This week Santa Barbara will celebrate 100 years of the Old Spanish Days Fiesta with a variety of events, including food, music, dancing, and a historical parade.
The first Fiesta occurred in 1924 as a way to attract visitors to Santa Barbara and honor the city’s heritage. Additionally, the Fiesta was a way to celebrate the opening of the Lobero Theater. The building was originally built in 1873 but was later condemned, purchased, and turned into the Lobero in 1924.
The event will be held from Wednesday, July 31, to Sunday, Aug. 4. The Fiesta will feature a mix of free and paid events across Santa Barbara.
Multi-Day Events
Courthouse Fiesta Tours – Free
Visitors will be able to take a free one-hour tour through Santa Barbara’s historic courthouse. The tour will discuss the history of the building and its Spanish-Moorish architecture. Anyone who is interested in taking the guided tour can meet in the Mural Room at 1100 Anacapa St. Tours will be held every hour with start times from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.
El Mercado De La Guerra – Free
Enjoy a stroll through the Fiesta’s market featuring a mixture of Spanish and Mexican-American food, crafts, live music, and more. The market will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday. The event will be located across the street from Santa Barbara City Hall.
Las Noches de Ronda – Free
The “Nights of Gaiety” will be held Thursday to Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Courthouse’s Sunken Garden. The event will feature music and dancing in the style of traditional flamenco dancers.
Fiesta Arts and Crafts Show – Free
Held at the beach along Cabrillo Boulevard just west of Stearns Wharf, residents can view and purchase art and handmade crafts from local artisans. The event is free to attend and is held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday Events
La Fiesta Pequeña – Free
The first day of the Fiesta is capped off by the “Little Fiesta,” a historical program that features a series of traditional songs and dances from Californios Spirit. The event is hosted at Old Mission Santa Barbara at 2201 Laguna St. The event is free and officially starts at 8 p.m. and goes to 10 p.m. Guests can begin saving spots at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Blankets, chairs and other objects used to reserve spots before this time will be confiscated by the City Parks Department.
Thursday
La Misa del Presidente – Free
The traditional high mass is held on the second day of the Fiesta at Old Mission Santa Barbara. The mass was started in 1936 in honor of the event’s El Presidente and the rest of the Old Spanish Days board. Today the event is followed by a reception in the Mission’s Sacred Garden. The event is free to the public and is held from 10 a.m. to noon.
Friday
The Historical Parade – Free
Friday will feature the Fiesta Historical Parade. The parade will have floats detailing different periods of California and Santa Barbara history by descendants of local Native Americans, Spanish Pioneers, the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, and local groups. The event is one of the largest equestrian parades in the country and will feature more than 600 horses, and antique carriages, coaches and wagons.
The parade starts on the west end of Cabrillo Boulevard and will proceed east along the beach to Calle Cesar Chavez, and then back down to Cabrillo. The parade will begin at noon and go 2 p.m. The public is welcome to set up chairs along Cabrillo Boulevard from Castillo Street to Calle Puerto Vallarta (Santa Barbara Chromatic Gate).
Flor Y Canto – Free
The Flor Y Canto makes its return to the Fiesta to celebrate its 20th anniversary with the event. The show will feature traditional Spanish California dances and songs from the 19th century. The group is made up of local performers who use traditional acoustic instruments and clothing made to replicate clothing from 150 years ago. The event will be held at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in the Sunken Gardens. The show starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m.
Weekend Events
El Desfile de los Niños (Children’s Parade) – Free
Hosted by the Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department, the Children’s Parade features children and families dressed in traditional costumes that celebrate the history of the area. The event will be held on Saturday and starts at 10 a.m. The parade travels down Cabrillo Boulevard starting from Garden Street to Calle Puerto Vallarta.
Tardes de Ronda – Free
This dance program features the youngest performers of the Fiesta. The family-friendly event will consist of dancers under the age of 13 from eight different dance groups performing traditional dances. The event is free to the public and will be held at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in the Sunken Gardens. The event will be held on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Schedule:
1:00 p.m. – Junior Spirit of Fiesta, Aleenah Soriano
1:10 p.m. – Zermeño Dance Academy
1:45 p.m. – Cruz Dance & Entertainment Studio
2:00 p.m. – ME Sabor
2:30 p.m. – Puro Flamenco
2:45 p.m. – Boscutti Ballet Theatre
3:15 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico Patria Mexicana
3:20 p.m. – Garcia Dance Studio
To view the full schedule of events, visit sbfiesta.org.
