Viva la Fiesta! Unless you’re one of the thousands of people who attended its annual carnival.
One of Fiesta’s iconic traditions has been canceled this year.
Old Spanish Days, the nonprofit organization that runs the five-day extravaganza, nixed the carnival this year, citing costs.
The carnival for decades was held at MacKenzie Park, but it was moved last year to a parking lot at Santa Barbara City College. Now, it won’t be held at all.
“Expenses have just gone up in all areas,” El Presidente Brian Schwabecher said.
The organization, which is celebrating 100 years of Fiesta this year, declined Noozhawk’s requests for specifics on the costs of the event this year.
“We saw a significant increase in our excess liability costs,” Schwabecher said.
He did provide some details on the costs last year. Old Spanish Days’ total expenses last year at El Mercado de la Playa were $60,500, and the net profit was $7,200.
He also blamed a reduction in city funds for permits and to promote the event, down from about $103,000 to $80,000 in the past two years.
Fiesta exists as a regional celebration on multiple levels, serving different parts of the community. There are organized parties with “dignitarios,” formal dancing at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, and events around town that celebrate the city’s Spanish history and culture. It’s also a major attraction for families, nonprofit organizations and emerging musical acts.
The carnival, which had been called El Mercado del Norte when it was at MacKenzie Park, then last year called El Mercado de la Playa, was a place for families to hop on rides, play games and get away from the large crowds downtown at De la Guerra Plaza, which attracted people of all ages and from outside of Santa Barbara.
Schwabecher said the tradition began to weaken when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Nonprofit interest dropped, and organizations had difficulty finding volunteers. He also said most of the vendors in recent years have been restaurants.
At the end of the day, he said, the costs were prohibitive, and Old Spanish Days has an obligation to be fiscally responsible.
“Expenses have just gone up in all areas,” Schwabecher said. “We are a nonprofit organization that has to be responsive to all stakeholders.”
He added that he is not thrilled with Old Spanish Days’ decision.
“I was also personally disappointed that we don’t have this venue this year,” he said.
He said other places around town exist for dance groups, including Paseo Nuevo and La Cumbre Plaza.
There may be an upside, he said.
“We hope centralizing all of our resources into the downtown corridor will consolidate all the energy and support our business,” Schwabecher said. “We hope having that focus drives that energy downtown.”
Rich Hanna, recreation programs manager for the City of Santa Barbara, offered a historical perspective.
“The size and scale for Fiesta del Norte ultimately outgrew the space at MacKenzie Park and was creating public safety concerns and neighborhood compatibility issues around noise, parking, trash, etc.,” he said in a statement.
Hanna said the city worked with Old Spanish Days a year ago to move the event to the waterfront because similar events that include carnival attractions, live music and food are more appropriate for Earl Warren, or similar locations.
The city, Hanna said, was in talks with Old Spanish Days for the event to return.
“There was active and positive dialogue between all parties regarding Mercado la Playa 2024; however; the decision to not host this year was made by OSD,” Hanna said.
He also said that in 2023, Old Spanish Days paid the city $11,269 for permitting fees, which did not include costs such as overnight security for the carnival rides, or security required under the Alcoholic Beverage Control permit for the beer garden.
Schwabecher said the cancellation may not be for all time.
“My hope is that it does come back,” he said.