The holiday rush. Gifts to be bought, family in town, friends to spend time with. It can all feel a little overwhelming. If you are looking for a way to manage all this and more while also having a great time, look no further than the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) and Sea Center. They host a variety of events each year. Ranging from tours to pop-ups, they have it all. These local events provide community building experiences, while also informing you about its local ecosystems and culture. Kicking off the month of December is the annual Tribal Arts Pop-up!
Folk and Tribal Arts Pop-up
The Folk and Tribal Arts Pop-up takes place December 8-10 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. This event is the perfect opportunity to get some holiday shopping done. Artisans will be selling a variety of handmade goods including alpaca wool clothing, necklaces and other jewelry, room decor, and more. All shoppers receive free entry and this event provides a great opportunity to support both the local community as well as international artisans. Lots of cultures will be represented from Peruvian to Ugandan so make sure to come support.
Exhibit Tour: Three Billion Birds
Every Saturday at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., San Marcos alumni and current museum employee, Lucy London, leads a bird tour. Going through the Santa Barbara Gallery and Bird Hall, the tour discusses the relationship between birds and dinosaurs, and then dives deeper into current threats to birds. These tours will continue until December 16, so do not miss out!
“The bird tours were really fun to put together, and I am excited to share it with other people,” said Lucy London.
Star Party
Each month the museum hosts a spectacular Star Party, and this month is no exception! On Saturday December 9 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. the museum will have telescopes, binoculars, and astronomers out to help you take a better look at the night sky! Not to mention the Palmer Observatory which contains a 20-inch telescope. This event is completely free and is a wonderful way to enjoy the night sky. There are incredible views of planets, constellations, galaxies, and even the occasional meteor shower. Note: when foggy or rainy, this event may be canceled.
“I really like star parties, because there is this whole community of astronomers, and everyone is really excited to be there and share information, and it is completely free,” said senior Jordan Kowalewski.
Underwater Parks Day
On January 20, the Sea Center is hosting Underwater Parks Day. This annual event is celebrated by many aquariums in Southern California. Its goal is to celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s). The Channel Islands are a hot spot for marine biodiversity, and fortunately a large part of the ocean surrounding them is protected by MPA’s. Underwater Parks Day provides you with free entry to the Sea Center and lots of additional activities and pop-ups, as well as access to the newly renovated wet deck!
“They got the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) out and went around and looked at things under the wharf. It was cool. People from all over the community come and set up tables. It’s really fun,” said Lucy London.
Hopefully you get the chance to check out one or more of these upcoming events. And have a great holiday season!
