For Olga Herrera Pinal, Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta weekend is more than just an event. It’s part of her family’s legacy.
“When I was a little girl, everyone came to Santa Barbara to celebrate the Fiesta,” she said. “All the families from LA (and) up north. It was a family event with lots of singing and lots of dancing, and so it is very rooted in my heart and soul.”
Herrera Pinal and her family were just some of the thousands of people who gathered on Friday to celebrate one of Fiesta’s major events, the Historical Parade along Cabrillo Boulevard.
This year was the 102nd anniversary of the parade, also known as El Desfile Histórico. The event began in 1924.
The annual event features a variety of sights celebrating Santa Barbara’s Spanish heritage, including dancers performing traditional flamenco, riders performing tricks on horses, floats and music.
The parade is one of the largest equestrian events in the country, with horses from Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County and more.
A steady stream of horses paraded down the street, ridden by charros wearing traditional Mexican-style clothing, representatives of local ranches and carriages carrying local officials.
Local officials in the parade included Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and council members, county supervisors and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón.
One of the new floats this year was an entry from the Santa Barbara Zoo, which featured a model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a giraffe. Zoo staff waved at the crowd while holding puppets of different animals.
Other entries included the annual Saint Barbara float and the Santa Barbara City Fire Department.
Herrera Pinal previously participated in the parade along with other members of the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, where she served as a firefighter for 28 years.
During the parade, she and other members of the department would throw confetti, spray the crowd with water and spin each other in a giant wheel down the street.
“I was one of the crazy ones that used to be riding the wheel,” she said, “and you know, it is a tradition.”
For other attendees, the festival was an opportunity to introduce people to new experiences.
CJ Gonzales said she has lived in Santa Barbara off and on for most of her life and returned in 2020. Gonzales was attending the event with her partner, as well as her sister and two nephews from New York City.
She said the boys’ favorite part about the event so far were the confetti eggs, and they were both ready to move to Santa Barbara.
Gonzales said her favorite part about the annual event is the sense of community.
“Everyone comes together. There’s no divide, and like everyone just loves Fiesta, and everyone’s loving one another,” Gonzales said. “So, it’s just great to see the community in that way.”
