Amid the confetti, parades and chaos that are an essential part of the Old Spanish Days celebration, there’s something else bringing crowds to the local event — the smell of fresh cinnamon-sugar-covered churros, homemade pork tamales and elotes fresh off the grill.
This festival cuisine can be found at each of the three Fiesta mercados, the marketplaces filled with food stands, shopping booths as well as a center stages for live dancing and music.
Old Spanish Days celebrates Santa Barbara’s Spanish heritage, and that doesn’t stop at the food. While the festival cuisine takes more after our neighbor Mexico, these homemade delicacies are arguably one of the best parts of the event.
Mercado de la Guerra
In the heart of downtown Santa Barbara is Mercado de la Guerra, named for its location in De la Guerra Plaza. This marketplace sees the most foot traffic out of the three mercados since it neighbors State Street. De la Guerra Street is closed off between State and Anacapa streets and instead, the lanes are filled with booths selling hats, flowers and clothes as well as offering henna and face painting.
(JC Corliss / Noozhawk photo)
Inside the plaza, food booths border all sides, offering everything from fish tacos to enchiladas and fresh corn-on-the-cob. The center of the plaza is left open so that spectators can watch the performances at the stage. Some of this year’s headliners include: RedFish, Cruz Dance and Entertainment and the LA Impromptu Orchestra. Mercado de la Guerra also has its own nearby beer garden, the Casa Cantina, for those craving margaritas or cervezas.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For a full schedule of Mercado de la Guerra performances click here.
Mercado del Norte
On Upper State Street, Mercado del Norte is located in MacKenzie Park, right next to Earl Warren Showgrounds. This is the largest mercado and it needs every bit of the extra space. Four sub-sections make up the marketplace — food stands, the Fiesta Bazaar, the Fiesta Carnival and the Crazy Horse Cantina.
Food booths here are similar to those at Mercado de la Guerra with their tamales, barbeque and funnel cakes, but the real draw is the Fiesta Carnival. Kids and adults alike can brave daredevil rides such as the Zipper and Superman. Those looking for a little less adrenaline can enjoy options like the Fun House and Super Slide.
Mercado del Norte also houses a main stage where local musicians and dancers perform. Fiesta-goers who are over 21 can enjoy the Crazy Horse Cantina, a beer garden within Mercado del Norte complete with its very own stage and dance floor.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For a full schedule of Mercado del Norte events, click here.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado
One of the best-kept local secrets of Fiesta is the Old Lady of Guadalupe Mercado. Santa Barbara natives boast this location as housing the most authentic cuisine out of all mercado venues. Whether tamales or tortas, the food booths here are guaranteed to be just as good as your “abuela” makes.
This marketplace is located in the courtyard of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 227 North Nopal Street. The open venue becomes transformed for Fiesta with colorful banners and the ever-present confetti littering the pavement.
Our Lady of Guadalupe also has a stage for performances. However, due to the enclosed setting of the courtyard, these acts have a much more personal, intimate feel as the music bounces off the surrounding structures.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
— Noozhawk intern Sarah Scarminach can be reached at sscarminach@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
(JC Corliss / Noozhawk photo)
(JC Corliss / Noozhawk photo)