There’s a saying: the four seasons of Santa Barbara are flood, fire, fog, and Fiesta. Our annual summer celebration, Old Spanish Days Fiesta, turns 100 this year. The community is going big, kicking off events earlier in the year with happenings rooted in the traditions of historical Santa Barbara. This first issue of Santa Barbara Coast is dedicated to the rich heritage of Santa Barbara’s beloved Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Read on to learn about the beginnings, the Spirits, and this year’s can’t-miss events.
1924
Fiesta was born out of two ideas. The first was business owners wanting to bring more visitors into Santa Barbara during the historically sleepy summer. At the beginning of the 20th century, tourists visited Santa Barbara more in winter to escape colder climes.
The second motivator was the reopening of the Lobero Theatre. The Community Arts Association bought the theater in 1922. It had been condemned and unused after ownership by the founder, Jose (Guiseppe) Lobero. The CAA remodeled the building under the plans of architect and painter George Washington Smith, who popularized the Spanish Colonial Revival style in the area.
What started as plans for a parade became a weeklong community event, including a rodeo, family activities, and aquatic, athletic, and musical events. A gala celebration at the Lobero theater, pulsing with Spanish dancing, kicked off the week.
According to Old Spanish Days, the Mayor at the time, Charles M. Andera, declared fiesta week “one of festival and gaiety, during which period, which shall be known as ‘Old Spanish Days,’ the spirit of old Santa Barbara shall be lived again and again, and the new Santa Barbara shall give way to the traditions of the city’s founders.”
A homecoming for residents and hospitality for guests, Fiesta has always celebrated Santa Barbara.
The Spirits
Meet our cover stars: this year’s Spirit, 16-year-old Georgey Taupin, and Junior Spirit, 9-year-old Aleenah Soriano. Representing the charm and beauty of Fiesta, Georgey, and Aleenah are ambassadors throughout this year’s centennial celebrations. Graceful and energetic, these girls are enchanting. You can witness their magic when they appear and perform at numerous events, including La Fiesta Pequeña (Little Fiesta) at the Mission, the parades, and Noches de Ronda, the free performances at the sunken gardens inside the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
Georgey attends Oaks Christian Online school and enjoys singing and instructing a younger class of flamencas at Zermeño Dance Academy in Goleta. With a passion for musical theater, she explores other dance styles and loves the teamwork and camaraderie of performing live. A budding entrepreneur, she also owns her own cookie business.
Aleenah is a student at Roosevelt Elementary, where her favorite subjects are music and art. She has expressed herself creatively since she started dancing flamenco when she was two. She enjoys cooking, baking, gaming, and hanging out with her family and friends. Performing at retirement homes is one of her favorite pastimes because it makes people happy.
The tradition of the Fiesta Spirit started in 1949. The first Junior Spirit was chosen in 1965 to show the different youthful phases of the area’s aspiring talents. Primarily awarded to females, Jack Harwood was the first male Spirit crowned last year. This year’s auditions performed to a sold-out crowd at the Lobero Theatre in April—a total of 25 finalists who’ve spent years learning and practicing the art of flamenco.
Like Fiesta, Spirits have evolved while remaining a tradition. Missy Pulido, former Spirit ‘89, explains, “Poise and elegance. Determination and dedication. Spirits represent the whole community and all dance styles. The dance is more advanced now than when I was Spirit. Technique is different. It’s more studied; these dancers learn from artists around the world.
2024
While Fiesta events began this spring, the community festivities are in full bloom from July 31 to August 4. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s annual “Project Fiesta!” exhibition. The Santa Barbara Courthouse offers free Fiesta tours. Flor y Canto, where acoustic instruments accompany original Spanish California dances and songs of the 19th century. The horse show and rodeo. The parade, and the children’s parade, El Desfile de los Niños. Don't miss the Mercados for the most authentic Fiesta Flavors: El Mercado De La Guerra, El Mercado De La Playa, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado, and the Fiesta Arts and Crafts Show along Cabrillo Boulevard.
This year will be a Fiesta for the ages. Viva El Centenario!
A homecoming for residents and hospitality for guests, Fiesta has always celebrated Santa Barbara.
Poise and elegance. Determination and dedication. Spirits represent the whole community and all dance styles.