Old Spanish Days officials have announced big expansion plans for this year’s Fiesta, which will be held August 5–9.
El Presidente 2026 Colin Hayward announced that the popular Mercado De La Guerra will be expanding onto two blocks of State Street, keeping alive the traditions of this celebrated mercado that has been a part of Old Spanish Days Fiesta since the 1930s. El Presidente Hayward was joined by this year’s Spirit of Fiesta, Jenna Ramirez, in making the major expansion announcement.
“Everyone is looking forward to a great Fiesta this year, and we are extremely excited to be expanding the popular Mercado De La Guerra onto State Street,” said El Presidente Hayward. “The Mercado is such a big part of the Fiesta experience. It’s our center for so much of the community celebration, and we are looking forward to having more booths, more entertainment, and more food opportunities so that everyone in our community can continue to have a memorable Fiesta during August.”
El Presidente Hayward also touched on other Fiesta events, including the Friday Historic Parade, El Desfile Histórico, which once again will run along Cabrillo Boulevard from Castillo Street to the Rainbow Arch just past the Hilton Beachfront Resort.
Other events will also return this year, including Fiesta Pequeña on the steps of the Old Mission on the opening night of Fiesta, Wednesday, August 5. Noches de Ronda will once again be held Thursday through Saturday, August 6–8. The El Presidente Party, one of the two major fundraisers that helps Old Spanish Days provide Fiesta events free to the public, will be held on the Saturday prior to Fiesta.
The Arts & Crafts Show will once again take place along Cabrillo Boulevard during Fiesta weekend.
In addition, businesses, restaurants, entertainers, community groups, and volunteers throughout the Santa Barbara area will once again come together to help make Old Spanish Days Fiesta a safe, memorable, and fun experience for everyone who attends.
More details about sign-ups, ticket prices, and registrations can be found at sbfiesta.org.
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GOOD! State Street was AWESOME last year. No cars. Just people walking around, crowding the street with pop up brass bands and random musicians parading like it was a mini NOLA! Probably had my most fun at Fiesta since my 20s last year on Fiesta Saturday on lower State. SO MUCH better than having everyone jammed up and packing the sidewalks.
Sac…. During every Fiesta that I can recall, going back to the 80s, State was always closed from Cota to Canon Perdido during the fiesta weekend due to crowds. Always. Every year. Also last years fiesta was the lowest attendance on record due to ICE issues. You keep trumpeting this No Cars thing and its kinda weird at this point, especially since they have always shut down several blocks for fiesta since i was a kid. Sidewalks still get packed. Your post says little about Fiesta itself and is more or less a propaganda post about ‘no cars’ lol bro seriously. you have some issue with cars? how do you get down here? a car i bet!
> how do you get down here? a car i bet!
Are you channeling Sail, Jizmo, 0ops, et. al. now? Sac has never called for no cars on streets other than State St.
Oregon beckons.
Also, I was recalling my younger years when I’d be on lower State at night and people were forced to stay on the sidewalks while the cops had lights and a heavy presence in the street. Those days were like a prison yard full of drunks. Last year was like a mini Mardi Gras. That’s my whole point, again.
It’s comical how hard you are taking this.
KNEIN – wait, are you saying what I experienced did not happen? My whole point was how fun lower State can be during Fiesta or other celebrations when the streets are open to pedestrians. Having the DLG mercado expand into State will hopefully be a repeat of the fun everyone had (except you I guess) last year. I had a great time last year and you seem to want to just argue about how you need cars on State.
You’re the one obsessed with cars being on State and refuse to even consider any compromise.
Once you get to Oregon, you won’t have to worry anymore!
they closed portions of state EVERY year during fiesta, even when cars where allowed. how long have you lived here? you’re acting like this is new. they have done this every single year during fiesta. that has not changed at all. you saying i refuse to compromise? thats laughable. i belong to a large movement downtown that has gone beyond compromising. i attend the meetings. do you? i’ve spoked up about it during forums, have you? Almost every post from you lately is bashing cars on the road. its weird at this point. they are opening the road in january to one lane of traffic. even when i reside in oregon, i’ll still have my residence here since we are not selling our condo. i will be splitting my time between both places. so i’m technically not going anywhere as far as that goes. and yes what i am saying is what you claimed was a one off event due to the road being closed is false. they close portions of state each year. I’ve been attending fiesta since 1981. have a nice day~!
K9 – Been here since 76. You’re clearly not getting my point about Fiesta, maybe intentionally or maybe you just don’t get it.
If you “compromise,” why do you always push back and shut down every time I’ve suggested opening part of State back up and leaving a couple lower blocks closed? You want it all. That’s fine. Not gonna happen though.
So the BIG news is the mercado will be 2 blocks instead of DLG plaza? Ok, that’s something I guess.
test
seems they should have put the beer garden on state and DLG rather than in the middle of the plaza where people dance?
That would actually be a great idea! Or just let folks drink on the streets like every other civilized country. Heck, even up in Mammoth you can drink in public. Corralling people into a small area just to have a beer is kind of gross and it takes away from open spaces that could be used for all ages dancing and music. Sucks watching 18-21 year olds have to watch their favorite local reggae bands playing through a hole in a fence like they’re in prison.
I like how even though everyone cannot agree about cars on State Street that we can all agree about the beer garden. Cheers!