1:20 p.m., Saturday
More images from today’s parade
By Julianna Lozada, Staff Writer
11:14 a.m., Saturday
Children’s Parade delights on Fiesta’s fourth day
By Viviana Ruiz, Staff Writer
Little smiles and laughs brought this year’s Fiesta Children’s Parade to Cabrillo Boulevard Saturday.
Folklorico and flamenco dancers filled the street near the Chromatic Gate rainbow arch as youngsters caught thrown roses and carnations.
As the parade wound down, and after the confetti and bubbles settled, street sweepers immediately moved in to the area.
7:12 p.m., Friday
Carriage parking—Fiesta Friday only
By Tom Schultz, Staff Writer
As Old Spanish Days entered its third night, scenes from the day lingered. After today’s equestrian Fiesta Parade on Cabrillo Boulevard, antique carriages filled parking spots at Pershing Park typically claimed by motor vehicles.
5:39 p.m., Friday
More Fiesta restaurant specials—in time for the weekend
By Julianna Lozada, Staff Writer
The Grand on State: The chefs at the newly-opened jazz restaurant are cooking up some Spanish dishes. Entres include a Salmon a la Gallega, Chicken in Brava Sauce and a Estofado de Tenera. Spanish tapas, or small plates, will also be available, including spanish tortillas, pan con tomate and al ajillo prawns. A required cover charge goes to the musicians.
Hook and Press: Known for its intricate and decadent donut flavors, Hook and Press, located in La Arcada Plaza, is offering churro donut holes—$2.50 for six or $4 for a dozen.
Crushcakes & Cafe: There’s no shortage of specialty churros to be found. Crushcakes & Cafe is serving a “churro” cupcake—a vanilla cinnamon cake topped with cinnamon sugar frosting and mini churros.
1:27 p.m., Friday
Horse gets loose temporarily at Old Spanish Days parade
By Katherine Ball, Copy Editor
A runaway horse galloped free with a saddle—but no rider—during the El Desfile Historico parade.
The horse was chased by a man blowing a whistle repeatedly on the mountain side of Cabrillo Boulevard.
As the horse neared Garden Street, it ran closer to the curb, sending a group of people scrambling off the curb and out of the way of the horse.
About 1:33 p.m. a man on foot got the horse back and walked it back toward the Santa Barbara Harbor. The horse possibly returned back to the parade with a rider, according to eyewitness reports.
No one was injured.
1:41 p.m., Friday
Revelers line Cabrillo Boulevard for Fiesta Historical Parade
By Viviana Ruiz, Staff Writer
Confetti filled Cabrillo Boulevard as hundreds of horses made their way east along the Santa Barbara waterfront.
The Fiesta Historical Parade is scheduled to run from noon to 2 p.m.
Expect traffic snarls in the area.
9:48 a.m., Friday
Fiesta pets unleash the fun
By Tom Schultz, Staff Writer
Old Spanish Days brings out all types of party animals—including the four-legged kind.
Estrella the black pug, age 3, is no stranger to the sights and sounds of Old Spanish Days. Her human, Stephany Galvan of Goleta, dances ballet folklórico. She said Estrella loves to tag along to rehearsals, in addition to the main event.
“She’s like a part of the pack,” Galvan said.
8:55 p.m., Thursday
And the show goes on: Las Noches de Ronda audience rescues the rhythm at Sunken Gardens
By Viviana Ruiz and Aston Smith, Staff Writers
As Old Spanish Days entered its second night, Las Noches de Ronda got underway.
And when a recorded audio track unexpectedly dropped early in the performance, the audience met the dancers where it mattered most—clapping and delivering a sustained rhythm that kept the show alive.
An Old Spanish Days tradition since 1930, the anticipated event brings three consecutive nights of flamenco and folklórico dancing as well as musical performances to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens.
Tonight’s show is scheduled to end at 11 p.m.
5:34 p.m., Thursday
More Fiesta-only special menu items
By Julianna Lozada and Amanda Velasco, Staff Writers
Dinner time is just about here, as our coverage of get-it-while-you-can Fiesta food continues.
Aegean: With a patio located right on Mercado de la Guerra, the newly-opened Turkish restaurant is offering a Fiesta-only menu from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Options include the $15 Tavuk Turkish Taco, $20 Kavurma Turkish Taco, $20 Garides Ceviche and $15 Aegean Michelada.
Cuso’s Creamery: It’s a part bike shop and part ice cream parlor, or is it the other way around? One thing is certain—the State Street gathering spot will be serving a special torta for $11.95. It’s got ham, refried beans, queso fresco, avocado, lettuce, tomato and sliced onion on a bolillo roll.
Joe’s Cafe: The legendary downtown State Street restaurant will offer its annual Fiesta menu on Friday and Saturday with chile relleno, tri-tip burritos, fajitas, enchiladas and nachos.
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 $7.50 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.
