Fiesta opens with El Mercado de la Guerra for four days Wednesday

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The traditional fiesta downtown mercado opens for four days today in downtown Santa Barbara as part of Old Spanish Days.

Thousands of people are expected to come and go for food, entertainment and shopping.

This mercado is in the heart of town and at least 15 vendors are set up with food that will be prepared on site.

This includes tortas, tacos, taquitos, churros, papusas, hot dogs and corn on the cob.

There will be a large stage of entertainment over the run of Fiesta. It will feature performers from local dance studios and at night, bands until 10 p.m.

Non profit groups running some of the booths say it is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year to bolster their budgets.

Local businessman Guy Riviera says, "this is the locals day. This is when our community finds its unity. And we are just gathered here. I was born and raised here and this is what we do."

So many choices were in front of the hungry visitors.

Mike Haynes held up a tri tip sandwich and said, "It was really good. Look at all the other stuff. You have to try that later."

It's all prepared on the spot in mini kitchens that will be operating for the next four days.

Tom Kelstrump said, "I always choose the burrito. Usually pork tastes great. Price is not too bad. "

 For some of the visitors to the plaza, the bites are something they have waited for since last year.

Former Radio host, Baron Ron Heron  ate a taquito and said, "that is pretty damn good." 

Don Risdon from Carpinteria said,  "we have some, tacos. Some street tacos. Carne asada, carnitas. And then I'm going to finish with a couple of corn on the cobs. Beautiful. Viva la fiesta! "

One of the new additions to downtown  is across from the De la Guerra mercado in the Casa de la Guerra.  It has its own stage and a number of retail vendors as well.

"I was really worried that there wouldn't be a crowd here today. It's good. There is a crowd bigger than usual.," said Heron.

Dana Mensies did a food review and said after trying her dish,  "I thought the meat was really moist. I got the plate combo with the beans and the rice. I highly recommend getting both the green and the red salsa. It just was the perfect place."