Old Spanish Days reveals plan for Fiesta 2021, pin and poster unveiling Saturday

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Old Spanish Days, the largest celebration of the year in Santa Barbara, has announced its adjusted plans for 2021. The dates for the festivities are August 4-8.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta La Presidenta Stephanie Petlow and her board said in a statement:

"Coming on the heels of more than a year of extensive restrictions and guidelines, Fiesta officials have been working closely with representatives of Santa Barbara County Health and the City of Santa Barbara to offer as much of Fiesta as possible for our local community. Each year, Fiesta and its related activities help to bring in increased revenue to the City as countless tourists and generations of locals enjoy this annual festival now in its 97th year."

Stephanie Petlow

"We certainly thought in March 'oh this is going be done and we will have Fiesta in August,'" said Petlow, in a morning presentation at the Carriage and Western Art museum. "And as proven, it didn't go that way."

This weekend for the La Primavera event, the official 2021 poster and pin will be revealed.

On April 17, the Old Spanish Days spirit competitions were held. Ysabella Yturralde was crowned Spirit of Fiesta and Savannah Hoover was crowned the Junior Spirit.

Last week, Saint Barbara was revealed at the Old Mission when Patricia Orena walked out on the steps for the presentation.

Last year in the midst of the COVID crisis, the Old Spanish Days activities were changed drastically, but there were still some signature events including the Spirit and Jr. Spirit competitions and Fiesta Pequena – which took place in a hybrid presentation using the NewsChannel patio on TV Hill.

The parade did not take place, but a procession of two trolleys with Fiesta dignitaries went through the town with festive cheers.

No mercados took place in De la Guerra Plaza or MacKenzie Park. There will be no mercados this year either.

There were community celebrations involving colorful lights on houses and Fiesta flags, bunting and costumers throughout the city for the annual celebration. That was coordinated through Old Spanish Days and Gary Simpson the owner of the Home Improvement Center who sold the lights and decorations.

For several Friday nights during the weeks surrounding Fiesta, there were special concerts streaming from the Carriage Museum featuring bands that usually perform during Old Spanish Days.

Old Spanish Days on a normal year would draw over 75,000 people to Santa Barbara for the El Desfile Historico parade and throughout the run of the event Fiesta is a cultural showcase and economic boost for the city. It is still expected to be a noted celebration even in its reduced form.

El Segundo Vice Presidente David Bolton said, "we would like to do everything in the biggest model right now we can't. As we get more permissions we will continue to do so much more."

There's optimism about some modifications to this year's events, and a more normal Fiesta next year. El Segundo Vice Presidente Maria Cabrera said, "when the city and county of Santa Barbara  give us the go ahead Old Spanish Days is poised and ready to bring the historic parade  up State Street again  and to return the popular mercados to Plaza De la Guerra and MacKenzie Park."

Still to be worked out will be the protocols for Noches de Ronda, Fiesta Ranchera at Stow House in Goleta (in June) and the Dignitarios party at the zoo. 

For more information, visit the Old Spanish Days website.

The complete schedule for 2021 Old Spanish Days Fiesta is below:

Saturday, May 15 2021
5:00pm La Primavera — The Carriage and Western Art Museum, 2021 Poster and Pin Unveil

June 2021
Fiesta Ranchera - Goleta

July, 2021 
Costume Sale

Sunday, August 1, 2021 
5:00pm La Recepcion del Presidente — The Carriage and Western Art Museum

Fiesta Week
Los Ninos de las Flores

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 
7:00pm La Fiesta Pequena — Live from TV Hill

Thursday, August 5, 2021 
9:00am-5:00pm Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo — Earl Warren Showgrounds
Time TBA Los Dignatarios — Santa Barbara Zoo

Friday, August 6, 2021 
9:00am-5:00pm Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo — Earl Warren Showgrounds
12:00-12:30pm Documentary: El Desfile Historico — the Historic Parade, Channel 1013
4:00pm Horsemen's Rendezvous — The Carriage and Western Art Museum
8:00-9:30pm Noches de Ronda

Saturday, August 7, 2021 
9:00am-5:00pm Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo — Earl Warren Showgrounds
10:00am-6:00pm Fiesta Arts and Crafts Show — Cabrillo Boulevard, West Beach
7:00-7:30pm Documentary: El Desfile Historico — the Historic Parade, Channel 1013
8:00-9:30pm Las Noches de Ronda

Sunday, August 8, 2021
10:00am-5:00pm Fiesta Arts and Crafts Show — Cabrillo Boulevard, West Beach