From Wagging Tails to Winning Verses, Old Spanish Days adds Fresh Flair with Fiesta Dog Parade and Poetry Contest

Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days is setting the stage for a season of creativity and community, debuting a first-ever Fiesta Dog Parade next month and inviting writers of all ages to enter a citywide poetry contest now underway.

Together, these two events channel the festival’s signature spirit—colorful, convivial, and steeped in local tradition—while offering new ways for residents to join the celebration.

The inaugural Fiesta Dog Parade & Costume Contest steps off Saturday, May 16, 2026, transforming downtown into a four-legged fiesta from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registered pups will strut their stuff from in the 700 and 800 blocks of State Street, head up to Canon Perdido, then loop back on State to enter Paseo Nuevo, where the festivities culminate with DJ Darla Bea, vendor tables, and a red carpet moment for the day’s top dogs.

“The Fiesta Dog Parade for Old Spanish Days 2026 is really about bringing new parts of our community into the Fiesta family,” said El Presidente Hayward whose vision of a Fiesta Dog Parade is just around the corner. “Santa Barbara has an incredible community of dog lovers — people who enjoy costume contests — and folks who simply want to be downtown on State Street enjoying a fun, festive parade. This event brings all of that together.”

Participation is limited and open by advance registration only; the deadline to sign up is May 13.

Organizers encourage would-be revelers to lean into Spanish-inspired flair and showcase their dog’s personality for a chance at prizes and bragging rights. Judges will crown winners across multiple categories, including Best in Show, Most Fiesta Spirit, Best Group Entry, and Best Wagon or Stroller Decoration—each celebrating creativity, charm, and the playful pageantry that define Fiesta.

For those who prefer a pen to a parade leash, the Old Spanish Days Fiesta Poetry Contest is accepting submissions through May 31 at midnight. Open to all ages, the contest calls on poets to capture how Old Spanish Days celebrates Santa Barbara’s heritage through delicious food, colorful music, thrilling dance, and moving song—traditions infused with friendliness, hospitality, and tolerance.

Entrants will compete for cash prizes of $100, $200, and $300, with winners to be announced in July. A distinguished judging panel—Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin, former Poets Laureate Perie Longo, David Starkey, and Melinda Palacio, and poet Fr. Larry Gosselin, long-time former head cleric at the Old Mission—will review the submissions. Applications are now available.

Both events underscore the festival’s enduring appeal while welcoming new voices and visions into the fold. Whether you’re crafting stanzas that echo the “Viva la Fiesta” spirit or crafting a costume worthy of a red carpet stroll, Old Spanish Days offers a stage for everyone.

For details on registering your dog or submitting your poem, visit the Old Spanish Days Fiesta website.