In a tradition that dates from 1926, each year Reina del Mar Parlor No. 126, Native Daughters of the Golden West, has chosen one of its members to portray Saint Barbara, the city’s patron saint and namesake, for Old Spanish Days Fiesta.
In the role of Saint Barbara in 2023 will be Lisa Osborn. Osborn moved to Santa Barbara eight years ago and joined Reina del Mar Parlor No. 126 two years ago.
She serves as an officer in the parlor, has helped with fundraising and graphic design, and is active with the parlor’s history and landmarks committee.
A radio broadcaster by profession, Osborn is news and public affairs director at UCSB radio KCSB-FM 91.9. She leads workshops on topics such as podcasting and sound editing, media training, interviewing, and writing news releases.
For Fiesta events, such as Fiesta Pequena, the Historical Parade, and Noches de Ronda, Osborn will be dressed in the traditional white gown and scarlet cape, and will wear a golden crown. She will carry the martyr’s palm frond and golden chalice. For social events, Osborn will wear a white lace Spanish dress and a mantilla with comb.
Osborn was born and raised in Orange County, California, the daughter of Elaine Osborn and Philip E. Osborn. She graduated from Tustin High School and received an AA degree in communications from Fullerton College.
She is a voice-over narrator and has co-created a Santa Barbara-focused travel channel on YouTube called “Santa Barbara Scenic.”
Osborn is president of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications; her three-year term ends on July 1 but she will remain on the board.
Osborn has received two AWC Clarion Awards for excellence in narration and video production. She also was awarded a Golden Mike Award by the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California. Her own college radio station has placed her on its KBPK Wall of Honor for her career achievements in radio broadcasting.
A former resident of Marina del Rey, Osborn returns each year to host the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade.
As a participant in past Old Spanish Days activities, Osborn has helped decorate parade floats. She said she enjoys Casa Cantina at Casa de la Guerra, sponsored by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation; Fiesta Pequena at the Mission; and the parades.
The Santa Barbara Channel was named for Saint Barbara during the Viscaino expedition in late 1602. In the 18th century the royal Spanish presidio fortress (1782) and Mission Santa Barbara (1786) were named in her honor.
Saint Barbara is the patroness of protection from lightning strikes, and is revered by artillerymen, mariners, and architects and engineers.
The Native Daughters of the Golden West is a statewide organization founded in 1886. It has a history of involvement with contributions to historic preservation in California, veterans’ welfare, conservation, California mission restoration, the N.D.G.W. Children’s Foundation charity, patriotic activities, and college scholarships.
The 122-year-old Reina del Mar Parlor (founded April 20, 1901) is known for its Old Spanish Days Fiesta activities since 1924, child-welfare work, more than a century of missions preservation, plaque dedications of historic buildings, and civic participation.