Amid recent uncertainties within the community, The Downtown Club has announced its difficult decision to cancel the Fiesta Carnival de Los Niños previously scheduled during this year’s Old Spanish Days fiesta. The carnival was intended as a significant fundraising opportunity for the Club, which serves under-resourced children in the Santa Barbara area.
According to Downtown Club officials, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children they serve is their paramount concern. The Club, located on East Cañon Perdido Street, has been a cornerstone for diverse working families in Santa Barbara since its establishment as the area’s first Boys Club in 1938. It opens its doors daily to enrich the lives of local children with essential services and programs.
“Because the carnival was planned as a major fundraising opportunity for The Club, we now need to step back and take into consideration how hosting a carnival today could possibly impact our fundraising,” stated Mark Alvarado, the Executive Director of the Downtown Club. “We honor the mission of our club everyday by providing services and programs to enrich the lives of our children. The unforeseen financial risk of staging a carnival now could affect our ability to provide the needed services we offer our kids on a daily basis.”
Despite the cancellation, Downtown Club officials remain optimistic about hosting family-oriented events in the future. They extend gratitude to everyone in the community who collaborated to make the Fiesta Carnival a special experience for the children.
“We thank everyone for their continued support of our Downtown Club,” Alvarado added. In a public show of appreciation, he acknowledged the community’s involvement in envisioning the planned celebration.
Barely a month ago, excitement filled the air as children gathered in front of the historic Downtown Club with Club and Old Spanish Days officials to announce plans for a four-day carnival celebration during the 2025 Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The event was set to feature traditional carnival staples like a Ferris wheel and zipper, alongside assorted booths and games designed for children.
Club officials said they look forward to the future when the community atmosphere would be more favorable for a family-oriented Carnival.
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Project 2025 and their marionette, Donald Trump, have made everyday life difficult for the working class. The GOP is a terror group that now attacks working people every day. Project 2025 will imprison tens of thousands in their privatized FOR PROFIT facilities – and then provide FREE LABOR to the farms where the immigrants used to work.
““Because the carnival was planned as a major fundraising opportunity for The Club, we now need to step back and take into consideration how hosting a carnival today could possibly impact our fundraising,””
Uh….. when you planned it as a “major fundraising opportunity,” didn’t you “take into consideration how hosting a carnival today could possibly impact our fundraising?” Seriously, figure it out. You got kids all excited and now we face another boring and overcrowded Fiesta. Last year’s 100th Anniversary was a total flop due to the lack of any carnivals or options other than the crowded drunkfest at DLG.
What is with all these Fiesta events being promoted then canceled?
“Club officials said they look forward to the future when the community atmosphere would be more favorable for a family-oriented Carnival.”
What does that even mean? Our community has been begging for more family-oriented activities, especially during Fiesta. Or, is this a concern related to the recent ICE raids that killed a man and tore families apart in our community? If the latter, why have Fiesta at all then?
WTH? As if SB could get any more non-family friendly. Booooo!
I think what they’re saying without saying it, is that a lot of people are scared to leave their homes due to the Gestapo.. I mean ICE, and they likely wouldn’t make their money back and they also don’t want to be a target for fascists to rip mothers away from children.
That’s what I’m thinking as well, just confused why they don’t just say it.
If ICE shows up to Fiesta, they’re going to get more than confetti eggs thrown at them.
“Community Concerns” = ICE Raids
BASIC – “they’re likely afraid of ice raids busting up their party, which is crazy ”
It’s “crazy” to be concerned about ICE raiding a family event? Have you already forgotten what’s been happening around this country the last few months?
I know, it’s hard to understand that non-white people have different concerns than you, but you can’t seriously be this ignorant, can you?
You can’t be that clueless, can you???
Why don’t you just say it then…
Are you stereotyping people?
You’re living up to the stereotype of stupid racist, that’s for sure.
What stereotype? It was a comment directed specifically to Basic.
CADILLACKID – um….. non white people are people who aren’t caucasian/european…. you know…. white.
It’s a term that’s been used for hundreds of years.
Why is that so offensive to you?
By golly, you ARE that clueless.
Thanks for confirming it.
Wow, that comment was … awful, way worse than what CK wrote.
“Now that I’ve realized (after my admittedly knee jerk original comment) that this was about the ICE raids”
Kudos for owning up to it.
Like I also said, “Or, is this a concern related to the recent ICE raids that killed a man and tore families apart in our community? If the latter, why have Fiesta at all then?”
Yeah, I can jerk the knee sometimes…. pretty hard. From my first read, I wasn’t even thinking about what happened in Carp and once I mentioned it to my wife, she reacted as most of you here.
My bad!
Wake up Sac, they’re likely afraid of ice raids busting up their party, which is crazy but hey – freak out. You can rent a bounce house and set it up wherever you want.
Almost a century ago a number of my relatives left Europe when this started happening around them, too.
What an appalling statement this is about our current state of affairs.
“Never Again” is happening right now.
Thank you to every person who is standing up to it.
Is this the event held in the SBCC parking lot? Or a different carnival?
Wow really!?! So now the rest of us won’t get to take our kids to enjoy anything for FIESTAS! Great good job canceling it and ruining it for the rest of us! Are you going to cancel the parade too?
“the rest of us”
What are you saying here, other than a racist complaint?
Take them to the zoo.
Boring
So are you if you need a ferris wheel to have fun with your kids.
Good. Cancel the parade. Take away any option for you and your children to ignore the misery that your cult leader is raining on people.
Dude I’m not into politics
Dude, politics is into you.
No doubt many Germans were saying that on KrystallNacht.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
I agree. Now that I’ve realized (after my admittedly knee jerk original comment) that this was about the ICE raids, I say cancel all of Fiesta, as I mentioned.
Why should white families get to go and enjoy a festival celebrating the people whose ancestors were here before ours while those people have to live in fear of being in public? Their kids can’t have a care free weekend of fun in public, so neither should ours.
What’s “FIESTAS”? It’s Fiesta
Really simple answer to this one. If you’re a gringo, you say “fiesta.” If you’re hispanic you say “fiestas.” Every local knows this.
Have your own parade–which this isn’t, it’s a Carnival. You want people to put their children at risk in order to entertain you? Your comment is, as usual, stupid ignorant and racist.
“uncertainties” is very amusing
Brain worms are considered therapeutic by the current administration.