As Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta prepares to kick off its 101st celebration, event organizers are working to calm community concerns following recent immigration enforcement operations in the region. Despite rumors of cancellations and fears surrounding the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the weeklong celebration is moving forward as planned.
El Presidente Fritz Olenberger, representing Old Spanish Days, addressed public concerns raised after recent high-profile ICE raids at cannabis farms in Carpinteria and Camarillo. While acknowledging the anxiety circulating within the community, Olenberger reassured residents that Fiesta events, including the parade, celebrations, and entertainment, remain intact.
“Our number one concern is having a fun and safe Fiesta,” Olenberger said. “Raiding a marijuana farm is quite a bit different than raiding a 101-year-old festival. I just don’t see it happening.”
Full Schedule Still Planned, With Some Minor Adjustments
All the hallmark events of Fiesta Week are scheduled to take place, including La Recepción del Presidente, Fiesta Pequeña, Las Noches de Ronda, La Misa de Presidente, DIGS! at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the Mercado de la Guerra.
The standout event, Friday’s Historical Parade, will feature 58 entries and over 100 riders on horseback, with a slightly altered parade route this year. The parade will stretch from Pershing Park to Calle Cesar Chavez along Cabrillo Boulevard, a shorter route than in previous years.
Other updates include a new location for the Fiesta Rodeo and Stock Horse Show, which has been relocated to the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center from August 1-3, with a BBQ on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Children’s Parade, El Desfile de los Niños, organized by Santa Barbara’s Parks and Recreation Department, will take place as planned on Saturday, August 2. The three-day Fiesta event at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, featuring authentic food, entertainment, and games, also remains on the schedule.
However, not all planned celebrations will go forward. The Downtown Club, formerly the Eastside Boys & Girls Club, canceled its Carnival de Los Niños, citing the recent ICE raids. In a statement, Executive Director Mark Alvarado said the decision was made “to assure the safety of the kids,” adding that financial uncertainties also contributed to the cancellation.
Community Concerns and Critiques
While Fiesta organizers are determined to move forward, not everyone in the community is in favor of the event. Primitiva Hernandez, Executive Director of 805 UndocuFund, voiced her opposition to Fiesta happening this year, citing historical and cultural concerns.
Outside a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Hernandez stated, “This is not the time for this type of event,” and called for broader acknowledgment of historical struggles and reparations for the community.
Ensuring a Safe and Inclusive Celebration
Addressing safety concerns, Olenberger confirmed that the organization has worked closely with the city to establish proper protocols in the event of ICE activity. “If ICE shows up, our board members are told not to get involved. We will call the police if they’re not already there,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Old Spanish Days organizers remain optimistic about this year’s celebration, emphasizing its importance as a unifying and joyful event. “This is about coming together as a community and celebrating the rich tradition of Old Spanish Days,” Olenberger said.
Fiesta, Santa Barbara’s largest annual event, continues to draw thousands of attendees from around the region and beyond each summer. As the city prepares for the festivities, organizers remain committed to ensuring a positive, inclusive, and memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.
Also Read
- Finding Fiesta Partners UCSB With Local Teachers For New Perspectives On A Century-Old Celebration
- Friendship Center Brings Old Spanish Days Fiesta Festivities to Members with Dementia
- Op-Ed: We Were Fiesta, A Letter and Reckoning with What’s Been Lost
- Fiesta Cruiser Bike Ride 2025!
- Fiesta Horse Parade Delights Crowds in Santa Barbara
For those who still don’t understand what “white privilege” is, this is a great example. Some of us can go out and about carefree and enjoy our daily lives and congregate in large numbers in a public place without any fear of being harassed, detained and removed from our families with no access to counsel or any communication of any kind for days to weeks on end.
That is white privilege.
It’s not a bad thing necessarily, but this is an example of what it means and why, in order to be good people and caring members of a community, we should understand it and acknowledge it. Not everyone has the same freedom from fear that some of us have.
If ICE has plans to raid or even be present at any of the Fiesta events, I think we will see violence. I truly hope they avoid it and let our community, ALL OF US, enjoy life.
Use this opportunity to really think about what you have and how others don’t have the same life experiences.
Very well said!
“Raiding a marijuana farm is quite a bit different than raiding a 101-year-old festival. I just don’t see it happening.”
Fritz must not have been present at the most recent raids. Raiding a 101 year old festival where quotas can potentially be met easily is the perfect target. Just because you as a white male don’t “see” it happening, doesn’t mean that it won’t. Before two weeks ago did he “see” those raids happening at Glass House Farms?
“If ICE shows up, our board members are told not to get involved. We will call the police if they’re not already there.”
As noted by the police captain in last week’s city council meeting, the federal government is above them. In other words, If ICE shows up board members will not get involved and police will not be able to do anything.
I have had multiple El Presidente’s in my family as well as Spirits of Fiesta. I have always respected Fritz and the photos he’s captured of our community. Fritz, you’ve made a living off of capturing the Mexican/Spanish culture on film. The callous and privileged way that this has been communicated is beyond disappointing.
I had the same thoughts about Fritz’s words. Completely tone deaf would be my polite way to describe them,
What they said without actually saying it:
“We are continuing to host fiesta despite the concerns of our most vulnerable community members whose culture we are profiting off of. There is no way to protect those that attend. We don’t actually understand the concerns because we are in no way personally threatened by ICE. If something does happen we will apologize for it afterwards and spin up a committee to review where we could have done something differently even though we know right now we can be doing something differently.”
If only Old Spanish Days could have actually addressed this honestly and thoughtfully. They are taking a HUGE risk hosting such a massive event where the only contingency if ICE shows up is to stay out of it and call the police who can’t do anything. Anyone hosting an event for hundreds of thousands of people with any other legitimate threat to their attendees would have a contingency plan other than “calling the police” who won’t be able to do a thing.
The risk of ICE at Fiesta means that it will not be safe for some members of our community. The least Old Spanish Days could do is issue a warning to those threatened by ICE notifying them not to attend as there would be no way to protect them if ICE showed up.
The organizers are primarily concerned about their profit above all else. After that it’s drinking with their friends wearing appropriated costumes. They’ve crashed and burned in the past when attempting to respond to critical comments about appropriating culture and celebrating colonization and they are crashing and burning now with this sad response.
Wait a minute–how can they possibly be “appropriating culture” when it’s European in origin? Now, celebrating colonization, sure.
I agree that Fiesta should be cancelled to a degree. No one should be profiting off of a cultural event that celebrates the culture of those who can’t attend for fear of assault and detention by the federal government. Perhaps any celebrations be limited to private property where ICE couldn’t otherwise go. House parties and food trucks? Uh oh…. never mind. People will lose their shift about sidewalk food…..
I don’t know, but I don’t feel right going to eat tacos and pozole and listening to mariachi when so many in our community are too afraid to do the same. Then again, if we boycott it, we’re hurting those businesses that are run by those whose culture we are celebrating.
Honestly, just cancel it. It’s not a family event anymore anyway. Do the kids parade and have a couple large public parties on private property and call it a wrap. Just spitballing really.
youre not hurting anything or anyone by boycotting it. Not all vendors are actually from SB. The ones from SB will be fine as will the other vendors.
we wont be attending either. the kiddo already pleaded her case and i agree and support it.
i can’t support fiesta right now. especially with the leadership they currently have and this guys statement is so out of touch with reality, its weird…
The face of the Fiesta Leadership Team (glad they’re using corporate slang now):
https://www.sbfiesta.org/article/20629-old-spanish-days-announces-2025-fiesta-leadership-team
I had to turn down the screen brightness to look at that group photo, it was so white.
It seems a few posters here have missed a huge detail. This celebration is “Old SPANISH Days”, not “Old MEXICAN Days”, although it has evolved to be more about Mexican culture now. Too bad this original intended tradition is being lost.
HAMMONDS – I’m almost speechless at how stupid, ignorant, racist and stupid, stupid and stupid that comment of yours is.
I don’t know. Maybe read a history book? Can you read?
Stupid.
Sorry-not racist just a realist. I’ve been in this town for decades… The whole agenda from Spanish celebrations during fiesta has gotten completely distorted.
I’m not in any way disregarding the Mexican heritage in CA.traditions of this town, or anywhere in California . I just feel that it’s been kind of hijacked with the Mexican culture, not assimilating into American culture..I appreciate their contributions. Don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying that it has really deviated from the true meaning of fiesta and assimilating into American culture. I don’t think any foreign national living in the United States should waive any other flag than the US flag. If they wanna waive the flag of their countries, then get out of here.
How many Mexicans that are in the country either legally or illegally still cannot speak a word of English after years if being here?How does that contribute to our American culture?
It improves it. Some people bother to learn at least a bit of another language, and lose some of their latent bigotry. Alas, not you.
HAMMONDS – Oh, no you very much are a racist. We’ve all read plenty of your crap here.
As for the “true meaning of fiesta”….. LOL I just can’t with you. Ok, so Fiesta should ONLY be about Spanish culture and Spaniards and should also be about “assimilating into American culture?” Do you know that CA was Mexico until 1848? That was 76 years before the first Fiesta in SB. Do you truly believe the intent was to ignore and keep Mexican “culture” out and make it only about “Spanish culture?
Tell us. What is the meaning of Fiesta?
And as for that “they don’t assimilate” racist bullshift, that’s just stupid and anti-American. “American culture” IS the culture of all the nationalities of the people who built this country and made it once a great place to be proud of.
You dumb, white racists are trying to destroy that and we won’t let you. If you don’t like cultures of the non-white people in your community, then get off your Montecito beach and leave.
Racist fool.
They contribute more than you ever will. Leave.
“I just feel that it’s been kind of hijacked with the Mexican culture, not assimilating into American culture”
And you think that’s not blatantly racist? You think that “Spanish” culture is assimilated form of American culture?
“Don’t get me wrong.”
No one is getting you wrong except you.
“How many Mexicans that are in the country either legally or illegally still cannot speak a word of English after years if being here?”
Every word you write is racist to the core.
Too bad you are completely clueless. It’s not like it refers to a bunch of people who jetted here from Spain. The Spaniards referred to were colonizers of Mexico.
so a bunch of “organizers” decided that our communities safety is less important than them profiting on the local Hispanic communities heritage and history? i think this guy is so out of touch with reality.
“Raiding a marijuana farm is quite a bit different than raiding a 101-year-old festival. I just don’t see it happening.” Really pal? No one saw the marines being deployed against our citizens and the national guard from our own state, used against citizens. No one saw in advance the injuries and death that occurred during these military style raids. No one saw that it wouldnt be just ICE, but the military and national guard, border patrol and several other agencies, not IDing themselves, using unmarked cars with no plates, face masks and guns. No one saw the west side being raided by ICE three times, yet it happened. Now if the feds show up and you have allowed this event to happen, and there are 20,000 – 50,000 tourists here, drinking, what do you think will happen? This is just ridiculous. My kids and I will not be attending this year. They made a choice over money vs safety and concern?
Yep, this guy speaking from his high ground of privilege ” doesn’t see raiding a festival.” The most naive, ignorant and tone deaf thing possible.
So you think it’s likely Fiesta will get “raided”?? Yah…
Did I say that? Nope. Talking out of your old ass as usual.
this guy, the organizer, el presidente, is going to of course say its fine. why? it’s his year to be the president of fiesta. he’ll lose that and what comes with it if its cancelled.
trump DID give clear notice of the things “no one saw in advance.” He threatened long ago to take over or militarize Democratic cities, and use any tool in his immigration enforcement practices. We knew who and what he was. He’s sure never hidden it.
From Claude:
“Official versions of Santa Barbara’s Fiesta literature tend to privilege romanticized historical interpretations that submerge and absorb California’s hybrid ethnic and cultural histories into an idealized Spanish colonial narrative. The celebration glosses over the violence and displacement inherent in colonization.
Recent community discussions have raised similar concerns. One historian criticized Old Spanish Days tradition as being built on memory of colonization and enslavement of Chumash people. The Chumash were the indigenous people of the Santa Barbara area who experienced devastating impacts from Spanish colonization, including forced conversion, cultural suppression, and population decline.
The historical context also reveals other problematic aspects: One sad outcome of this commitment to turn Santa Barbara into a Spanish-themed paradise meant dismantling the once-busy Chinatown along Canon Perdido Street, near the Presidio, and displacing many of its residents.
Someone complaining that “Mexican culture” has usurped the agenda of Old Spanish Days reveals another layer of the problem – it reflects a preference for a sanitized, European colonial narrative over the actual lived experiences and cultures of people who were colonized or marginalized.
The celebration essentially promotes a nostalgic fantasy of benevolent Spanish rule while erasing the violence of colonialism and the experiences of indigenous peoples. This is a classic example of how cultural celebrations can perpetuate harmful historical mythologies rather than honestly confronting the past.”
The parasitic MAGA movement has overtaken , a once and somewhat functioning, Republican party. Now, the GOP can only be described as a terror organization. Those that aren’t directly involved in the terror but only stand down for fear of retribution of their cult leader remain complicit. The federal goon squad HAVE BEEN RAIDING HOME DEPOT PARKING LOTS AND COMMUNITY PARKS TO KIDNAP DAY WORKERS – What makes Fritz think they wouldn’t raid a “101 year old festival”.
Because white people.
I have lived in Santa Barbara for over 50 years and I continue to ask the same question:
What does Old Spanish Days Fiesta have to do with Old Spanish Days? It is run mainly by white people for the profit of mainly white people.
Well people from Spain are European and largely white so…
Here’s a statement from SB Police Chief Kelly Gordon, taken from Nick Welsh’s 7/26 article:
“The Santa Barbara Police Department does not assist ICE in immigration enforcement. That said, if any federal agency were to operate in a way that compromises public safety or violates legal protocols, we would take appropriate action to ensure community safety. Our officers are trained to verify credentials and protect the rights of all individuals especially in high-traffic public settings like Fiesta.”
She’s saying SBPD will verify the credentials of any ICE agents attempting to arrest anyone at Fiesta. I think everyone else there should do the same, loudly en masse, and with an armful of cascarones ready to fire.
It’s interesting that some people seem to think there are other people pretending to be ICE agents. That’s never happened. So weird. And if you want to throw cascarones and whatever else at a Federal agent, well, that’s going to be on you. Careful, kid.
BI Guy never sees what he doesn’t want to see, thus the plethora of his comments at odds with reality.
Oh, is it “interesting”? Then why don’t you invest a moment of your dedicated trolling hours to checking it out? Just open any of the links sacjon has provided and you can learn a lot. It’s happened quite often, because it’s incredibly easy to do. “Agents” mostly refuse to identify themselves to anyone. Wearing a vest with three letters stenciled on the back is not identification. Covering nearly all facial features with a mask makes it worse. Why should anyone believe what they say if they won’t back it up with proper credentials?
If anyone at Fiesta tries this crap, basically kidnapping people off the street, they should be met with the same resistant forces that a common thug deserves.
BASIC – “It’s interesting that some people seem to think there are other people pretending to be ICE agents. That’s never happened.”
Jeezus, BASIC. Do enjoy spending your days lying? Why do you do it so darn much? Seriously, dude. What is it that drives you to knowingly lie here every time you start clacking the keys?
https://abc13.com/post/suspect-arrested-allegedly-posing-ice-agent-during-robbery-skyline-drive-west-houston-police-say/16845926/
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/ice-agent-impersonator-philadelphia-robert-rosado/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/28/civilians-impersonating-ice-officers
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/us/ice-impersonators-on-the-rise-arrests-made-as-authorities-issue-national-warning
Do you just make these absolute proclamations and never bother to check or are you trying to see if people believe your BS? Either way, it’s stupid. Lying little tattle tale.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07/08/masked-armed-and-forceful-finding-patterns-in-los-angeles-immigration-raids/
One thing I would like to know, is, where are our city officials? they have edhat accounts. Why are they not responding? I know for a fact that Oscar reads this, why hasn’t he chimed in? It seems like they are all MIA regarding our concerns and fears. I will be watching the horse parade with my daughter and dogs, but that’s it this year for us. Very disappointed in our elected officials for dodging this.