Going North

* Pops--Gisele Ben Dor will conduct the Santa Barbara Symphony for a New Year’s Eve pops concert at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara. The concert will begin at 8:30 p.m. and will include cascading balloons, party hats and noisemakers. $25-$45. 963-4408.

* Kaleidoscope--Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum will host “Rayos: An Interactive Kaleidoscope” Friday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Bloom Foundation Gallery. One end of the 5-foot kaleidoscope, which was Created by Lucia Grossberger-Morales, faces a computer monitor with moving images. Viewers can manipulate the computer-generated images to create their own collages of objects, plus architectural details of Santa Barbara area landmarks and environment. The arts forum is at 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara. Call for ticket information: 564-5194.

* Words and Images--Speaking of Stories will present a multicultural program of New Year’s writings, which will be read aloud by professional actors Friday at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. English-language readings will be held at 3 and 3:30 p.m., with a Spanish-language reading at 4. Free. 966-3875.

* Family--Panto Productions will continue its staging of “Jack and the Beanstalk” this weekend at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. Show times: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. The family production features music, dancing and audience participation. $11-$25. 963-0761.