Guide to Thanksgiving Weekend in Santa Barbara
Happy Thanksgiving from the DK Group! This week, we put together a guide to making the most of Thanksgiving weekend here in Santa Barbara. Whether you’re looking for fun family activities, shopping, or ways to give back to the community, we’ve got you covered!
Outdoor Activities: Burn some Thanksgiving calories off with one of the many fun outdoor activities Santa Barbara has to offer.
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Hiking: Santa Barbara is home to beautiful trails perfect for walking and hiking. We recommend Tunnel Trail, which is especially beautiful after the rain.
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Rock Climbing: With the rainy cold weather, you may find yourself wanting to stay indoors. Luckily, the Santa Barbara Rock Gym allows you to get a unique workout while staying out of rain.
- Thanksgiving Day 4-Miler: The annual Thanksgiving 4-Miler run is flat and fast course in Goleta taking place Thanksgiving morning. Register Thursday from 7-8:45 AM. Race starts at 9:05 AM.
Thanksgiving Outings: Looking to spend time with friends and family outside of the dining table this holiday? Here are some fun family friendly outings you might want to try.
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Courthouse Tower: Tour Santa Barbara’s iconic Courthouse and take in the stunning views from the tower. A perfect outing for anyone visiting from out of town to get a taste of Santa Barbara’s beauty.
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Holiday Pop-Ups: Some restaurants and bars will be hosting holiday themed pop-ups, with festive food, drinks, and merchandise. Miracle at Pearl Social, Nightmare Before Christmas at Shaker Mill, and the Winter Chalet at the Canary are a pop-ups that you can enjoy starting this weekend!
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The Santa Barbara Zoo: The SB Zoo will be open this Thanksgiving day and through the weekend. Don’t miss their special Zoo Lights event, where you can see beautiful light up displays throughout the Zoo.
Shopping Local: Black Friday deals are everywhere this holiday weekend, but we wanted to share some local shopping favorites so you can get holiday shopping done early while still supporting local.
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Mosaic Makers Market: This local event features a diverse lineup of local artisans selling a wide selection of handcrafted products, perfect for gift giving. Open Saturday, November 30th.
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A Crimson Holiday: Another collection of local artists offering handcrafted goods and gifts at La Cumbre Plaza.
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Small Business Saturday: Join Downtown Santa Barbara in celebrating and supporting local businesses this Saturday November 30th, and throughout the holiday season. Several stores and restaurants will even be offering special deals and gifts, including Kaarem, Anna Janelle, and the Blue Owl.
Giving Back: Thanksgiving is a time to express our gratitude and give back to the community. Here are some local nonprofits you may consider donating to this season.
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Santa Barbara Food Bank: This year we donated 10 Turkeys to the Santa Barbara Food Bank for families in need. Watch our interview with the Food Bank here to find out more about their organization and how to give back this holiday.
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Unity Shoppe: The Unity Shoppe provides residents in need with essentials like groceries, clothing, job training and more. Watch our interview with Unity Shopper here.
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Channelkeeper: Channelkeeper is dedicated to protecting and restoring the SB Channel through science-based advocacy, education, field work, and enforcement. Click here to watch our interview with Channelkeeper.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving weekend filled with joy, gratitude, and of course-delicious food!
