[Noozhawk’s note: First in a series of Fiesta articles researched and reported by contributing writer Sienna Valentine, the inaugural Erin Graffy Journalism Fellowship recipient for student journalists. The program was established by Graffy’s family in partnership with The Profant Foundation for the Arts and Noozhawk.]
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Project Fiesta! exhibit displays a portion of the recently acquired Old Spanish Days Fiesta archives.
This exhibit was dedicated to Erin Graffy de Garcia, a journalist, historian, author and beloved member of the Santa Barbara community.
Graffy died in January after a brief battle with ovarian cancer. Her life left a lasting mark on many aspects of the community, and particularly at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, at 136 E. De la Guerra St. downtown.
“When we’ve been looking through the files, we were able to find all sorts of fun photos of Erin, because Erin’s been a part of Fiesta history for a long time,” said Dacia Harwood, a friend of Graffy’s and the museum’s executive director.
Graffy was also the Fiesta historian for more than 30 years, which allowed her to help the museum acquire the archive from the defunct Santa Barbara News-Press newspaper.
Her knowledge of the archives allowed Harwood and her team to plan and execute the exhibit soon after receiving the voluminous files.
“She would go through the News-Press archive and arrange the photographs, catalog them, and so that has probably helped Dacia and Emily a lot,” said Neal Graffy, Erin’s brother.
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Project Fiesta! exhibit features displays of beautiful restored Old Spanish Days costumes, posters, artwork, artifacts and historical photos. The exhibit runs through Sept. 22 at the museum at 136 E. De la Guerra St. in downtown Santa Barbara. Credit: Sienna Valentine / Noozhawk photo 
Project Fiesta! is a fitting tribute to the late Erin Graffy, at left, whose love for Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta fueled a lifelong passion for the historic celebration. Credit: Santa Barbara Historical Museum photo 
Erin Graffy and friends in their Fiesta finery. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Erin Graffy helps prepare a Fiesta costume for display as part of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Project Fiesta! exhibit. Credit: Santa Barbara Historical Museum photo 
Erin and Jim Garcia shared a love for Fiesta and for dancing. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Erin Graffy with a statue of Santa Barbara’s namesake, St. Barbara, at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. 
Erin and Jim Garcia with 2023 Old Spanish Days El Presidente David Bolton. Credit: Santa Barbara Historical Museum photo 
Erin Graffy and her Santa Barbara Historical Museum family. Credit: Santa Barbara Historical Museum photo 
Erin and Jim Graffy at a Profant Foundation gala in 2023. Credit: Garcia family photo 
Happy warrior Erin Graffy after another productive day at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Credit: Santa Barbara Historical Museum photo 
Erin Graffy, at right, with two frequent co-conspirators, brother Neal Graffy and Dacia Harwood, executive director of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Credit: Santa Barbara Historical Museum photo
After a year-long process, the museum finally took possession of more than a million photos and 150 years of important Santa Barbara history.
“So while we knew she was really pleased for us to ultimately get the collection, and I was able to tell her the tales of actually physically acquiring it, but that was when she got really sick,” Harwood recalled.
“And so that’s why it was sort of an obvious thing for us to at least dedicate the exhibit in her memory.”
Neal felt both honored and proud that the exhibit was dedicated to his sister.
“She was already so involved in Fiesta and did so much for Fiesta, and to be recognized by the historic museum for her contributions was just a great tribute to Erin and to her legacy,” he said.
“And it’s a phenomenal exhibit, and we’re all so proud and thrilled about it.”
“Fiesta was her heart. There’s just no better way to say it.”
NEAL GRAFFY
Graffy was passionate about sharing the history of Fiesta, and Project Fiesta! does just that, featuring displays of beautiful restored costumes, posters, artwork, artifacts and historical photos.
It was also important to Graffy that the public had open access to that knowledge.
“I know she’d be really proud that we’re able to share it so successfully,” Harwood said. “She was always very proud of the fact that the museum offers free admission, and she would have just been excited to see the way that we put it together.”
Beyond her knowledge of Fiesta history, Graffy had been a part of every Fiesta celebration since she was a teenager.
“Erin just loved Fiesta,” Harwood said. “I mean, she never missed an event.
“She was always dressed to the nines … She loved the dance and the pageantry and the people and the friends, and the fact that you see people you haven’t seen for a while every year.”
Graffy’s passion for Fiesta and its history is preserved through Project Fiesta! It’s more than a museum exhibit, but instead is a collection of memories, honoring the celebration that she loved so deeply.
“I mean Fiesta was her heart,” Neal Graffy said. “There’s just no better way to say it.”
The Project Fiesta! exhibit will be open until Sept. 22 and visitors are encouraged to come to the historical museum and learn even more about the history of Fiesta and the memory of Erin Graffy.
