With a new parade route along Cabrillo Boulevard and limited nearly parking, attendees will now be able to take advantage of the downtown Santa Barbara parking garages and arrive at Friday’s Fiesta Parade route via free shuttles.

Old Spanish Days is partnering with the City of Santa Barbara and the Downtown Organization to offer this free service to the community.

Three shuttles will be circulating up Chapala Street, across Victoria Street and down Anacapa Street to the beach side of State Street. The shuttles will pick up at multiple locations along that route running in roughly 10-minute intervals.

The free shuttles will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

“It’s important to all of us that members of our community have easy access to our Fiesta Parade,” 2022 La Presidente Maria Cabrera said. “These trolleys are a great collaboration between three organizations that support Fiesta in many ways. This year’s theme, ‘Todos Juntos en Familia,’ is evident in this outstanding collaborative partnership that benefits our community tremendously.”

“I could not be happier about the return of Fiesta to our community this year,” said Robin Erlander, executive director of the Downtown Organization. “And these trolleys will support locals and visitors by providing easy access to view one of the largest equestrian parades in the country. The Downtown Organization is pleased to to partner with the city and Old Spanish Days Fiesta.”

Parade day shuttle pickup locations are:

» In the 900 block of Chapala Street near Lot 2

» 1100 block of Anacapa Street next to the library, across from the courthouse, and between the library garage and the Granada garage

» 600 block of Anacapa Street near Ortega Street and next to Lot 10

The dropoff will be at State and Yanonali streets near the train depot, just a one block walk to the parade route.

Fiesta will run Wednesday through Sunday. Viva la Fiesta 2022!

— David Bolton represents Old Spanish Days.