GOINGS ON : UCSB’s Arts and Lectures Program Offers Discount : Celebrate the holidays at Carpinteria’s annual faire or Santa Barbara’s Museum of Natural History’s “Handel and the Christmas Star.”

UC Santa Barbara’s Arts and Lectures program on Friday will offer $2 discounts on tickets for any remaining events on its 1993-1994 schedule. And procrastinators take note: This is a one-day-only deal.

Among the 15 upcoming performers are the Lar Lubovich Dance Company, Actors from the London Stage, The Mighty Clouds of Joy gospel group, Inti-Illimani, Philip Glass, Spalding Gray, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. For tickets, either drop by the Arts and Lectures Ticket Office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., or call 893-3535 to charge the order by telephone.

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The city of Carpinteria on Saturday will celebrate the holidays in what has become traditional style, with the 13th Annual Holiday Faire at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History. The museum fund-raiser will feature arts and crafts, food, a farmer’s market, and Santa. The faire will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is at 956 Maple Ave. Call 684-3112.

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What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to combine Handel’s “Messiah” with the star of Bethlehem?

In the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s “Handel and the Christmas Star” presentation, lecturer Ernest Underhay will share stories of the bright light (the star) that is said to have led the three wise men to Jesus.

Scientists are not sure what caused that bright light, but some theorize that it was the alignment of Jupiter and Venus, an exploding star, or a comet. Underhay will discuss some of the possibilities.

The program will run at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 19. Admission is 50 cents, plus admission to the museum--$4 adults, $3 teens and seniors, and $2 children ages 2 to 12. There is no admission charge the first Sunday of each month. The museum is at 2559 Puesta del Sol Road. Call 682-3224 for more information.

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Speaking of celestial events, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will host a “Total Lunar Eclipse Party,” at 8:30 p.m. Sunday near the museum’s Palmer Observatory. The eclipse will begin at 8:40 p.m. with total eclipse beginning at 10:02 p.m., as the moon moves into the earth’s darkest shadow. Admission is $1 and will include refreshments. For more information on the party, call 682-3224. To find out more about the eclipse call 682-4711, ext. 507. (That’s a star and then 507.)

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One more from those busy folks at the Museum of Natural History. Internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer Frans Lanting will present a lecture-slide show Tuesday. Lanting, known for his National Geographic work, was selected by the British Broadcasting Corp. as the 1991 Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Lanting’s presentation will feature shots from his new book “Okavango: Africa’s Last Eden.” The 8,500-square-mile Okavango Delta, bordering the Kalahari Desert, is home to hippos, crocodiles, lions, hyenas, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and others creatures.

The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at the museum’s Fleischmann Auditorium. A book signing, in the Bird Habitat Hall, will follow. General admission is $6, and advance reservations are being taken. Call 682-4711.

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Opening soon: Veteran film and television actor Art Metrano will share the story of his struggle with paralysis, in an Access Theatre presentation of his one-man show “Twice Blessed.” The production will open with a benefit gala Dec. 3 and run through Dec. 19 at Santa Barbara’s Center Stage Theater.

Metrano had already established himself as an actor and stand-up comedian when he suffered a near-fatal fall from a ladder four years ago. Since then he has had to deal with the physical and psychological effects of his injury.

The show will be presented Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. (There will be no shows Dec. 5 or 11.) Tickets for the Dec. 3 gala are $35. Regular admission is $15 (Thursdays and Sundays), $16.50 (Fridays and Saturdays). Call 963-0408. Center Stage Theater is on the second level of the Paseo Nuevo shopping center.