Members of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform in the courtyard of El Paseo on Wednesday as they make their way through downtown Santa Barbara during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The performance marked the return of the Children's Strolling Chorus after nearly six decades.
Members of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform in the courtyard of El Paseo on Wednesday as they make their way through downtown Santa Barbara during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The performance marked the return of the Children's Strolling Chorus after nearly six decades. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo

Voices echoed through downtown Santa Barbara as the Children’s Strolling Chorus returned to Old Spanish Days Fiesta on Wednesday, for the first time since 1968.

About 30 young singers began their performance at Paseo Nuevo, performing six traditional Fiesta songs, including “De Colores” and “El Zapatero.”

The children sang and strolled toward their first stop at De la Guerra Plaza wearing embroidered vests, skirts and other Fiesta attire as they brought back the historic tradition.

At the plaza, the children gathered on the steps of City Hall to sing to an audience that included Mayor Randy Rowse and Fiesta El Presidente Colin Hayward.

Spectators gathered around to watch the performance as the children’s voices filled the plaza. After singing three songs, they walked to the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, a block away, continuing their tunes as they went.

The performance marked the return of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus, a collaboration between the Music Academy of the West and Sing! that revived a Fiesta tradition dating back to 1929.

The chorus honors the legacy of the late Erin Graffy, a longtime Santa Barbara author, historian and Fiesta advocate whose passion for preserving local traditions inspired generations.

For Graffy’s brother, Neal, the revival is deeply personal.

“When the Graffy family arrived in Santa Barbara in 1961, that summer and several to follow, our mother signed us up for Mrs. O’Sullivan’s Children’s Strolling Chorus,” he recalled.

“For my sister, Erin, she absolutely fell in love with the music and the pageantry.”

  • Children in the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform traditional Fiesta songs at Paseo Nuevo during their walk through downtown Santa Barbara. The chorus performed six songs such as “El Sombrero Blanco” and “Cielito Lindo.”
    Children in the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform traditional Fiesta songs at Paseo Nuevo during their walk through downtown Santa Barbara. The chorus performed six songs such as “El Sombrero Blanco” and “Cielito Lindo.” Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • Members of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform in the courtyard of El Paseo on Wednesday as they make their way through downtown Santa Barbara during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The performance marked the return of the Children's Strolling Chorus after nearly six decades.
    Members of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform in the courtyard of El Paseo on Wednesday as they make their way through downtown Santa Barbara during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The performance marked the return of the Children’s Strolling Chorus after nearly six decades. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • Sing! artistic director Erin McKibben leads the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus during its performance. McKibben helped revive the chorus through the Music Academy of the West's Sing! program.
    Sing! artistic director Erin McKibben leads the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus during its performance. McKibben helped revive the chorus through the Music Academy of the West’s Sing! program. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • The Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus pauses for a Paseo Nuevo photo during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Wednesday’s performance marked the return of the Children’s Strolling Chorus to Fiesta for the first time since 1968.
    The Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus pauses for a Paseo Nuevo photo during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Wednesday’s performance marked the return of the Children’s Strolling Chorus to Fiesta for the first time since 1968. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • Fiesta El Presidente Colin Hayward joined Colleen Graffy for the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus performance. Hayward attended the revival of the chorus at De la Guerra Plaza.
    Fiesta El Presidente Colin Hayward joined Colleen Graffy for the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus performance. Hayward attended the revival of the chorus at De la Guerra Plaza. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • Colleen Graffy leads members of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus through Paseo Nuevo. The children began their performance there before making their way to De la Guerra Plaza.
    Colleen Graffy leads members of the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus through Paseo Nuevo. The children began their performance there before making their way to De la Guerra Plaza. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • Joined by Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and Old Spanish Days El Presidente Colin Hayward, the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform for spectators on the steps of City Hall. The group stopped at several iconic downtown locations during its return to Old Spanish Days Fiesta.
    Joined by Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and Old Spanish Days El Presidente Colin Hayward, the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus perform for spectators on the steps of City Hall. The group stopped at several iconic downtown locations during its return to Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • Colleen Graffy with Jim Garcia, whose late wife, Erin Graffy, inspired the revival of the Children’s Strolling Chorus, a cherished Fiesta tradition from Erin’s youth.
    Colleen Graffy with Jim Garcia, whose late wife, Erin Graffy, inspired the revival of the Children’s Strolling Chorus, a cherished Fiesta tradition from Erin’s youth. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • The Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus walk toward the Santa Barbara Historical Museum while singing traditional Fiesta songs. The museum was the final stop of the group's performance Wednesday.
    The Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus walk toward the Santa Barbara Historical Museum while singing traditional Fiesta songs. The museum was the final stop of the group’s performance Wednesday. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo
  • From left, sponsors Jenna and Avi Reichental join Colleen Graffy and Neal Graffy following the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus performance at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. The Reichentals helped support the revival of the Fiesta tradition.
    From left, sponsors Jenna and Avi Reichental join Colleen Graffy and Neal Graffy following the Erin Graffy Children’s Strolling Chorus performance at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. The Reichentals helped support the revival of the Fiesta tradition. Credit: Carly Lindblad / Noozhawk photo

Organizers described the Strolling Chorus as a treasured Fiesta tradition that gave local children the opportunity to celebrate Santa Barbara’s history through music.

Neal Graffy reflected on the tradition’s remarkable legacy.

“Mrs. O’Sullivan kept us going until 1968 when she retired,” he said. “This ended 36 years of Children’s Strolling Chorus with Fiesta, with more than 1,500 kids experiencing all that over the years.”

Now, after a nearly 60-year absence, a new generation of children is carrying that tradition forward.

The revived chorus is made possible through Sing!, the Music Academy of the West’s free after-school choral education program serving students throughout Santa Barbara County.

The program is open to public, private and charter school students in first through 10th grade. 

Artistic director Erin McKibben said the revival not only celebrates history but gives children an opportunity to experience the joy of performing for their community.

“During our summer camp, we learned these songs,” she said. “I think it’s really fun that they can feel successful singing things that Erin Graffy loved to sing and then share them with the public.

“Anyone can join, and we plan on doing it each summer.”

Organizers also recognized Jenna and Avi Reichental for their generous sponsorship and support in helping revive the Children’s Strolling Chorus and bring this piece of Santa Barbara’s cultural heritage back to the community.

For the Graffy family, the return of children’s voices to Fiesta is more than a nostalgic performance.

The revival is a tribute to Erin’s lifelong dedication to Fiesta and her belief in sharing Santa Barbara’s history with future generations.

As the children’s voices carried through downtown, they honored the spirit, music and memories that made the tradition so treasured.

Carly Lindblad is the 2026 Erin Graffy Journalism Fellowship recipient for student journalists, a program established by the late Erin Graffy’s family in memory of the Santa Barbara author, writer and Old Spanish Days Fiesta historian. Carly is a senior at Dos Pueblos High School and a member of the award-winning DP Yearbook team.