luis Obispo Library’s Community Room on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. on both evenings. Written by Orcutt local Weston Eric Scott, this original play follows a child actor who has played Tiny Tim in his local […]
Craft & Create welcomes winter with December DIY painting events
Get crafty Craft & Create is located at 446 Alisal Road, suite 11, Solvang. Owned by Art Spot on Wheels, this DIY lounge is open Sundays and Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from noon to 5 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (805) […]
Riptide Big Band welcomes 2025 with free Noon Year’s Eve concert
The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club and Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department are partnering to co-host a free New Year’s Eve celebration, albeit about 12 hours earlier than most parties designed to ring in 2025. The Noon Year’s Eve Celebration Dance will take place at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria […]
Lompoc’s Cabrillo High School choir participates in upcoming Cal Poly recital
Cal Poly Choirs presents its annual Holiday Kaleidoscope Concert at the Performing Arts Center in SLO on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. The college’s four student choirs will be accompanied by members of the Cal Poly Symphony and additional guest artists. The event will also feature performances from the Cabrillo High School student choir […]

