UP THE COAST / GOINGS ON : There’s a Big Parade of Special Events in Santa Barbara County : Activities are designed to cheer both adults and youngsters. At some, people can share good fortune by helping the needy.

As usual, Santa Barbara County will celebrate the holiday season with a variety of offerings, including planetarium shows, art exhibits, ballet and symphony performances, parade, parties and plenty of opportunities to visit with Santa Claus.

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Friday through Dec. 24: Children and adults can hop aboard the mini Candy Cane Train, the seasonal mode of transportation at the South Coast Railroad Museum in Goleta. The train runs Wednesday through Friday and Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m and Saturday 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $1.50 for children and adults. The museum is at the Goleta Depot, 300 N. Los Carneros Road. Call 964-3540.

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Saturday: The Carpinteria Valley Museum of History will host its 14th annual Holiday Faire, featuring crafts from more than 100 artists throughout California. Grab that Christmas list and check out the toys, jewelry, dolls, quilts, holiday decorations, and more. And keep an eye out for Santa. The Faire will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Santa on hand 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is at 956 Maple Ave. Call 684-3112.

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Saturday through Dec. 18: What exactly caused that bright light, the Star of Bethlehem, that guided the three wise men in the Biblical story of their search for the Christ child? That will be the topic of discussion at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s planetarium show, “Handel and the Christmas Star.” The program will also include a star show backed by the music of Handel’s “Messiah.” Show times are 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is 50 cents, plus regular museum admission. The program is open to those 6 and older. The museum is at 2559 Puesta del Sol Road. Call 682-3224.

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Dec. 1: The Santa Barbara Zoo will be collecting canned food and toys from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each person bringing a donation will be admitted free. Last year, 900 people donated 2,000 cans of food. Santa Claus will be available for photo sessions. The zoo is at 500 Ninos Drive. Call 962-5339.

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Dec. 3: Marching bands, antique cars, and some roly-poly guy with white facial hair and a red suit will make their way down State Street in Santa Barbara’s annual Holiday Parade. It will begin at 10 a.m. at State and Micheltorena streets, and finish about noon at De La Guerra Plaza. Spectators are asked to bring canned goods and unwrapped Christmas gifts, to be donated to the Council of Christmas Cheer. For more information call 962-2098.

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Dec. 4 and Dec. 18: Santa Barbara’s Biltmore Resort will continue a holiday tradition with a pair of Sunday “Teddy Bear Teas” for children and adults. There will be storytellers, costumed characters and Santa Claus himself. Children will be fed hot chocolate, cider and snacks, while adults are served a traditional English tea. Cost is $21 (adults), $12 (children 10 and younger). Proceeds will benefit the National Intensive Care Unit of Cottage Hospital and the Council of Christmas Cheer. Reservations are required. Call 969-2261. The Biltmore is at 1260 Channel Drive.

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Dec. 6: The Santa Barbara Oratorio Chorale, with assistance from the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus, will present a “Wintermusic” concert at Center Stage Theater. The evening will begin with an hors d’oeuvres reception at 5:30 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7 p.m. The program will feature light, seasonal music and Christmas carols. Tickets are $30. Call 967-8287. Center Stage Theater is located on the second level of the Paseo Nuevo shopping center.

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Dec. 9: Santa Barbara County students will display their angel art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Ridley-Tree Education Center. The show, “An Angel Passes,” will remain on display at least through January. The Education Center is at 1600 Santa Barbara St. It is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but will be closed Dec. 24, and Dec. 27 through Jan. 2.

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Dec. 11: Santa Barbara band Headless Household will present its Fifth Annual Headless Household Christmas Concert beginning at 2 p.m. at the Center Stage Theater. General admission is $7. The theater is located on the second level of the Paseo Nuevo shopping center. Call 963-0408.

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Dec. 16-17: Director Delila Moseley and her Montecito School of Dance will perform the ballet “The Night Before Christmas,” based on the traditional holiday poem, at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre. Show times are Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $9.75 (adults), $8 (seniors), and $6.75 (children). Call 963-0761. The Lobero is at 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

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Dec. 17: Have yourself an a cappella Christmas, when the Santa Barbara Men’s and Women’s Ensemble present its “The Joy of Christmas” concert at St. Anthony’s Seminary beginning at 7 p.m. Four separate choruses will perform music from various time periods ranging from medieval to modern, and in a variety of languages, including Russian, French and Spanish. The performance will include a candlelight procession. Tickets range from $9 to $15. Call 966-2020. The seminary is located at 2300 Garden St.

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Dec. 31: The Santa Barbara Symphony will greet 1995 with a New Year’s Eve Pops Concert at the Arlington Theatre. The program will include Viennese pops and jazz favorites. If that’s not enough to get everyone into an appropriately festive mood, hats and horns will be provided. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, $20, $25 and $35. The Arlington is at 1317 State St. Call 963-4408.

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Dec. 31: Santa Barbara’s Parks and Recreation department will ring in the new year soberly, with an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve Ballroom Dance, featuring tunes by the Jimmy James Orchestra. The party will be at the Carrillo Community Recreation Center Ballroom, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Call 965-3813. The recreation center is at 100 E. Carrillo St.

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Ongoing: Winning entries from Westmont College’s fourth annual “Un Ange Passe--An Angel Passes” art contest, are on display at the campus’ Reynolds Gallery through Dec. 14. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Exceptions: Closed today. Open this Friday, Saturday and Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; this Sunday and Dec. 11 noon to 4 p.m. The college is at 955 La Paz Road., Santa Barbara. Call 565-6161.