Fiesta is moving into primetime.
Santa Barbara television reporter and local celebrity John Palminteri will trade his usual role of covering the news for making the news.
Palminteri, who has covered Old Spanish Days Fiesta for more than four decades and documented generations of celebrations and community members through his reporting, has been named the 2026 Old Spanish Days Grand Marshal.
El Presidente Colin Hayward announced Palminteri’s selection Monday afternoon at the Carriage and Western Art Museum of Santa Barbara.
“I chose John because he exemplifies what a Grand Marshal should be. Someone who has been a positive contributor to the Santa Barbara community for many years,” Hayward said. “For his years of dedicated service, his unwavering enthusiasm for Santa Barbara, and his commitment to telling the stories that bring our community together, I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.”
For Palminteri, the honor marks a rare opportunity to experience Fiesta from a different perspective. Instead of reporting on the Historical Parade from the sidelines, he will instead lead the procession on Aug. 7.
“I was completely surprised,” Palminteri said. “It’s rare for me to be at a loss for words.”
Since Fiesta’s inaugural celebration in 1924, a Grand Marshal has been chosen to lead El Desfile Histórico, one of the nation’s largest equestrian parades and a centerpiece of the annual celebration. This year, that honor belongs to Palminteri.
The honorary role recognizes individuals whose contributions have helped shape the Santa Barbara community and the traditions celebrated during Old Spanish Days.
Palminteri has covered Santa Barbara news for decades, becoming a familiar face at community events, breaking news scenes and Fiesta celebrations alike. Throughout the years, his coverage has documented countless volunteers, performers, El Presidentes and parade participants, helping preserve the history of one of Santa Barbara’s most enduring traditions.
“I love the fiesta parade so much,” Palminteri said. “The Santa Barbara community is so fortunate. It’s like a storybook unfolding as the parade moves forward. It’s the histories of all of these communities. It’s historic and beautiful… We’re bringing people together. It’s a combination of celebration and education.”
He said one of the saddest days of the year for him is “the Monday after Fiesta,” a reflection of just how deeply the annual celebration has become part of his life after decades of covering it.
Old Spanish Days Fiesta will be held Aug. 5-9, celebrating Santa Barbara’s history and cultural heritage with traditions including La Fiesta Pequeña, El Mercado de la Guerra, Las Noches de Ronda, live music and dance performances, and El Desfile Histórico. Palminteri will lead the parade at noon on Aug. 7 along Cabrillo Boulevard from Castillo Street to Calle Cesar Chavez.
Asked if he had a message for the Santa Barbara community as he prepares to serve as Grand Marshal, Palminteri laughed.
“If they think they’ve had fun at Fiesta over the years,” he said, “get ready because it’s showtime and it’s primetime.”
