• Alexis Simentales, left, was selected as 2016 Spirit of Fiesta and Sarah Naretto as the Junior Spirit during final auditions at La Cumbre Junior High School in Santa Barbara.  (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days photo)
    Alexis Simentales, left, was selected as 2016 Spirit of Fiesta and Sarah Naretto as the Junior Spirit during final auditions at La Cumbre Junior High School in Santa Barbara.  (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days photo)
  • 2016 Junior Spirit of Fiesta Sarah Naretto, a fifth-grader at La Patera School. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • 2016 Spirit of Fiesta Alexis Simentales, a Santa Barbara City College student. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • 2015 Spirit Alexandra Freres, 2015 Junior Spirit Ysabella Yturralde, 2016 El Presidente J.C. Gordon and 2016 Spirit of Fiesta candidates waiting for the announcement. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • Spirit candidates waiting for the announcement of the 2106 Spirit and Junior Spirit titles. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • 2015 Spirit of Fiesta Alexandra Freres. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • 2015 Spirit Alexandra Freres, left, and 2015 Junior Spirit Ysabella Yturralde. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • 2015 Junior Spirit Ysabella Yturralde. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • 2015 Junior Spirit Ysabella Yturralde, left, and 2016 Junior Spirit Sarah Naretto with El Presidente J.C. Gordon. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • Alexis Simentales, second from right, reacts in joy as she hears her name called as the judges’ choice to be 2016 Spirit of Fiesta. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • Spirit of Fiesta runner-up Alexia Olivares. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)
  • Junior Spirit of Fiesta runner-up Reese Danhauer. (Fritz Olenberger / Old Spanish Days)

Bill Macfadyen is Noozhawk’s founder and publisher. Contact him at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com, and follow him on Instagram: @bill.macfadyen. The opinions expressed are his own.