Month: August 2026

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A small town celebration of the avocado that began 40 years ago has turned in to one of the most successful festivals on the Central Coast.

The California Avocado Festival released its poster Thursday afternoon and announced a schedule of events, entertainment, vendors and the charities it supports.

This year’s festival runs October 2-4 on Linden Ave. in downtown Carpinteria. Over 75,000 will be expected over the three days.

The event is free.

The festival is known for its music. There will be approximately 60 bands on four stages, including many of the most popular local and youth bands.

Two of the highlighted events will be the strong arm competition and the World Championship of guacamole.

There will also be a featured tent for the Avocado Commission and the students in the Carpinteria Future Farmers of America based at Carpinteria High School which receives a festival donation along with the Carpinteria Education Fund.

The street will also have numerous food booths, featuring meals with some kind of avocado ingredient.

A contest for artists to create this years poster took place earlier this summer. The winner came from New Mexico and it was 24 yer old Elektra Caffery.

Festival President Gary Dobbins and Event Director Olivia Sorgman revealed it at a special vendor stand in front of a crowd of citizens and community leaders. There will now be a sale of t-shirts and other merchandise leading up to the festival and a large sales area during the event where many items featuring the posters image will be available.

This year a 35-foot tall Ferris wheel will be in place on Linden Avenue near the kids zone. Free rides will be available for children five years old and under as a donation from the owners of the Palms building which is going through a renovation nearby and once had a famous local restaurant for over 100 years.

This is also a zero waste festival with on site recycling.

Shuttle services and off site parking from nearby lots will be available to bring guests into the downtown area.

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SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Multiple organizations—and a touch of unexpected weather—brought “Showers and blessings” to local residents experiencing homelessness in Santa Maria.

A few organizations are now independently congregating regularly to provide services to homeless residents.

Other charitable enterprises have begun recognizing the impact good samaritan’s regular outreach here in the salvation army parking lot off cook street has had, and have been joining them of their own accord.

Good Samaritan has been growing its outreach efforts to the homeless for nearly forty years.

“We have taken this corner from being a single trailer to having a whole team of volunteers that work with the community,” says Linda Black, who volunteers with Crestwood Church’s “Showers & Blessings” team.

When the Fire Department issued its red flag warning for parts of Santa Barbara County due to hot and dry conditions on Monday, Good Samaritan deployed its outreach teams under cooling protocol.

“Usually when we do our cooling outreach is when it’s above 85 degrees,” says Jesus Cortes, an outreach staff member for Good Samaritan Shelter.

Thursday morning, skies remained gray after sunrise, and a light rain fell during the morning hours.

“Honestly, it hasn’t really affected us that much on what we’re doing,” says Cortes. “Regardless of the weather, we always go out and try to connect with our community members out there that need services.”

The non-profit brought bottled water, electrolytes, cooling blankets, aloe vera and sunscreen products to the homeless as always.

CHC Mobile Clinics was also there in an independent but coinciding effort to provide medical services.

“It just becomes a very good collaborative where we work independently, but at the same time together to help the same patient population,” says Jose Guzman, director of outreach services for Community Health Centers of the Central Coast.

And Crestwood Church’s ‘Showers And Blessings’ team were there as well.

“We sit there and man the trailer and provide showers,” says Black.

“I am one of the homeless, and, they’ve helped me out so much,” says Jimmy Lopez, who is currently experiencing homelessness in Santa Maria. “I volunteer. They take care of me.”

Separate teams from different entities collectively provided a myriad of essential services to unhoused residents in need.

Staff and clients say experiencing homelessness is uncomfortable, no matter what the weather is doing.

“I woke up this morning, I told my girlfriend it’s going to rain,” says Lopez, laughing. “She goes, ‘no it’s not.’ It rained.”

Good Samaritan staff says the organization’s overall outreach efforts to those experiencing homelessness occur on a daily basis, rain or shine.

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MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) – A near-total lunar eclipse is giving Santa Barbara area skywatchers a reason to look up as Westmont Observatory opens to the public for the nighttime event.

Nearly all of the moon will move into Earth’s shadow, with the eclipse expected to reach about 96 percent coverage.

As Earth blocks the sunlight normally reaching the moon, its surface could take on a reddish color, creating what is commonly known as a blood moon.

Physicist Kenneth Kihlstrom explained how the observatory’s telescope will help visitors follow the eclipse.

“It’s all computer controlled. We just tell it where to point and it moves it,” Kihlstrom said.

The reddish appearance happens as some sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon.

“When you’re in the total shadow of the Earth, it’s like you’re seeing the sunsets from all around the Earth,” Kihlstrom said.

Astronomy enthusiast Tom Giles has watched lunar eclipses from several parts of the country and views the event as a chance to experience something beyond everyday life.

“The lunar eclipse is fun because you’re actually seeing nature,” Giles said. “It’s exciting because it’s Mother Nature putting on a show, something that humans can’t duplicate.”

Physicists and astronomy enthusiasts will be on hand to help visitors get a closer look and better understand what is happening in the night sky.

“Half the world can see it because if it’s nighttime, you can see the moon, you can see the eclipse,” Kihlstrom said.

The eclipse is expected to peak around 9:13 p.m.

The gathering gives the community a chance to watch the eclipse together under the night sky.

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