SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - A winter storm is not going to drown out New Year's Even plans on the Central Coast, but there may be some adjustments.

Several locations have put in weeks of planning, creative sessions, special orders for food, drinks and decorations and the shows will go on.

That includes live music, DJ sets and festivities at both 9 p.m. for the East Coast-style celebrations in California and midnight for the West Coast celebrations in real time.

At the Harbor Restaurant on Stearns Wharf they are planning a multi-tiered evening with different pricing for those who want to enjoy dinner and the full celebration and those who want to just come together for beverages and the grand finale.

There, they plan to have a special "ball drop" to be a smaller scale version of what is famous in Times Square in New York.

Activities will be inside and out on the seating area with sweeping views of the harbor and waterfront.

Forecasters have advised those who are out to be ready for a steady rain all evening, in the overnight and through tomorrow afternoon.

The Santa Barbara Public Market is planning "Ball Drop" festivities and a Trivia Night game session. Everything will be indoors.

For those looking to laugh the year away, two shows may help you chuckle the year away.

Luis Moro is hosting a Comedy Speakeasy event at 409 State Street featuring Craig Shoemaker, who has many TV appearances with his humor.

The SB Comedy Hideaway hosts Andrey Belikov and Maximilian Robert Lockwood have booked the New Vic Theatre for two shows featuring Darren Carter "the Party Starter" as part of a lineup of five comedians in the 300 seat theatre.

Several downtown locations will be celebrating with various events, including a balloon drop at the Red Piano piano bar with a live band, Tequila Mockingbird, at M-Special brewing with no cover charge.

The Santa Barbara Symphony has an annual show that is expected to draw a full house at the Granada Theatre. This year the music will be Broadway and Hollywood themes. It begins at 8:30 p.m.

SOHO has the Doublewide Kings with a Psychedelic Bash that comes with dinner at 7:45 p.m. or just the show at 9 p.m.

(More details, video and photos will be added here later today.)

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - A winter storm is not going to drown out New Year's Even plans on the Central Coast, but there may be some adjustments.

Several locations have put in weeks of planning, creative sessions, special orders for food, drinks and decorations and the shows will go on.

That includes live music, DJ sets and festivities at both 9 p.m. for the East Coast-style celebrations in California and midnight for the West Coast celebrations in real time.

At the Harbor Restaurant on Stearns Wharf they are planning a multi-tiered evening with different pricing for those who want to enjoy dinner and the full celebration and those who want to just come together for beverages and the grand finale.

There, they plan to have a special "ball drop" to be a smaller scale version of what is famous in Times Square in New York.

Activities will be inside and out on the seating area with sweeping views of the harbor and waterfront.

Harbor Restaurant Owner John Thyne said, "The Harbor restaurant is one of the most iconic places in Santa Barbara. We've had people coming through these doors since 1941, for special occasions. So tonight should be no different. "

"We've hired Spark Creative to build a big rig and a big ball filled with lights, and it's gonna come down at midnight, and everybody will do the countdown and welcome 2026."

There are different pricing options for those who want dinner and the ball drop or just the upstairs festivities and the front row look at the ball. "Yeah, we have lots of options. We have a seven course dinner that we're serving. Or you can just show up at 9 p.m.. pay $50. and come in for the big party with the deejay." Also hats, horns and noise makers.

Forecasters have advised those who are out to be ready for a steady rain all evening, in the overnight and through tomorrow afternoon.

The Santa Barbara Public Market is planning "Ball Drop" festivities and a Trivia Night game session. Everything will be indoors. They will focus on a 9 p.m. event in line with the East Coast showing of Times Square and the ball drop there. "We'll have the ball drop on the big (100-inch) TV. Just something early for people who don't necessarily want to stay out in the rain till midnight," said Manager Natalie Ramos. "We just feel so grateful that they're happy to come with their friends or family, their kids, their dogs."

She said the restaurants plan to be open and that will offer a variety of choices.

"We just want this to be the place where everyone is invited," said Ramos.

For those looking to laugh the year away, two shows may help you chuckle the year away.

Luis Moro is hosting a Comedy Speakeasy event at 409 State Street featuring Craig Shoemaker, who has many TV appearances with his humor.

The

MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) - With more rain in the forecast, attention is turning once again to Jameson Lane in Montecito, an area with a history of storm-related impacts.

The latest system follows rainfall during Christmas week, raising questions about how repeated storms could affect the corridor.

Officials and residents will be watching closely as conditions evolve during the next round of rain.

The post Repeated Storms Put Focus Back on Jameson Lane in Montecito appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) - The year’s already new in the state of Denmark, so with its rich Danish heritage as part of Julefest, the city of Solvang rings in the New Year on their time – 3:00pm here in California.

Locals say the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas are usually a little thin but that visitor traffic this year was still surprisingly high despite the unusual weather patterns.

Business owners say what the storms really did was shift all the visitor traffic to an overwhelming December 27th, the Saturday when the sun returned after all the rain.

Organizers say the second annual Copenhagen Countdown has had a ‘show-must-go-on’ approach, whether it’s raining or not, complete with a live performance from local band sensation, the Molly Ringwald Project.

The traditional closure of Julefest, the annual Christmas Tree Burn, is tentatively scheduled for the evening of January 9th, weather permitting.

Visitors say Solvang’s reputation as one of the best holiday towns speaks for itself when you visit during the holidays, rain or shine.

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SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) - The city of Solvang rang in the new year this afternoon with the second annual Copenhagen Countdown.

It's already 2026 in Denmark, so with its rich Danish heritage as part of Julefest, the city of Solvang rings in the new year on their time, which is 3:00pm here in California.

“The afternoon part of it is because we wanted to have an event that was with our, you know, Denmark, Copenhagen, but also for families,” says Candice Libera, City Of Solvang’s Marketing And Events coordinator. “So they can come out and have this event with their kids, do this, but then still have the night time to go do whatever other event they'd like to do in the valley.”

Locals say the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas saw visitor traffic this year that was still surprisingly high despite the rain.

“This year, because of the weather, I think in the rains it was really, you know, pushed into the weekend specifically,” says Annalan Cucki, co-owner and winemaker at Final Girl Wines.

Business owners say what the storms really did was shift all the visitor traffic to an overwhelming December 27th, when the weather cleared up.

“This is a super small operation and my husband basically runs this place and we have one employee,” says Cucki. “And on Saturday he the one employee had the day off, it was Peter by himself. And that guy happened to walk by and decided he needed to come in and kind of help.”

Organizers say the second annual Copenhagen countdown has had a show-must-go-on approach, whether it's raining or not. Complete with a live performance from local band sensation the Molly Ringwald Project.

“It seems like the weather's cleared up just enough for this to happen,” says The Molly Ringwald Project’s Ian Musgrove. “And you know what? It's probably raining and snowing in Europe right now anyway, so I think the weather is perfect,” says the band’s lead vocalist Roxanne Morgenstern. “Feels very authentic,” says Musgrove.

The traditional closure of Julefest, the annual Christmas Tree Burn, is tentatively scheduled for the evening of January 9th, weather permitting.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On OurMobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for theNews Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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