A popular Fiesta event is DIGS, aka Celebración de los Dignatarios. This exciting event was filled with music, dancing, food, and beverage all at the Santa Barbara Zoo on Thursday night.
Local restaurants, brewers, and winemakers are in attendance serving up samples of their latest and tastiest creations. All while the zoo is open for attendees to take a stroll and enjoy the animal exhibits.
A few highlights were Big G’s Barbecue that caused a massive line to get their tasty meat. Bluewater Grill and Los Agaves were also fan-favorites, while Cooney’s was handing out the most delicious espresso martinis to keep people going through the night.
DJ Hecktik took the reigns of the dance floor that prompted everyone to set down their drink and groove.
Also Read
- Fiesta Ranchera Event Returns to Historic Rancho La Patera on June 18
- Old Spanish Days Announces Expansion Plans for Fiesta 2026
- Applications Now Open for the 94th Annual Children’s Fiesta Parade
- The First Old Spanish Days Fiesta Dog Parade Brings Excitement and a Parade to State Street
- From Wagging Tails to Winning Verses, Old Spanish Days adds Fresh Flair with Fiesta Dog Parade and Poetry Contest
There’s been some great local commentary about Fiesta.
Especially this statement:
Cheri-Ann Leon: ‘We Were Fiesta’ — A Love Letter and Reckoning with What’s Been Lost August 2 2025 – Noozhawk
“For us, Fiesta was never a performance. It was never a costume. It was our lived identity — our gift to the city, and our way of gathering community around beauty and pride.
But this year, like so many in recent memory, something feels terribly broken.”
I urge you to read this essay.
“Cheri-Ann Leon is a 12th-generation Santa Barbaran, descendant of Juan Cota, also known as “Mr. Fiesta,” and granddaughter of Danza De Cota founder Kathy Cota. She is also a fourth-generation flamenco dancer, writer, mother and proud cultural steward of her family’s legacy. The opinions expressed are her own.”