2:18 p.m., Thursday
Hard-boiled reporter egg-mortalized on limited edition cascarónes
By Tom Schultz, Staff Writer
John Palminteri is ready to crack—again.
In a tradition running more than a decade, a Santa Barbara general contractor and part-time purveyor of Fiesta cascarónes has captured the city’s most recognized TV journalist in a fragile state.
This year’s confetti-filled rendition portrays Palminteri in his viral “Primetime” likeness combined with his official role as the 2026 Fiesta Parade grand marshal.
“Last year we made one of John with gray hairs,” Mendez said. “He was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’
“Everybody wants to get these,’ Mendez said, adding he’s turned down offers of $50 each.
They’re not for sale. Instead, Mendez makes a dozen or so each year as a gift for the longtime newsman.
Mendez returns to Fiesta annually to support his mother, who’s sold cascarónes during Old Spanish Days for more than four decades. Adelaida Mendez is nearly 90 years old, and there’s still no stopping her.
This year, they’re set up on the 600 block of State Street across from the Metro 4 Theatre.
9:53 a.m., Thursday
On to the next production
By Tom Schultz, Staff Writer
As the cascarón confetti settled and Santa Barbara woke Thursday after the first official night of Fiesta, crews had made quick work breaking down one of the event’s biggest stages.
By 9 a.m., a massive audio and video production truck deployed to bring La Fiesta Pequeña to an in-person and television audience appeared packed and ready to depart Old Mission Santa Barbara.
The Mission steps were just about cleared — and right on time — as officials prepared for the 10 a.m. La Misa del Presidente, or Mass of the president of Fiesta, a tradition that dates to the first day of Fiesta in 1936.
10:17 p.m., Wednesday
La Fiesta Pequeña stamps, taps and swirls
By Tom Schultz, Staff Writer
Photos by Aston Smith, News-Press
It’s the official opening of Fiesta. Dancers and musicians graced the stage during the two-hour “Little Fiesta” Wednesday night at Old Mission Santa Barbara, which has hosted the free event since 1927.
8.42 p.m., Wednesday
‘You’re home’
By Aston Smith, Staff Writer
Mayor Randy Rowse welcomed audience members from near and far to La Fiesta Pequeña at the Old Mission Santa Barbara Wednesday night.
“If you live here, you’re home,” Rowse told a crowd that spanned the Mission grounds and adjacent A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden. “If you’re here visiting with us this week, you’re home.”
Fiesta draws tens of thousands of participants every year.
Check back for continuing coverage.
4:56 p.m., Wednesday
Roosevelt Elementary raising funds with parking for La Fiesta Pequeña
By Amanda Velasco, Staff Reporter
Headed to La Fiesta Pequeña? Roosevelt Elementary School near the Old Mission Santa Barbara might have an answer for your parking woes.
The school will provide about five dozen parking spots at $30 each for the event, which kicks off in just a few hours at 8 p.m. at the Mission. The school aims to raise about $1,500, with the proceeds going toward its programming and events, said Liora Goodman, who is overseeing the effort.
La Fiesta Pequeña ends at 10 p.m. People can park at the school lot until 10:30, Goodman said.
12:44 p.m., Wednesday
What special menu items are businesses offering for Fiesta?
By Amanda Velasco, Julianna Lozada and Roman Trovato, News-Press Staff Reporters
Mister Softee: The ice cream shop on State Street is serving the Magonada Philly Ice, made with mango Philadelphia ice, mango chunks, chamoy and Tajin, and topped with a tamarindo stick. It’s priced at $5.75 for a small and $6.75 for a regular.
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery: Rori’s brought back its horchata ice cream flavor, priced at $9 for a 4-ounce cup. The ice cream shop will also offer a Mexican hot chocolate flavor, made with dark chocolate and cinnamon—and only available at Mercado de la Guerra.
“Rori’s loves that every year Santa Barbara stops what it’s doing for a week to celebrate one of the town’s oldest traditions, and that the horses still have a parade,” said owner Rori Trovato.
Seoulmate Kitchen: The Korean restaurant at the Santa Barbara Public Market on Victoria Street is launching a pop-up cafe featuring a limited selection of eight drinks, including Viet coconut coffee, coconut matcha, coconut coffee, strawberry matcha, strawberry creamsicle and Shirley lemonade.
12:50 p.m., Wednesday
Weather outlook: sunny and warm as the fun heats up
By Aston Smith, Staff Reporter
The sun’s breaking through the morning fog and haze, and today is forecasted to be the hottest day of Fiesta, reaching nearly 90 degrees. If you’re planning to visit Mercado de la Guerra, make sure to bring water and sunscreen.
Temperatures should cool off later in the evening.
Check back for more updates throughout the day.
11:36 a.m., Wednesday
La Casa de la Raza-based organizations denied Mercado booth
By Julianna Lozada, Staff Reporter
Two prominent Eastside immigrant advocacy organizations won’t have a booth at this year’s Mercado de La Guerra, after the Old Spanish Days Committee rejected the request.
The Migrant Rights Project and Restorative Justice Education Center, based at the historic La Casa de la Raza on East Montecito Street, sold tortas for the past six years. Fiesta was their main annual fundraiser, said Jacqueline Inda, who runs the project and center.
An email to Inda described the rationale.
“This decision reflects operational considerations and is made in the interest of maintaining a consistent and manageable event environment for all participants,” the committee wrote, adding that neither the nonprofits nor any “affiliated organizations” could participate.
Inda said she believes the committee’s decision was motivated by creating a more profitable Mercado. Old Spanish Days has moved a beer garden into the space, which would likely bring in more alcohol sales.
Traditionally, Inda noted, the Mercado has been a place for nonprofits to fundraise. She also said she believes mentions of ICE or immigration advocacy could be perceived as divisive, and that the committee wanted to create a more politically neutral environment.
“It makes sense for an organization to move toward something that is more profitable for them,” Inda said. “It’s a larger scale event that opens its doors to a few hundreds of thousands of folks into the downtown corridor and has to be open to everyone.”
David Bolton, treasurer and division chief of external relations for Old Spanish Days, said the committee had no further comment.
The project and center will sell its tortas at a booth outside the Mercado between Son Y Sabor and the La Aroma de Havana Cigar Lounge on State Street.
Check back for more updates throughout the day.
