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Viva Fiesta!
updated: Jul 19, 2012, 9:58 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

What are the top 5 things (events) that the locals enjoy about Fiesta?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

WILLOW	2012-07-19 10:01 AM
Churros!
COMMENT 299284	2012-07-19 10:05 AM
Having a good excuse to leave town. (Well, someone had to say it first.)
COMMENT 299285	2012-07-19 10:07 AM
1. Parade on Friday... 2. Childrens Parade - we have participated the last 3 years with our kids day care.... 3. The food at Guadalupe church...4. Nightly dances at the Courthouse... 5. Watching opening ceremonies on TV. DISLIKE - vacuming confetti for 2 months after...
COMMENT 299286P	2012-07-19 10:07 AM
Fiesta is an incentive to get out of town. And flamenco music becomes serious and sad - the "viva" in it is "triste"
COMMENT 299289	2012-07-19 10:11 AM
El Celebración de los Dignatarios at the SB Zoo!
COMMENT 299290P	2012-07-19 10:12 AM
@299284, you beat me to it.
COMMENT 299293	2012-07-19 10:15 AM
1) Having an excuse to work from home and not leave my house for a few days straight! 2) Getting yard work done 3) Finishing projects around the house that I never finished from the last Fiesta 4) Reading Edhat crime reports 5) QT with the dog
COMMENT 299295	2012-07-19 10:17 AM
Not going?
COMMENT 299296P	2012-07-19 10:19 AM
When it's over.
COMMENT 299297	2012-07-19 10:21 AM
The camraderie of sitting with my fellow Santa Barbara neighbors on the courthouse lawn, under the stars, on a warm summer night, enjoying the wonderful music and lovely dancers in their brightly colored costumes :)
COMMENT 299299	2012-07-19 10:22 AM
The uptown mercado, supporting the charities by buying a bunch of their food, eating said food, watching the little kids dance on the stage.
COMMENT 299305P	2012-07-19 10:29 AM
1. Leaving town before it starts. 2. Not returning until it is over. 3.Reading on EdHat all of the foolish things people did while I was gone. 4. Hearing from friends and family how difficult it was to get anywhere or do anything normal while the chaos went on. 5. Planning my trip for the same time next year.
COMMENT 299307	2012-07-19 10:30 AM
The food, the horse parade, the family and friends. Can't beat it. Viva La Fiesta!
COMMENT 299311P	2012-07-19 10:37 AM
Love these comments, can totally tell who's a long-time local/native that appreciates Fiesta and those who are newer to the area and just don't "get it" (which there is nothing wrong with, to each his own) I will be out and about appreciating the talented dancing, deliciously unhealthy food, and basking in the high-energy atmosphere we don't have enough of these days. I'm most looking forward to what I do every year - being around people who lose themselves in their passion, culture, and history, THAT is a beautiful thing.
COMMENT 299312P	2012-07-19 10:37 AM
Hoping the controversy regarding having two Junior Spirits--one chosen in defiance of Old Spanish Daze rules--reignites.
COMMENT 299314P	2012-07-19 10:46 AM
311P Just because I decide to leave town during fiestas does not make me new to the area nor does it mean I don't get it. I was born and raised here and have attended fiestas as a child and young adult. It is not I but fiestas that has changed over the years. My family participated in the music, dancing, and food for decades. Now it is different and apart from a couple of events unrecognizable when compared to what it used to be. Please enjoy your 5 day party with all of those who come into town, drink heavily, drive drunk, stagger around, and make a complete mess. Not to worry the locals will clean it up after you leave.
DILLYDALLY	2012-07-19 11:17 AM
For long time locals our minds are made up. Either we love it and know what events we like and what is not our cup of tea, or we hate it. I wont try to change minds on that account. I like the dancing, the music, the food, spending time with friends and family and seeing lots of good natured celebrating. The excessive partying is what gives fiesta a bad rap among some locals. I have found it to be fairly contained to a few places and easy to avoid (or easy to find if thats what you like to do, no judgement). For people that are new to the area or out of towners, there is a lot of fun to be had. Know what you like to do and find those things.
COMMENT 299326	2012-07-19 11:17 AM
I don't know any local that doesn't own a tourist oriented business that likes Fiesta. And even they are few.
COMMENT 299327P	2012-07-19 11:17 AM
Me too. I enjoy not participating in any way, and avoiding downtown at all costs during the annual Fiesta. I've lived and worked here for 40+ years, so count as a native. I used to participate, but it's no fun for me any more -- too many drunks, too touristy, too dangerous with inebriated strangers figuring out one way streets and looking for parking.
COMMENT 299334	2012-07-19 11:24 AM
Local smocale.... Every town in North America has its own special event and it's own group of self entitled "locals".... Fiesta with fish, crawfish, loggers, blah...blah...blah... SB isn't unique in this .... It is a common thing... Some people love it... Some...not so much..... In all locations it seems to be more about drinking and acting stupid! I am tired of it...been there done that!
D8VANILLA	2012-07-19 11:29 AM
@314p - You left out the excessive commercialization, which is new also. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And, don't let those confetti-egg-sellers raise the prices, like they tried to do one year.... It's ALWAYS 4 for a buck.... 4@ $1.00 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I like the Tamales at Guadalupe Church, but PLEASE help them get organized..... They lose sooo much money, because they are soooo disorganized. ~~~~~~~~ And, YES, my family used to participate in the Childrens Parade for years and it was fun back then.
COMMENT 299347	2012-07-19 11:37 AM
My favorite event is always the free closing concert on Sunday at 3:30pm Aug 5th with the West Coast Symphony Orchestra at the Courthouse sunken gardens. Always a beautiful day and sitting on the grass in front of a large orchestra is a fantastic experience especially for music lovers. The 3 Spirits dance at intermission, it's the official closing ceremony and used to get the Mayor and El Presidente there but attendance has waned over the years so I am hoping to get the word out. Yes, I've been working it since 2002 and record the concert for rebroadcast on KDB-FM.
COMMENT 299357	2012-07-19 11:44 AM
Food and confetti, and working downtown so they let us off at noon on parade Friday so we can run away from the mess before the weekend!
COMMENT 299378P	2012-07-19 12:18 PM
We were warned away from Fiesta (our new friend called it a realtor's parade) when we moved here 20 years ago. It took a few years - and a mistake - when we first saw the parade. And loved it! The Fiesta parade is amazing and exciting. The horses are spectacular! There is so much pride in the many riders. There is a sense of history. It's an extravaganza and I feel appreciative to the participants for all their major efforts to get the horses here ~ and to the city for how they handle the logistics and cleanup. I'm sure it brings a lot of needed revenue in to town that helps us all through the year. I'm not so fond of the opening ceremonies at the Mission and there are too many mariachis for me - I like the musicians but tire fast of the music. In answer to your question, I agree with others about the general ambiance of warmth and excitement, being out amongst other enjoyers ~ and the parade! I feel happy being around Fiesta!
SBJULES	2012-07-19 12:27 PM
I still like to go to the mercados, sort of like Barney and I like the children's parade. A trip to the sunken gardens sometimes. I always miss my late mother because she absolutely adored the fiesta parade & the horses & I would go with her.
COMMENT 299384	2012-07-19 12:30 PM
Fiesta organizers should do like other big cities do and Close Down State Street to Cars. Each enterance point can be monitored by police and video. Cars with gang bangers are illiminated. Forcing more people than fit on a side walk to fit on that side walk is alleviated. Restaurants can set up outside dining in the street. Other vendors could buy space. Do it from 5pm to 2am only. Fiesta would be safer, more profitable, newly invented, less of a fear-fest. What is up with making realisitc and beneficial changes in this town?
COMMENT 299421	2012-07-19 01:11 PM
305P... spot on
COMMENT 299426	2012-07-19 01:23 PM
1. Drinking a shot of Don Julio at Sportsman. 2. Chasing shot of Don Julio at Sportsman with a Budweiser. 3. Drinking another shot of Don Julio at Sportsman. 4. Chasing shot of Don Julio at Sportsman with another Budweiser. 5. Lathering, rinsing, repeating until hammered.
COMMENT 299437P	2012-07-19 01:32 PM
One of the funny parts of fiesta is it being a topic that is a piñata.
COMMENT 299462	2012-07-19 02:08 PM
1. Noise 2. Crowds 3. Gang Bangers 4. Militarized downtown after dark 5. Confetti Did I forget anything?
COMMENT 299464	2012-07-19 02:16 PM
Yup, leaving town. I do like the horse parade, whatever that is called, but not standing around waiting for it - and let's face it, since of Los Angeles comes to town for Fiesta, what a great time to go to LA!
COMMENT 299496P	2012-07-19 03:12 PM
Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, Cancun, Carmel and Big Sur...
COMMENT 299500	2012-07-19 03:18 PM
Don't forget Morro Bay!
EZ2	2012-07-19 03:23 PM
THE RODEO AND KETTLE POPCORN
D8VANILLA	2012-07-19 03:25 PM
Nice new Supervisor at the Main Post Office. He was NOT from Santa Barbara and didn't know anything about Fiesta. While I'm on my lunch break, I buy some confetti eggs and when I came back to the office, gently cracked one over the new Supervisors head !! He freaks out and I almost got fired !! Fellow employees came to my aid and settled him down. Kelsy, we love you!!!
COMMENT 299531	2012-07-19 04:54 PM
well the first thing our family does is stay home and avoid downtown sb at all costs. i consider myself a local having moved here from san diego in 1972 but the fiesta is too scary especially in recent years. too many drunks and too many cops and too many fights. the other thing about fiesta is that it presents a misguided sense of Santa Barbara and California history that people accept as being true even though the days of the dons is mostly a myth. why not call it old mexican days? oh i forgot. there is too much bias and resentment towards mexicans and mexican americans these days so why recognize their history? just saying.
TWOBITS	2012-07-19 05:19 PM
the festive party atmosphere celebrating... ethnic booths/products and food, non-profits' booths, fancy dresses, lots of colorful confetti (LOVE sweeping it off the hardwood for days after). Fresh lime margaritas, excellent live music outdoors all around town, cowboys in Harry's, beer gardens, parades, surf music on the waterfront....viva la fiesta!
COMMENT 299544P	2012-07-19 05:21 PM
531.... blah blah blah... don't look for trouble and you won't find it.
COMMENT 299555	2012-07-19 05:40 PM
544-I don't look for trouble but when you are out in public surrounded by inebriated people they can come out of nowhere and pick a fight for no reason at all. once while hanging out at Joe's Cafe some drunk dude came out of nowhere and got in my face and wanted to fight me because he was in a drunk and billigerent mood. i "wasn't looking for trouble" but i found it. fortunately Francisco (the bartender and my long time friend) jumped from behind the bar and grabbed the drunk and tossed him out on State Street. your comment saying "blah blah blah" was totally uncalled for since you don't know me or my experiences with fiesta. maybe you should read the comment guidelines below where it says "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all."
COMMENT 299562	2012-07-19 05:57 PM
Lived here since 1969 and agree, best time to get out of town. I simply loathe Fiesta for both its dubious, overly pretentious claim to history and for the drunkenness it brings to our town. I am a proud Fiesta Curmudgeon.
COMMENT 299567	2012-07-19 06:05 PM
OP go out and find the best 5 Fiesta events and let us know because I, like you, am sincerely interested in what you find. To me that's the best thing about it, finding the cool events and making it a tradition with those you love. My niece is in the childrens parade this year and my grandma will be in attendance with us to witness her as the 5th generation Santa Barbaran in our family to take part in the Fiesta activities. So looking forward to it!
COMMENT 299570	2012-07-19 06:15 PM
I waffle year to year. I am intimidated by reports of loose, frightened horses at the parades so I'm no longer interested in that. I used to spend afternoons on the grass in the Mercado at De la Guerra to enjoy Jalapeno Poppers and BBQ ribs and shows on stage but I'm tired of the baby strollers either running up my heels if I'm walking or over my hands if I'm relaxing. Any more I prefer the El Mercado Norteno up at Los Positas, especially for lunch. It's like Fiesta Lite. Great food, some music, lemonade, usually great sunny weather... Aaaaah.
COMMENT 299579	2012-07-19 06:49 PM
1) Staying away from town since about the age of 25. 2) Avoiding the horrible traffic. 3) Not being near the fights, stabbings, and other crime. 4) Enjoying clear roads in surrounding areas to ride my bike on. 5) Not having a hangover! I've been in the anti-Fiesta group for awhile now. It's for out-of-towners, drunks, bangers, and others.
MTNDRIVER	2012-07-19 07:02 PM
I was a flower girl in the parade for three years back when. Used to love the street parties and dances on the lower east side in my late teens and 20s. Later, just tried to leave town. Lately, more likely to stay home, maybe make a trip to De la Guerra Plaza for tacos or Guadalupe for tamales--truly, the best. Used to love the horse parade when it was a separate event. Maybe I'll go watch the parade this year, what the heck. But yes, cascarones are required to be 4 for a dollar. Maybe the City Council needs to get involved in that one.
COMMENT 299587	2012-07-19 07:26 PM
I love the big parade (El Desfile Historico) only because I'm still horse-crazy. I now watch it on tv. With the volume OFF ;-) I worked with and was an outrider with Bob Mastagni & his Belgians in the early 70's (bless his heart, and Nancy's; and RIP.). I wasn't born here but remember no other place. I just don't handle crowds and that's not the only reason I'm not real big on Fiesta. I agree it's important to SB economically. I never go downtown during Fiesta. I always like to see good dancing of many kinds; I should make a point of watching opening night (Noches de la Ronda, no?) OH! Remember the caballos "parade" or whatever it was called?! They'd shut down a block or two for horses to hang out the day after the big parade. That was fantastic. (right Flicka? :-)) Bet it was cancelled due to liability. Ah, one can be so young when they start thinking about "the good old days."
COMMENT 299589	2012-07-19 07:31 PM
1. when it ends. 2. when I get to leave town to get away from it. 3. when drunks get arrested during fiesta. 4. I get to buy a fresh pack of ear plugs to block out the excess noise. 5. not being from Santa Barbara!
DILLYDALLY	2012-07-19 07:59 PM
If you can't find a way to enjoy the 4th of July, cinco de mayo, or the solstice then please avoid fiesta. There is plenty I don't like about fiesta, but shockingly I don't do those things. Joes has some of the strongest drinks and always over serves on holidays, if I didn't want belligerent drunks areound I wouldn't go to bars on state ever but especially during holidays. There is a lot of very interesting and fun daytime and early evening celebrations. And it's not the running of the bulls it's a parade. You could stay home all the time but I am worried about the stories I read about roofs collapsing. Research the fiesta events and go to the ones that look like your kind of fun.
COMMENT 299609	2012-07-19 08:18 PM
Where are Proctor and Ward when we need you most?
OOTSCOOT	2012-07-20 06:28 AM
the secret Taco Stand (mtn dr)
COMMENT 299641	2012-07-20 07:53 AM
Cruiser Ride!
COMMENT 299644P	2012-07-20 08:01 AM
Having lived across from the Mission, I always attended Fiesta Pequeno or opening night. It's always a little too long and a little repetitive, but it has a surreal beauty as the sun sets and the mission looks like a gorgeous stage set. It's a mix of talent and heartfelt energy. Like everything else Fiesta , it's become overly crowded, but it's worth checking out, because there's nothing else like it.
JMAC	2012-07-20 08:13 AM
1) The Children's parade 2) Taking Friday afternoon off 3) Tiny kids dancing on El Mercado stage (downtown) 4) La Fiesta Pequena on TV 5) Confetti everywhere (Hey, it's festive! And get over the mess...finding it in January makes you smile, right?) What I sorely miss: 1) My annual shot of tequila with Pascual 2) Proctor & Ward defiling the parade
COMMENT 299650	2012-07-20 08:14 AM
1. Dressing up in fantasy-hispanic clothing 2. Enjoying the shrimp-on-avocados at El Mercado 3. Parade! Viva! 4. Noches de Ronda (except for the Cota studio screechers, who ruin the kids' performance with their noise) 5. Cascarones (but WHY is mylar still allowed in them? Horrible stuff!)
COMMENT 299672	2012-07-20 08:51 AM
Been enjoying Fiesta for all 45 years of my life, love it all, do it all! And now my kids totally enjoy our family tradition too. Plus we still sell our cascarones 4 for a buck! Can't wait!!
COMMENT 299687	2012-07-20 09:16 AM
I liked it better when it was less touristy, a home-grown celebration. I loved when El Desfile Historico was on Thursday, and the real horse parade on Friday. I miss Father Virgil's commentary at Fiesta Pequena.
FLICKA	2012-07-20 09:17 AM
587, The "horse parade", Cablagada, was canceled because very few horses showed up, less every year after the showgrounds moved to Earl Warren, had to trailer in. When it started, very early on, the idea was to have a way to excercise horses, the parade being the day before. The horses were stabled at Pershing Park; I participated in the 1950s. We'd ride down Cabrillo Blvd, riders (all in costume) and carriages, then up State when nearly the whole street was blocked off. People could get a better look at the horses, talk w'riders and take pictures with them. The street was full of horses, probably looked like well over 100 years ago, /traffic all being equine. Really great fun.
COMMENT 299739P	2012-07-20 11:05 AM
Flamingo, Flamingo, Flamingo...at the Mission, at the Courthouse, at Paseo Nuevo...Love it! Love it! Love it!
COMMENT 299742	2012-07-20 11:09 AM
Children's parade, mercados, costumes, lots a people in town - go economy!
COMMENT 299754	2012-07-20 11:20 AM
1. PBR Thursday night 2. Parade 3. Rodeo 4. Mechanical bull at rodeo 5. Kettle corn
COMMENT 299764	2012-07-20 11:40 AM
rodeo
AGENTSME	2012-07-20 11:41 AM
Concerts at the sunken gardens, Dignitarios party at the Zoo
MESARATS	2012-07-20 12:40 PM
Sometimes I hide out for most of it, sometimes I join the circus. For me the best thing about riding in the parade is riding the horses in the city streets after and the party at the Carriage House following. The cruiser ride ( I imagine the 20 plus year tradition will come to a end soon) Private party that has been going on for many years with a live band, mariachis and a seperate disco complete with spinning mirror ball. Tequila goes on sale Wednesday and Thursdays are more local and the time to go to Guadelupe and DLP
ELELLEN2	2012-07-20 12:50 PM
I am amazed by people who hate Fiesta Obviously they have had no connection with the organization nor with the towns people or with the meaning of what Fiesta is all about. Fiesta started with this town after the 1924 earthquakewhen the town needed a direction to start regrowth. In spite of what peole have stated in the above renderings this was indeed a sleepy little Mexican town with Spanish blood thrown in and indeed it was a cattle town with ranching being one of the main reasons for living here, so its not a fable or misinterperation of our history. Fiesta was started with the ideas to bring COMMUNITY together and to get tourism here during the hot month of August when nothing was happening. It has grown into a major event bringing in much needed revenue and for over 100 non profits monies to keep them going for much of the year. Its a time to meet new friends and old, to join in with the community, to have fun and enjoy our town. So check it out its really great event . As for gangs they are here all the time and I think the cops do a great job making things safer. If you don't like the bar life, well don't go into that area there are wonderful events happening all over town you can go to mostly for FREE! So go enjoy and Viva La Fiesta to all!
COMMENT 299854	2012-07-20 03:38 PM
OP here - Del Norte - we have friends that run one of the booths - Opening night is always fun - a short walk for us - no parking hassles - DGP - Friday around noon - Not bad - great food - Left is now gone - as the manager was a friend - shots were on the house - Plastic cups and confetti rained the day - pasquals on the walk home - for luckey and pasqual and the gang - Now Italian something something - loads of locals Harrys for a lunch is always fun - again lots of locals - Parade - Maybe a little of it goes a long ways -Just great to see the city fill up this time of year and the local merchants and non profits benefit - So - yes they drive down SB street the wrong way - they block my driveway - leave cans on my grass - take my roses from the front of the house - it's all good - relax have fun -and Thanks for the read -
COMMENT 299873	2012-07-20 04:19 PM
Ellen--You must work for the Chamber of Commerce because you have it all wrong. Fiesta is a fable and misinterpretation of Santa Barbara history. You should take some time and read Carey McWilliams classic history of California and the Southwest called "North from Mexico" first published in 1948 where he writes about the "Fantasy Heritage" of the Southwest and dispels many of the myths regarding Spanish colonization of the borderlands frontier, including Santa Barbara. The "Old Spanish Days" fiesta illustrates the dichotomy between the Spanish and the Mexican-Indian heritage in California. The fiesta also continues to cloud relations between Anglos and Mexicans in the borderlands past and present. The fact is that few "Spaniards" colonized and settled California--it was mostly Mexicans, mestizos, mulattos, and Africans but their heritage is not celebrated. The Mexican, Indian, and African heritage has been historically ignored and the Fiesta celebration continues that omission.
COMMENT 299881	2012-07-20 04:46 PM
873 - my home towns summer fair is also in august - the town was settled by German - Dutch - They all relax and have a good time even though it's not the same celebration of the 1800's - brats and beer - now it's burgers and pie - Rodeo - rides and parades ... that have nothing to do with the german or dutch - its about community now ...Just say'n .....
FLICKA	2012-07-20 04:46 PM
873, Where do you get the Spanish didn't colonize CA? They established our town April 21, 1782. Many, many descendents of the soldiers during Presidio times are still here (about 1/4 of residents). San Francisco was founded by Spanish, they brought families, including the first European women (Spanish)and children to settle San Francisco. Sure, many came thru Mexico, orginally they were from Spain; Mexico was called New Spain until 1821. The (Spanish) people here didn't like being under the Mexican flag and to this day call themselves Californios.The traditions are Spanish. Spanish priests (born and raised in Spain) taught the Indians to ride and literally invented what became the "cowboy" style of horse saddles and other tack, clothes, etc., 50 yrs before the American cowboys copied the gear and style of roping cattle. The vaquero tack was inspired from what the Spanish used (in Spain), adapted to their needs of wide open spaces for cattle ranching. Father Serra, founder of the missions was from Spain. Study your history.
COMMENT 299884	2012-07-20 05:14 PM
flicka--much of what you say is true but you should substitute the word "Spanish" with "Mexican" and "Indian" because those were the people who settled and whose labor built the missions. I agree with 873 as only a small percentage of the pre-American population was of "Spanish" descent. The original vaqueros were Mexicans, not Spaniards. Father Serra? Please, let's not go there. BTW I have a doctoral degree in history from the University of California and am familiar with the writings of McWilliams and other historians. I have taught at UCSB/CSUCI/SBCC/Ventura College--You should take my class. You probably studied history in grade school but it was all white washed like so much of our past. For Mexicans and Indians celebrating Fiesta is like the British celebrating the 4th of July. Thanks for your comments--luv talking history.
COMMENT 299897	2012-07-20 05:47 PM
Comment 873 is correct...I`m looking at the book as I write.."North from Mexico" is 1 of over 200 books,documents,photos,maps & drawings I`ve been given from family[Chumash] concerning SB & surround.

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