The first Fiesta Literary Competition is joining traditional Old Spanish Days events with May designated as Fiesta Poetry Month by El Presidente 2026 Colin Hayward.
 
Poems inspired by Old Spanish Days Fiesta will be a big part of the community-wide celebration this year, organizers said.

“What we’re hoping to do is expand the reach of Old Spanish Days,” said Hayward. “We are trying to make Fiesta more inclusive, more welcoming, and give even more people a reason to feel connected to Fiesta in 2026.”
 
Adding a new creative outlet to the festivities, the competition is open to Santa Barbara County residents. The contest, which runs May 1-31, will offer monetary prizes in three age categories and an chance for winners to read their works during Old Spanish Days events this summer.

Poems must be inspired by how Old Spanish Days celebrates Santa Barbara’s heritage and traditions of colorful celebrations of dance and music, delicious food, moving song, and the spirit of friendliness, and hospitality.

Hayward has selected a panel to judge the inaugural Fiesta Poetry Contest. Judges include current Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin; and former Santa Barbara Poets Laureate Perie Longo, David Starkey and Melinda Palacio.

They will be joined by Father Larry Gosselin, OMF, himself a poet and long-time member of the clergy at Santa Barbara’s Old Mission.
 
“Santa Barbara has a rich and varied literary history, from Richard Henry Dana to Gabriela Mistral to Kenneth Rexroth to ‘Island of Blue Dolphins’ to Sue Grafton to Sojourner Kincaid Rolle to TC Boyle,” said Yatchisin.

“It is only fitting that a poetry component has become a part of Santa Barbara’s resonant self-mythologizing and creative spirit. To that I say, ¡Viva la Poesía!,” he said.

The Fiesta Poetry Contest is open to writers in the following age categories: 11 and under, 12-18, and 19-plus years old.

First place prizes, respectively, of $100, $200 and $300 will be awarded. Runners-up in each of the three age categories will receive local bookstore gift certificates.

Deadline for poetry submissions is May 31. The online entry form and list of rules can be found at https://sbfiesta.org/poetry-contest/. Additional Fiesta details at sbfiesta.org.