Daily Archives: November 5, 2025

Inaugural Wild & Free Film Festival in Goleta

Calling all film lovers and nature enthusiasts! We have a great weekend in store. The Wild and Free Film Festival (WAFFF) is almost here!  This weekend-long, first-time film festival is taking place in Goleta November 14th to 16th at the Camino Real Cinemas (7040 Market Place Drive).

The festival will showcase 30 films across three days, along with filmmaker Q&As, panels, receptions, and notable guests. All Festival Passes and Tickets are on sale now at wildandfreefilm.org/tickets. 

What to know:

  • All Access Pass Holders will receive priority entry.
  • Tickets and passes can be picked up at the info booth in front of the theatre.
  • Walk-up tickets are available for purchase, subject to availability and theatre capacity.
  • Block times and films are subject to change.
  • Community Sunday – All blocks free admission subject to theatre capacity.

There are many highlights to look forward to:

Opening Night, Friday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m., will feature the Central Coast Premiere of Checkpoint Zoo, directed by Joshua Zeman and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. The documentary follows a daring rescue led by a team of zookeepers and volunteers who risked their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in a Ukrainian zoo during the Russian invasion. Opening night is expected to sell out. An opening night reception will follow the film at the Santa Barbara Fish Market Goleta Courtyard, with music, light bites & drinks for all pass-holders and event ticket holders. 21+.

During the day on Saturday, November 15, there will be 19 films across six blocks. Block 1 starts at 10:00 a.m.

Saturday evening at 5:45 p.m. will feature the award-winning documentary How to Change the World — the story of the pioneers who founded Greenpeace and helped define the modern environmental movement. There will be a special event, marking the film’s 10-year anniversary and one of the film’s stars Rex Weyler, co-founder of Greenpeace International will be in attendance to receive the first Wild and Free Spirit Award. Weyler will also participate in a Q&A after the screening.

“We’re delighted to have Rex Weyler join us for this special anniversary screening,” said Gareth Kelly, Executive Director of the Wild and Free Film Festival. “The 1971 protest that led to the formation of Greenpeace was a pivotal moment in the environmental movement, and its legacy through this film, particularly in how these issues are presented by the media, continues today.”

This marquee Saturday night event will also include the WAFFF Awards honoring the best films of the festival.

Sunday is Community Day and includes free entry for all nine films across two blocks, including the World Premiere of Goleta’s own Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs film at 2:00 p.m.

For a full line up of all the films playing and more details go to www.wildandfreefilm.org.

Zip Books Program Returns November 19

The Goleta Valley Library’s popular Zip Books program will be resuming on Wednesday, November 19. In September 2025, the Library was notified it was the award recipient of $15,840 in Zip Books grant funds from the California State Library – an increase from its previous award of $15,327. This special program provides patrons with access to print and audio materials not owned in its library collection. New this year, eBooks and eAudiobooks will also be available by request to the California State Library through their Palace Project app.

The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries have been a recipient of this grant for several years. During the most recent grant cycle in Fiscal Year 2024/25, a total of 354 patrons were served and received 768 books and audiobooks through this program. Of the 685 Zip Books returned to the libraries, 363 titles were added to the circulating collections for patrons throughout the Black Gold Cooperative Library System to access and enjoy.

For details about this year’s program, please stay tuned for more information coming soon.

Happy reading, library patrons!

Attend Our Community Disaster Education Class on November 18

Learn How to Protect Yourself and Your Family in an Emergency

The City of Goleta’s Emergency Services Division invites community members to join our upcoming Community Disaster Education (CDE) class on Tuesday, November 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue).

This free workshop is designed to help residents better understand the types of disasters that can impact our region – including wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and power outages – and how to prepare for them. Participants will learn practical steps to protect their homes and families, such as how to:

  • Create an emergency plan and evacuation checklist.
  • Build or update a disaster supply kit.
  • Sign up for local alerts and stay informed during an emergency.
  • Get involved through community preparedness programs like CERT and LISTOS.

By attending, residents will leave with the tools and confidence to take action before a disaster strikes. The City encourages families, business owners, and community members of all ages to attend. Preparedness starts with learning what to do and how to stay safe, and this class makes it easy to get started.

Sign up today! For questions, contact ESD.Training@cityofgoleta.org.

For more information on emergency preparedness in Goleta, click here.

Holiday Parade Window Decorating Contest is Back

The City of Goleta is getting in the holiday spirit with the 3rd Annual Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade Window Decorating Contest! The contest aims to help create a festive and cheerful atmosphere along the Hollister Avenue parade route on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

If you are an Old Town Goleta business with a storefront on the parade route on Hollister Avenue from Orange to Kinman, you are encouraged to participate. Here is how it works:

  • Decorate your storefront windows in time for the Goleta Holiday Parade.
  • Keep decorations family-friendly, festive, and fun!
  • In support of the City’s Plastic-Free Ordinance, please avoid using Mylar balloons.
  • Decorations must be visible from the sidewalk but must not block pedestrian pathways.
  • We will review the decorated windows during the parade, and winners will be announced the following week. Winners will receive a Fuel Depot gas card and car wash.
  • All participating businesses will be featured on the City’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and X).
  • Winners will have bragging rights for the entire year!

Last year, nearly 20 businesses participated, check out the photos here: bit.ly/3WhC25X. Larry’s 8 Day Auto Parts took home the top prize with Hollister Barbershop and Goleta Bakery receiving Honorable Mentions. The Edge Salon & Barbershop earned the title of People’s Favorite and The Lazy Eye Shop was the People’s Favorite Runner-Up.

Award Categories
This year’s contest will include several fun categories:

  • Best Overall Window – The most outstanding display that captures the spirit of the season.
  • Most Creative Theme – Recognizing originality and artistic design.
  • Most Festive Display – Awarded for the most cheerful and holiday-spirited window.
  • People’s Choice Award – Voted on by the community!

People’s Choice Award:
After the parade, photos of all decorated windows will be posted on the City’s social media channels (@CityofGoleta). Community members can vote by leaving a comment with their favorite entry or by sending an email to PIO@cityofgoleta.org during the designated voting period.   

Whether you are decorating, participating, or attending the parade, thank you for helping make Old Town Goleta shine bright this holiday season. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Marcos Martinez at mmartinez@cityofgoleta.gov. 

For information on the Goleta Holiday Parade put on the by the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club, including how to sponsor, volunteer, or participate in the parade please visit: https://goletaholidayparade.org/.


2024 Winner Larry’s 8 Day Auto Parts


2024 People’s Choice Award The Edge Salon & Barbershop

Goleta’s 4th of July Drone Light Show Returning in 2026 – Sponsors Needed!

City Raising Funds to Put on Free Event at Dos Pueblos High School

After a successful first year, the City of Goleta is thrilled to announce the return of the Fourth of July Drone Light Show event in 2026! In addition to the Drone Light Show itself, there will be music, activities, entertainment, food trucks and a VIP section. Last year’s celebration saw close to 6,000 people attend. Now that we know its popularity we are looking to grow the event to accommodate the great turnout we experienced. To make this FREE event possible for our community, we are looking for sponsors. Last year, 20 amazing sponsors stepped up – who will be part of this year’s group?

Goleta’s Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “The magic of the Drone Light Show is that it’s an event for the community put on by the community which is why we need your timely and generous support. By partnering with us, you’ll be a part of something special—a patriotic evening of entertainment, family fun, and community spirit.”

The City aims to have a majority of its sponsors in place by January 15, 2026. If your business or organization is interested in supporting the drone show, please complete our online interest form today. There you can also find information on the different sponsorship tiers available. For questions, please email pio@cityofgoleta.org.

A huge thank you to Yardi Systems who was our first sponsor for the inaugural show in 2025 and has once again stepped up to be a sponsor in 2026. Not only is Yardi offering a $25,000 donation, it is also offering a $25,000 matching grant. The City is also grateful for returning sponsors Ergomotion, Fuel Depot and Santa Barbara Airbus. Sponsors help cover the costs of the drone light show itself, security, audio/visual, custodial services, entertainment and more.

While planning has just begun, the event will take place the evening of July 4, 2026, and the venue will remain the same: Dos Pueblos High School located at 7266 Alameda Avenue. While the choreographed, animated light show will be potentially visible to the surrounding community from up to ten miles away, the best viewing experience will be inside the stadium.

Watch our video recap of the 2025 Drone Light Show event here: https://youtu.be/B3azqD2hx0U.

To be a sponsor for this special day, be sure to fill out our online interest form. We look forward to another great Fourth of July event. Thank you for your support!


Photo from the July 4, 2025 Drone Light Show event