Santa Barbara's traditional “Old Spanish Days” Fiesta parade and festival in Santa Barbara were canceled a second year in a row due to Covid-19 concerns, but the spirit of fiesta was alive and well in the mountains above at Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort last weekend.

Although boasting a much smaller crowd than the tens of thousands of locals and visitors who normally participate in the joyful celebration of Latino culture, the hundred or so campers were delighted by the 24 colorful, prancing Charros, (Mexican cowboys), eight staff members beautifully outfitted on horses with decorated manes, and four trucks full of waving señors and señoras, passing out candy to gleeful children.

“We are the only fiesta parade in Santa Barbara this year,” Dalia Castro, co-event coordinator and Rancho Oso store manager, sighed, both proud for the fiesta they created, and sad for the loss of the larger parade in down town Santa Barbara for the second year, due to the pandemic.

Together with co-event coordinator and stables manager Liz Garcia, she encouraged participation, while doing her best to keep everyone safe.

Most attendees cheered on the Charros and their dancing horses from their individual camping spots, so there was very wide distance between each family.

This included Santa Barbara locals with Thousand Trail memberships, and guests who come from all over the country and stay in rental cabins, covered wagons, RVs and tents.

Laurie Clavecilla, ranch business administrator, who shined in a gorgeous dress and huge smile as she rode a horse in the parade as expertly as the charros, lovingly introduced a miniature horse to enthralled children at the gathering afterward.

Costumed staff members join the parade in a brightly decorated golf cart. (Amy Beth Katz photo)

Additional safety protocols included mask requirements for riders and Rancho Oso staff, and gloves for those serving the BBQ lunch of carne asada, beans, rice and nachos with cheese.

“Last year, due to Covid restrictions, no food or activities beyond the parade was allowed, so this is a big improvement,” Castro explained.

Still, ranch manager David Baudek kept a concerned eye on the lunch-line, moving it along as quickly as possible to avoid crowding, as guests had the choice to mask up or not, since the entire event was held outdoors.

New also this year was art-making for the kids, including sombrero decorating, arcade-style games, and entertainment by Alex Martin, a revered guitarist Charro.

Even the horses seemed happy to be fiesta-ing, responsibly, on this hot, summer day.

The event concluded with a DJ and dancing under the stars — which are so visible in Los Padres National Forest, far from city lights — closing out Fiesta, 2021.

Amy Beth Katz is a local freelance writer and photographer.

Those who joined in the fiesta parade at the Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort were treated to a barbecue lunch. (Amy Beth Katz photo)