Fiesta is back this week with all of its traditional events, including the historical horse parade, mercados, the rodeo, and an array of dance and musical performances.
Old Spanish Days, with events Wednesday through Sunday, is a tradition that dates back to 1924 with a parade to celebrate the reopening of the Lobero Theatre, according to Santa Barbara Fiesta. This year’s theme is “Todos Juntos en Familia,” or “All Together as a Family.”
Most events are free to attend.
This will be the first Old Spanish Days with every event, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations and downsizing in 2020 and 2021.
Pre-Fiesta
» The Santa Barbara Historical Museum, at 136 E. De la Guerra St., is showing an exhibit on The History of Old Spanish Days from noon to 5 p.m. through Sept. 22. The installation includes costumes, posters and film footage from the past decades of Fiesta. Admission is free.
Daily Events
» The Santa Barbara County Courthouse, at 1100 Anacapa St., will be providing free hour-long guided tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Tours will not be held from noon to 2 p.m. because of Friday’s parade.
» The 98th annual Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo will run Thursday to Sunday at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real. Each day brings a different event from horse competitions to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association performances Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Click here for a full schedule of events. Daytime events are free to view. Click here to purchase rodeo tickets online.
» El Mercado del Norte is back at MacKenzie Park, 3200 State St. The market will feature more than 30 carnival rides and games, 14 food vendors and 20 vendors selling toys and souvenirs, live music and dance performances, and the Crazy Horse Cantina for those 21 and older.
The carnival will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Wristbands will be sold at the ticket booth for $35.
» Located in De la Guerra Plaza in front of Santa Barbara City Hall, El Mercado De la Guerra is a street market that will sell Spanish and Mexican-American foods and gifts. The market is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday at 8 E. De la Guerra St.
» Our Lady of Guadalupe is hosting Fiesta celebrations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Mexican food and live entertainment. The festivities are scheduled at the church, 227 N. Nopal St., from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
» For those 21 and older, the Casa Cantina is open from noon to midnight Thursday to Saturday at Casa De la Guerra, 15 E. De la Guerra St. There is a general admission fee to enter.
» More than 200 dancers will perform during Noches de Ronda (Nights of Gaiety) at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden in the 100 block of East Anapamu Street. This free showcase offers a variety of traditional Latin dances, such as flamenco and folklórico. Performances take place from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Blankets cannot be placed on the lawn before 9 a.m. on the day of the performances. Plastic and nylon blankets are not allowed on the lawns.
» The Fiesta Arts & Crafts Show will follow the beach along West Cabrillo Boulevard to the west of Stearns Wharf from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The show will feature unique pieces from local artists for sale.
Wednesday
» La Fiesta Pequeña is the traditional opening event of Old Spanish Days. It is a free showcase with music and dance performances by Californios Spirit at the Santa Barbara Mission, 2201 Laguna St., from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday. The event is free but attendees can also purchase reserved seats online. Attendees are not allowed to reserve seating on the lawns with blankets and chairs until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Thursday
»La Misa del Presidente is High Mass hosted by Saint Barbara Parish at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Mission. The tradition of holding a Roman Catholic Mass on the second day of Fiesta dates back to 1936 and celebrates “both the long-standing relationship between the Old Mission and Old Spanish Days as well as the entire Fiesta,” Fiesta organizers say.
» Thursday marks the first day of the Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo starting at 9 a.m. in Earl Warren Showgrounds’ Dome Arena. Competition for children ages 7 to 17 starts at 11 a.m. in the Mountain View Arena.
Friday
» The Historical Parade (El Desfile Histórico) is one of the nation’s largest equestrian parades, featuring more than 600 horses. The parade will include local service clubs and organizations that will re-enact scenes from Santa Barbara and California’s history.
The parade runs from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, starting at the west end of West Cabrillo Boulevard, heading east along the beach to Calle Cesar Chavez and then back down Cabrillo. Click here to buy a parking pass, or tickets for reserved seats. Historically, the parade went up State Street through downtown, but much of that route is now a pedestrian promenade off-limits to parades and vehicle traffic.
There will be free downtown shuttles available Friday to take people from Santa Barbara parking garages to the parade route on Cabrillo Boulevard.
» Flor y Canto is a showcase of Spanish Californian dances and songs from the 19th century, performed in traditional costumes and with replica instruments as they would have been performed 150 years ago. The performance is from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Courthouse Sunken Garden.
» The second day of the Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo will feature roping and barrel racing competitions for juniors ages 13 to 17 starting at 8 a.m. Friday in Earl Warren Showgrounds’ Dome Arena. The PRCA rodeo competition starts at 7:30 p.m. and will include bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer stopping, mutton bustin’, saddle bronc riding, PRCA team roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Click here to purchase tickets online.
Saturday
» This year marks the 90th anniversary of The Children’s Parade (El Desfile De Los Niños). More than 2,500 children participate in the parade annually, and about 40,000 spectators watch the parade, according to event organizers. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and the route begins at the corner of East Cabrillo Boulevard and Garden Street, and ends on East Cabrillo Boulevard near Calle Puerto Vallarta. Families of three or more can participate in the parade for free, and all participants receive free ice cream at the end of the parade route.
» The rodeo’s “Old Timer’s” competition starts at 8 a.m. Saturday in Earl Warren Showgrounds’ Dome Arena. The PRCA rodeo competition starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Dome Arena. Click here to purchase tickets.
Sunday
» The last day of the rodeo will start at 8 a.m. Sunday in Earl Warren Showgrounds’ Mountain View Arena with All Horse Show Classes. At 8:30 a.m. in the Dome Arena, there will be team penning and team sorting. The final PRCA rodeo competition begins at 2 p.m. in the Dome Arena. Click here to purchase tickets.
— Noozhawk staff writer Grace Kitayama can be reached at gkitayama@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.