Members of the Old Spanish Days and Lorbero Theatre boards of directors pose in their Fiesta finery.
Members of the Old Spanish Days and Lorbero Theatre boards of directors pose in their Fiesta finery. Credit: Courtesy photo

On the steps of the historic Lobero Theatre, where in 1924 the community festival known as Fiesta started, board members from Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara (OSD) and the Lobero Theatre unveiled the official poster for the 2023 Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta auditions.

This marks the third consecutive year that the Lobero has partnered with OSD to bring the auditions to its historic stage.

On April 15, 2023, The pageantry of Old Spanish Days Fiesta will be on full display April 15, when 22 young dancers complete for the title of Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta. The community is invited to watch the competitors perform. Tickets are on sale at the Lobero box office. The program will also be live streamed on the OSD website.

“We could not be more grateful to the Lobero Theatre for their ongoing generosity,” said David Bolton, 2023 El Presidente. “It will be a dream come true for many of the finalists to dance on the historic stage where Fiesta started 99 years ago this August.”

OSD has also announced an expanded partnership with local television station, KEYT-TV. 

In support of its growing collection of local channels, the Spirit Auditions will be replayed during primetime programing, 7-9 p.m. Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30 on KEYT’s the Now Channel 13.
 
Another announcement by OSD is that the partnership with KEYT-TV will, for the first time, include simultaneous multi-language live broadcasts of La Fiesta Pequeña (Wednesday, Aug. 2) and El Desfile Histórico (Friday, Aug. 5).

Viewers can watch the events in English on NewsChannel 3 and in Spanish on Telemundo Costa Central, Cox Cable Channel 15.

“Old Spanish Days Fiesta is appreciative of the more than 50-year relationship with KEYT,” Bolton said. “It is a tremendous service to our community to be able to broadcast multiple events this year live in both English and Spanish during Fiesta.

“We are looking forward to the start of our Fiesta broadcast season with the exciting Spirit of Fiesta auditions in April.”

Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to honoring and preserving Santa Barbara’s history, spirit, culture, heritage and traditions.

Fiesta 2023 will take place in various locations around the city Aug. 2-6. Visit www.sbfiesta.org for more information, to buy tickets, or to make a tax-deductible donation.